Bucs get easier schedule after struggling in 2009

By Bud L. Ellis

There was no denying the disappointment that flowed from the 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who struggled to a 3-13 season.

The road back up the mountain to respectability won’t be easy, but at least the schedule-makers have lent somewhat of a hand to the franchise.

The National Football League has released its list of home games and road games for all 32 of its teams. Dates and times will be announced later this spring.

Tampa Bay faces just one playoff team at home, that being division rival New Orleans, which won the Super Bowl. The rest of the home schedule includes visits by NFC South rivals Atlanta and Carolina, and games against Pittsburgh, Detroit, Seattle, St. Louis and Cleveland. The combined 2009 record of the last four: 13-51.

Away from home, the schedule gets tougher. Tampa Bay faces playoff teams in four of its eight playoff games: contests at New Orleans, at NFC West champion Arizona, at AFC North champion Cincinnati and AFC wild-card team Baltimore. The other four road games are at Atlanta, at Carolina, at San Francisco at at Washington.

Based on opponents’ win percentage from last season, Tampa Bay’s schedule ranks 25th toughest in the 32-team NFL.

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Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 11:11 pm by bud

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, National Football League, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Super Bowl, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins