Not exactly murderers' row

NFL coaches and players are very wary of looking too far down the road where the schedule is concerned. But that doesn't prevent us from taking a peek.

The loss of the Cowboys' Tony Romo means Sunday's contest could be the start of an interesting span of games for Tampa Bay. Looking at the Bucs' schedule and the quarterbacks they'll face in the coming weeks, moves resulting from injuries or poor play mean they won't face a full-fledged starter until playing the Saints and Drew Brees on Nov. 30.

Consider: they Brad Johnson under center for the Cowboys on Sunday. Next week (Nov. 2), the Chiefs will trot out either Damon Huard or Tyler Thigpen, a second-year player out of Coastal Carolina. After the bye week, the Bucs will get a look at Gus Frerotte in Minnesota, a 37-year-old who is playing only because Tarvaris Jackson couldn't hold his own. And, finally, the Bucs on Nov. 23 will be up against Detriot's Dan Orlovsky (who?) now that Jon Kitna is out for the season.

If you're a Bucs fan, that lineup probably doesn't put a lot of fear in your heart. As long as the Bucs can keep their own quarterback healthy, it would appear the football gods are smiling on them these days.

Comments

[Jon Guruden]

How does it not put fear in a buc fans heart. Kiffin could not beat Quinn Grey last year. Backups punk the old bucs out. I am the Guruden...

[Die hard bucs fan]

The bucs are going all the way to the superbowl this year. There's not a team out there that can stop them. They have depth at qb, rb and defense. SUPERBOWL, HERE WE COME,BABY!!!!

[Leo In Canada]

Stephen. I agree on paper things look promising for the Bucs. The toughest part for Gruden will be playing psychologist and getting the boys to stay aggressive and not play down to their competition. Mr. Brooks should lead a cavalcade of veterans in keeping the youngsters focused & motivated. These are opportunities that must be capitalized on.

[Jay]

It's a bit early to be talking SuperBowl. There are still some very good teams in the NFC (Redskins, Giants, Eagles with Westbrook, Packers, Panthers) that could challenge us. Playoffs are a very good possibility though.

[derek]

good point stephen... never want to jump the gun but a realistic possible start of 9-2 or 8-3 sure would help make some space in the nfc south and the nfc playoff race.. just hope we dont end up with another repeat of garbage games the last few weeks last year

[jackpc]

We may not be facing top-tier QBs but will face tough D from Dallas (Marcus Ware & Co) and Minnesta. It would be nice if we could go at least 3 and 1 ove the next four games.

[ATLBUC Fan]

I find this even more interesting considering fans and commentators enjoyed mocking the bucs for collecting quarterbacks. These teams are foolish for not having a strong backup QB.

[Dark Side]

Well, these next 4 games will tell us if we are for real or not. We played great against the hawks and garcia looked great, if that isnt a 1-game thing then we are looking pretty good. But we should beat every one of these teams, and if we dont... it will prove that we have much work to do yet.

[Tony]

ATLBUC Fan...dead on. It's always a big joke about Gruden collecting QB's even tho we've gone through 3 per year. NOW where are they? The great thing is we have 3 Qb's that can and have won for us. If they keep playing the way they are....we are looking at 13-3 and home-field through out! GO BUCS - BRING IT!!!

[gtskyrider]

My thing is we can play the tough teams and stick it to them--the problem we have is when teams look weak and we start relaxing and beating ourselves and losing to those banged up or mediocre teams. The thing our team has to believe that they must dominate every week no matter what and never let their guard down. GO BUCS!!!

[skp]

the bucs need to get all cobra kai on their opponents and just crush them while they're down....no mercy, if you're favored then play to double the point spread....we sleep on these backups and vulnerable teams a little too often, and i think we went to sleep on the sehawks a bit in the second half....

[Jon Guruden]

My bucs have never been able to beat tough teams like the Cowboys. You don't remember how my team was punked 2 years ago by the boys. You Tampa fans are still the same ignorant toothless mo's Warren Sapp said you were. Woo hoo, the bucs won against Seattle at home, without their starting QB. My bucs lose this week, because I will be out Coached, and the Defense will be intimidated with stars in their eyes. Just the way it is. If Dungy had the team for the last couple of years I may have a chance.

[Karl Williams]

It wasn't sleeping against the Seahawks. The Bucs were playing kill the clock, not rack up the points, like last year's Pats. When you have a defense like we do, you don't try to run up the score. That causes the possibility of more offensive turn overs, which motivates the opposing team. Kill the clock isn't sexy, but it works for us. Credit to Gruden for playing to his team's strength, and also for resting Garcia for this upcoming playoff run! By the way... all you haters should notice by now that both our offense AND defense are top 10. You still want Gruden's head? Didn't think so.

[Nick]

Guruden outcoached?? Your Cowboys haven't a prayer and are falling apart at the seams. Too bad you have all of those talented super stars and very few wins. Bucs punk the Boys 35-7

[Wayne]

I think we need to chill on the Super Bowl talk. I love the bucs and am an avid fan but do any of you honestly believe that we are going to play in a super bowl at home? It has never happened and I hardly doubt that this year will be any different. Sorry to sound pessimistic but unfortunately I believe it is reality.

[aj]

I don't think a first round bye is out of the question. You get there with this defense and anything can happen. If the o-line keeps it together there's a good chance Garcia will get there in good health.

You don't get many chances in this league. With the remaining schedule this is a pretty good one.

[John Klopfer]

Isn't nice that the game is played between the lines and not on paper? I like the Bucs chances against the Cowboys with or without Tony Romo. If the injury bug stays away..we could have a nice run. If injuries hit we need people to step up like Ernest did last year and Antonio is doing this year. We have a good chance of making it to divison titles in a row. As Gruden says once you are in the tourment anything can happen. Don't believe it? Ask the 2007 Cowboys and the 2007 Giants.

[Jay]

SWEEP THE LEG JOHNNY!

[Donovan]

I don't usually try to predict or prognosticate either, but this season looks like it might be a streak in the making. The BUCS always seem to win 3 and lose 1 in segments throughout each season. This year though, I think we may have a unusual streak of weak teams to boost our record and ego's to get us beleiving we are the team to beat. Other than Carolina on the road, I don't think we have any serious obsticales in our path the rest of the year.

Then it will be up to Gruden and the team leaders to get everyones mind straight going into the playoffs with an awesome record. Besides, If we had THE best record in the NFC, it sure would be nice to have homefeild advantage all the way to and including the SUPERBOWL
!

[Josh in Toronto]

this is the bucs year, garcia is playing better than last year, they have a stable of backs, they just need the fullbacks to get healthy, the defense is "AMAZING" right now, i see them playing at home in february

[shane]

Gruden just has to do one thing and one thing only. Take the gun and put it to the jugular of the cowboy's organization and pull the trigger(hopefully it's a loaded gun though).

[George L Hicks]

Well fans this year the difference this year the offensive line is very much Improve. How can you tell the offensive linemen is controlling the line and moving the defense line at will, And the offense is starting to make things happen. Go Bucs. I like this schedule.