[Lefty Noob]

So who will the Bucs be facing this season?

The 2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football Schedule includes home games against Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Seattle, as well as away games with Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Chicago.

How does everyone think this team will fare in '06? Are they playoff contenders?

[cjg11582]

For some reason I have an unexplainable vested interest in this team. I have no affiliation with Tampa and actually disliked there Superbowl team. But for some reason when Warren Sapp departed and they went 7-9 I became a Buccaneers fan. With that said, after looking at the schedule, I think they will win that division next season unless Atlanta changes its offensive scheme to cater to Michael Vick (A novel idea, I know). If Philadelphia does not make it, then I would love to see this Tampa team win The Superbowl.

[Lefty Noob]

Honestly, I think they're just the third best team in the South, behind the Panthers and the Falcons. I really don't think they have what it takes to be a playoff team this year. Too many questionmarks.

[ThePundit]

This schedule is not that easy. They play a lot of first place teams. Last year they snuck up on people. This year, it may be tougher. Although I like Chris Simms a lot.

[Lefty Noob]

Here's the week-by-week breakdown of the Bucs schedule.

Sun. Sept. 10 BALTIMORE 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sun. Sept. 17 at Atlanta 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Sept. 24 CAROLINA 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Oct. 1 -- Bye Week --
Sun. Oct. 8 at New Orleans 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Oct. 15 CINCINNATI 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sun. Oct. 22 PHILADELPHIA 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Oct. 29 at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Nov. 5 NEW ORLEANS 1:00 p.m. FOX
Mon. Nov. 13 at Carolina 8:30 p.m. ESPN*
Sun. Nov. 19 WASHINGTON 1:00 p.m.^ FOX
Thurs. Nov. 23 at Dallas 4:15 p.m. FOX*
Sun. Dec. 3 at Pittsburgh 1:00 p.m.^ FOX
Sun. Dec. 10 ATLANTA 1:00 p.m.^ FOX
Sun. Dec. 17 at Chicago 1:00 p.m.^ FOX
Sun. Dec. 24 at Cleveland 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Dec. 31 SEATTLE 1:00 p.m.^ FOX

On the whole, it looks to have a pretty good mix of easier and tougher opponents. On the one hand, you've got Carolina, Seattle, the Steelers, the Bengals... and on the other, you've got New Orleans and Cleveland (who may be a lot better this year, time will tell).

Anyone care to predict what Tampa Bay's record will be?