With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2015 schedule out and the draft just over a week away, now's a good time to make some predictions about the upcoming season. So, here we go!
Week 1: Tennessee Titans WIN ... I'm thoroughly convinced the Bucs are the better team here. The Titans have the number two pick, finished 2-14 last year and it's not even clear whether they'll add a quarterback in the draft. This has to be a win for the Bucs.
Week 2: at New Orleans Saints LOSS ... The Saints were pretty bad last year, but still better than the Bucs. And while they lost a lot of talent, they still have Drew Brees and the Superdome. With the Bucs rebuilding and a rookie quarterback, can't see them winning this one.
Week 3: at Houston Texans WIN ... I don't know how the Texans managed a winning record last year, but they did. Still, they have no quarterback, they lost Andre Johnson, and they really don't have a ton outside of J.J. Watt.
Week 4: Carolina Panthers LOSS ... The Panthers, like the rest of the NFC South, were awful last year. But they still have the pieces to be a very good team, Cam Newton's always dangerous and they should be further along in shoring up the rest of their offense.
Week 5: Jacksonville Jaguars WIN ... The Jaguars just are not a good team. It really is that simple.
Week 6: Bye week
Week 7: at Washington WIN ... This team is a complete mess. Who's their quarterback? They don't even know. It might be RG3, and it might not. And I'm not sure which is preferable. Nope.
Week 8: at Atlanta Falcons LOSS ... As long as the Falcons have Matt Ryan (and Julio Jones) they'll be competitive, and while the rest of their team needs lots of work, the Bucs probably can't win this in Atlanta.
Week 9: New York Giants WIN ... The Giants are such a weird team, and they were pretty much terrible last season despite winning three straight games right at the end. Eli Manning's too inconsistent and Odell Beckham Jr. is their only saving grace.
Week 10: Dallas Cowboys LOSS ... The Cowboys were outstanding last year, until their traditional playoff loss. With another year under Rod Marinelli, that defense should be much-improved. This is going to be a good team.
Week 11: at Philadelphia Eagles WIN ... Chip Kelly is an outstanding coach, but the way he's deconstructed this roster the past year is baffling.
Week 12: at Indianapolis Colts LOSS ... Outside of T.Y. Hilton and Andrew Luck the Colts don't have a ton, but that's enough to beat the Bucs.
Week 13: Atlanta Falcons WIN ... Having this game in Tampa swings this the other way for me.
Week 14: New Orleans Saints LOSS ... I still think the Saints are tougher than the Falcons.
Week 15: at St. Louis Rams WIN ... Perpetual mediocrity defines Jeff Fisher teams.
Week 16: Chicago Bears WIN ... New coach, still Jay Cutler at quarterback, no Brandon Marshall and a terrible defense.
Week 17: at Carolina Panthers LOSS ... Still too good of a team for the Bucs to beat them.
That's 9-7 -- an actual winning season. I maaaaay have been a bit optimistic there, but I'll take it.