ESPN's 2009 Strength of Schedule

[Fireball77]

joemac, your point is taken...I read a book by KC Joyner where he analyzed strength of division vs playoff success and for the most part, the teams that came from the strongest divisions (W-L %) did the best in the playoffs. Of course the Cats, the NYG and the Cards were outliers last year, but there are always outliers.

[17+89=6]

I believe its like the 6th consecutive year the Cards and Panthers are meeting up... Yea, I'm excited to see that game aswell..

Can't forget about the first game, how Carolina won by some kind of miracle when the Cardinals kicked their ass the entire game. Then how the playoffs played out and the Cardinals stood no chance, walking into the Panthers stadium where they were 8-0 and dissecting every faucet of the Panthers team.

Basically, force Jake into making mistakes with the game close and then build a bit of a gap so the Panthers abandon their bread and butter (the run game)... then sit back with your popcorn and watch Jake's amazing ability being highlighted lol..

Why are you alive?

[Peppers90 NC]

Yup and having your team take a step back from its 12-4 season with a good chunk of close wins and questionable roster decisions... Good luck repeating 12-4. Not that it can't be done, but there is a drop off here with Carolina as opposed to last year's team.

Sounds a lot like a few miracle wins the Bucs had, and I guess there is only way way to go this year after starting 9-3 last year and choking a playoff spot away by losing the last 4 including a defeat to the Raiders. Look for a major step back for the Bucs, similar to 06, what was it 5 wins? After going 11-5 in 05, but this year dismissing older veterans that have carried the defense the past 10 years. What is your expectations for next season? If you want to rip the Panthers for the close wins, remember, good teams win close games, bad teams find a way to lose them. You won't come on here and hurt anyone's feelings after that monster choke job the Bucs had last year. :puke:

[HSCBandit07]

Jake Delhomme is going to come out burning holes in our receivers hands - well, either that or in defenders hands... we may have to switch to davidsons direct snap to deangelo or stewart offense!

[Lone Buc Fan]

Sounds a lot like a few miracle wins the Bucs had, and I guess there is only way way to go this year after starting 9-3 last year and choking a playoff spot away by losing the last 4 including a defeat to the Raiders. Look for a major step back for the Bucs, similar to 06, what was it 5 wins? After going 11-5 in 05, but this year dismissing older veterans that have carried the defense the past 10 years. What is your expectations for next season? If you want to rip the Panthers for the close wins, remember, good teams win close games, bad teams find a way to lose them. You won't come on here and hurt anyone's feelings after that monster choke job the Bucs had last year.

Carolina is suppouse to be the cream of the crop and was exposed to show they really don't dominate teams as a whole. Tampa's expectations aren't as high as Carolina's, so any less then repeating as South Champions, you might aswell carve up as a failure as you guys will not win the super bowl this year. I'd bank on that one too.

Now whats funny is your talking about dismissing veterans that have carried the Bucs, I guess your referring to Derrick Brooks who is past his prime and who played hurt for nearly the whole year. Brooks leaving now, is a step in the right direction for the younger guys on the roster... or are you too stupid to realize this... you acting like Brooks is stll in his prime and is the same guy who scored a touchdown in the super bowl.

Simeon Rice, Warren Sapp, and John Lynch have all been gone and we've still put winning seasons together... So this core of old vets carrying the team that you speak of, just shows that you don't even know what the hell your talking about.

Tampa has bounced at the QB spot and still made the playoffs, so your looking into the QB situation for more then what it is...

Yea and obviously plenty of people are feeling butt hurt from any remark said about the Panthers. I could agree that you guys are better at this or that, but that'd just inflate your egos worse then they already are inflated.

I've seen it all from the Bucs, winning seasons, losing seasons, wild card losses, divisonal losses, nfc championship losses, SUPER BOWL WINS, Multiple division wins, so its nothing new... all we are doing is buiding now but thinking we won't be competitive, just shows you know nothin about how the Bucs work in the NFL.

Thanks for that discussion Peppers90 NC.

[Jangler]

You continue to post Bucs poo like anybody really cares....that's cute.

[Lone Buc Fan]

Meh, merely responding about the Bucs when people wanted discussion.

[17+89=6]

Carolina is suppouse to be the cream of the crop and was exposed to show they really don't dominate teams as a whole. Tampa's expectations aren't as high as Carolina's, so any less then repeating as South Champions, you might aswell carve up as a failure as you guys will not win the super bowl this year. I'd bank on that one too.

Now whats funny is your talking about dismissing veterans that have carried the Bucs, I guess your referring to Derrick Brooks who is past his prime and who played hurt for nearly the whole year. Brooks leaving now, is a step in the right direction for the younger guys on the roster... or are you too stupid to realize this... you acting like Brooks is stll in his prime and is the same guy who scored a touchdown in the super bowl.

Simeon Rice, Warren Sapp, and John Lynch have all been gone and we've still put winning seasons together... So this core of old vets carrying the team that you speak of, just shows that you don't even know what the hell your talking about.

Tampa has bounced at the QB spot and still made the playoffs, so your looking into the QB situation for more then what it is...

Yea and obviously plenty of people are feeling butt hurt from any remark said about the Panthers. I could agree that you guys are better at this or that, but that'd just inflate your egos worse then they already are inflated.

I've seen it all from the Bucs, winning seasons, losing seasons, wild card losses, divisonal losses, nfc championship losses, SUPER BOWL WINS, Multiple division wins, so its nothing new... all we are doing is buiding now but thinking we won't be competitive, just shows you know nothin about how the Bucs work in the NFL.

Thanks for that discussion Peppers90 NC.

Every "discussion" you have assumes we know nothing about the Bucs and you know everything about the Panthers. What we do know is what we saw. A team that started hot and didn't finish. We choked in one game. The Bucs chokes in 4 consecutive games. Now, maybe this new team you think is so amazing will be a bit more headstrong. But you have a lot of new players and new coaches. No one is saying the Bucs wont compete, most teams in the NFL compete. Very few do not. Most people that pay attention to football think that you will be a middle of the road team. That is all.

[Lone Buc Fan]

Every "discussion" you have assumes we know nothing about the Bucs and you know everything about the Panthers. What we do know is what we saw. A team that started hot and didn't finish. We choked in one game. The Bucs chokes in 4 consecutive games. Now, maybe this new team you think is so amazing will be a bit more headstrong. But you have a lot of new players and new coaches. No one is saying the Bucs wont compete, most teams in the NFL compete. Very few do not. Most people that pay attention to football think that you will be a middle of the road team. That is all.

Well what I've seen from the most of the people here are they pick out the easy facts or knowledge on these situations, and they rarely look into things more then what they try to profess.

Yea, most analysts who've said going into the 2002 season that the Bucs weren't favorites to win the Super Bowl... the same people that your referring to that said neither Tampa or Carolina would win the South respectiely the past 2 years. So, if your going to slap all your stock into that then you might aswell just follow the trend that the Saints win the South after finishing 8-8 with a 5,000 yard QB. I just wonder how "these peope" pay attention to football when they can't even tell me some of the depth sitting on each team's roster.

I know enough about Tampa to suppourt myself, and I know enough about Carolina to support/ridicule the Panthers. All I hope is that if the Bucs dont win the south, that Carolina does.

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

Well what I've seen from the most of the people here are they pick out the easy facts or knowledge on these situations, and they rarely look into things more then what they try to profess.

Yes, just like you saying the Saints defense has no one except Vilma and is gonna suck again this year.

[Peppers90 NC]

Well, you failed to commit on the 4 game collapse. When I mentioned Brooks and June being cut, it was a response to your remark about the Panthers' losing some pieces(just Lucas as of now until the Peppers saga is ended). Carolina my not have dominated, but who did last year? Steelers won quite a few close games. Carolina averaged over 30 points per game over the last 8 games, including wins over your supposed to be tough Bucs defense and the Giants as well in NJ.

Who says or thinks Carolina is supposed to be the cream of the crop, people outside the division have been picking the Aints since their fluke season. You have seen ONE Super Bowl season, so an 's' doesnt belong on the end of that part. I don't hate on the Bucs but you have come on here and posted some ignorance, so you need to be put in your place, which is gonna be the basement of the NFC South next season. You have one offensive weapon that would concern any team in Bryant, and who knows what to expect from the defense. Could be solid or could struggle, but I do know the Bucs are less at d line, less at linebackers, and even to Carolina in the secondary, while the Panthers have a great O-line, a top running back tandem, and one of the most explosive playmakers in Smith, aka the Cover 2 Killer.

Both teams will be tested this year, but most people who follow football would agree the Bucs have many more question marks than the Panthers. At least you admitted to having low expectations for your team, but don't use that as an excuse already and then come on here and tell us to be prepared for a drop off.

[Lone Buc Fan]

Carolina didn't score 30 at NJ.

[Peppers90 NC]

Carolina didn't score 30 at NJ.

Wow, only 6 words from the idiot loudmouth. Must have done my job in shutting you up. The Panthers didnt score 30 at Atl either but that is not what I said either, learn to read TROLL.

[SorthNarolina]

Well, you failed to commit on the 4 game collapse. When I mentioned Brooks and June being cut, it was a response to your remark about the Panthers' losing some pieces(just Lucas as of now until the Peppers saga is ended). Carolina my not have dominated, but who did last year? Steelers won quite a few close games. Carolina averaged over 30 points per game over the last 8 games, including wins over your supposed to be tough Bucs defense and the Giants as well in NJ.

Who says or thinks Carolina is supposed to be the cream of the crop, people outside the division have been picking the Aints since their fluke season. You have seen ONE Super Bowl season, so an 's' doesnt belong on the end of that part. I don't hate on the Bucs but you have come on here and posted some ignorance, so you need to be put in your place, which is gonna be the basement of the NFC South next season. You have one offensive weapon that would concern any team in Bryant, and who knows what to expect from the defense. Could be solid or could struggle, but I do know the Bucs are less at d line, less at linebackers, and even to Carolina in the secondary, while the Panthers have a great O-line, a top running back tandem, and one of the most explosive playmakers in Smith, aka the Cover 2 Killer.

Both teams will be tested this year, but most people who follow football would agree the Bucs have many more question marks than the Panthers. At least you admitted to having low expectations for your team, but don't use that as an excuse already and then come on here and tell us to be prepared for a drop off.

the bucs are also going to sweep us by his predictions as well