Buccaneer fans you should love the 2008 schedule.
And I mean you should LOVE this schedule.
Even with a NFC South title in their hip pocket, the Buccaneers play only four teams that made the playoffs last season. Get this...the Bucs play only four teams with winning records from last season.
And the way the schedule is laid out has to bring a smile to Jon Gruden.
Sure, the Bucs open on the road again. That's five times in the last six years. But unlike last year's trip to Seattle, the Bucs begin at New Orleans. Nothing earthshattering. The Bucs have played in the Big Easy for years. And Gruden will have an entire off-season to prep for a divisional opponent. And the next week, the Bucs open their home campaign against another NFC South team -- Atlanta. A 2-0 start would mean everything to a team looking to win back-to-back division titles.
And the Bucs don't have to deal with International trips. No three games in 10 days. The majority of games begin at 1 PM Eastern.
This is a schedule that would make Nebraska proud.
There is nothing about this schedule that scares you. The toughest task will be Week 7 with a Sunday Night game at home against Seattle. The next Sunday, the Bucs travel to Dallas. They back that up with a trip to KC and then their BYE week.
I like the stretch run. December opens with NFC South games at Carolina and Atlanta. They close the season at home against San Diego -- a great test for the playoffs in YOUR stadium. And the final game is against the Raiders again at home. If the Bucs are fighting for a playoff spot is there anybody Gruden would want to play more than the Raiders?
Granted, teams like the Saints, Bears, Broncos and Panthers won't gag like they did last season. But on paper, the Bucs preseason schedule may be tougher. The Bucs open at Miami...they return for home games with the Patriots and Jaguars...and they close at Houston. Again, those home preseason games against New England and Jacksonville are more difficult than anything they see when the games count.
Al Keck