Buccaneers 2017 Schedule 14th Toughest in the NFL
On strength of schedule, the Buccaneers will have a tough road ahead in 2017.
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The Buccaneers have playoff aspirations for 2017 and beyond. That is understandable. A couple of breaks here and there could have landed them in the playoffs in 2016. It’s the next logical jump in the team’s progress.
The trouble is that there are these pesky guys on the other side of the football trying to prevent the Bucs from winning. Obviously the games are played on the field, but looking ahead at the schedule gives us an early idea of what the road to the “tournament” could potentially be like.
CBS Sports released a report that ranked each team’s 2017 schedule, based on the 2016 records. The Bucs schedule came in ranked 14th overall, with a 2016 record of 132-123-1, .518 winning percentage.
It’s no surprise that the Bucs schedule is in the top half of the league. They did jump to a 9-7 record, although much of the schedule is predetermined anyway. They take on the AFC East this season, so that means the champion New England Patriots will be on the docket. It is at home, but we don’t need to talk about how good the Patriots are. Let’s face it, they are a tough opponent on the moon.
Of course they face the NFC champions twice, since they happen to be in the division. They also have Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, as well as the potent Arizona Cardinals, just to name a few of their opponents. To make the playoff jump, this team is going to have to come together quickly.
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If anyone is interested, the Broncos have the toughest schedule and the Colts the easiest.