OK, this assumes there is a 2011 season in the first place, and it also assumes that the current 16-game schedule stays in place. If the NFL goes to an 18-game regular season, then there may be some minor adjustments.

HOME OPPONENTS: Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Lions, Bears, Cowboys, Colts, Texans

ROAD OPPONENTS: Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Packers, Vikings, 49ers, Jaguars, Titans

The three division opponents are a home and home every year, of course. The Bucs get the NFC North and AFC South in their divisional rotations. The NFC divisions are on a six-year rotation, so the home/away are the same as from 2005. The AFC divisions are on an eight-year rotation, so the home/away are the same as from 2003.

The Cowboys finished third in the NFC East and the 49ers finished third in the NFC West, like the Bucs did in the NFC South... making them Tampa Bay's two schedule-based opponents. The league scheduling formula has Cowboys visiting Tampa and the Bucs making another trip to San Francisco. (If the NFL went to an 18-game season these games would probably change or be added to.)

Seems pretty manageable, doesn't it? The Bucs could be playing fully half their schedule against first-year coaches, and only the Packers and the division opponents seem like really tough road games. I'm thinking that 10-6 can be matched or even exceeded with this schedule, barring catastrophic injury.

Thoughts?