How Many Wins Does NFL.com Project Buccaneers to Earn?
For the past three seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been one of the NFL's favorite children.
Still, there were signs that the league's love of the Bucs wasn't true as the schedule kept putting the team in positions where they'd either shine under pressure or get embarrassed in grand view.
READ MORE: Full 2023 Buccaneers Schedule
And now that retired quarterback Tom Brady is no longer the voice yelling into the stands pregame at Raymond James Stadium, the NFL's true feelings about the team are coming to light.
In fact, the Buccaneers face the league's 10th-hardest schedule despite facing the 11th-lowest opponent win percentage from last season.
Why? Because of how the schedule is presented.
And because of how the league placed Tampa Bay's opponents they now project the Bucs to win fewer than seven games in their post-schedule release analysis.
READ MORE: How the Bucs Can Answer Last Remaining Question Mark
"Week 3's home contest against the Eagles presents a challenge," says NFL.com's Cynthia Frelund. "But the Week 5 bye could provide Tampa with a chance to rest early in the post-Tom Brady era. Looming after that is the Bucs' most daunting four-game swing: at the Bills in Week 8, at the Texans in Week 9, vs. the Titans in Week 10, and at the Niners in Week 11."
For some, a Week 5 bye week is like making your first pitstop 25 miles into a 1,000-mile trip with the intention of doing the next 9,975 without a break.
Sure, it could allow the Buccaneers to reset and adjust after four games of regular season action.
It could also set the team up for a significant physical breakdown late in the season as 13 straight games start to take their toll and a playoff bye week is unlikely.
Of course, if Tampa Bay only pulls off the 6.4 wins Frelund projects they won't be worried about their health past Week 18 as much as they are about how they'll use the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82
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