First round bye?

[Kablansky]

Carolina and Tampa Bay are the Cardinals two obsticals for the 1st round bye

Carolina has a really tough schedule down the stretch
@ Atlanta
@ Green Bay
Tampa Bay
Denver
@ NY Giants
@ New Orleans

Prediction: 3-3

Tampa Bay has a relatively cake schedule
@ Detroit
New Orleans
@ Carolina
@ Atlanta
San Diego
Oakland

Prediction 4-2

 

[moklerman]

I've kind of been thinking along those lines but gave up for now. It's a bit too early to start watching the scoreboards and the NFC South is going to fluctuate a lot in the next 6 weeks. Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans and Tampa Bay are all playing well and it wouldn't be surprising to see them all knock each other around.

Since I'm a sucker for an underdog though, I could see Detroit pulling an upset vs. TB next week. Culpepper's numbers haven't been through the roof but he's playing some pretty decent ball considering the complete lack of practice time and long hibernation. I was never much of a fan of his but he looks like he's finally healthy but a tad out of shape. If he can pull it together, Detroit might have actually stumbled into some non bad-luck for once. I don't want to say he'll be a good thing just yet but if he can regain his Minnesota form he'll certainly be an upgrade over what they've had for...I don't even know how many years. Possibly even a viable, full-time starter.

 

[Spielman]

I've kind of been thinking along those lines but gave up for now. It's a bit too early to start watching the scoreboards and the NFC South is going to fluctuate a lot in the next 6 weeks. Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans and Tampa Bay are all playing well and it wouldn't be surprising to see them all knock each other around.

Since I'm a sucker for an underdog though, I could see Detroit pulling an upset vs. TB next week. Culpepper's numbers haven't been through the roof but he's playing some pretty decent ball considering the complete lack of practice time and long hibernation. I was never much of a fan of his but he looks like he's finally healthy but a tad out of shape. If he can pull it together, Detroit might have actually stumbled into some non bad-luck for once. I don't want to say he'll be a good thing just yet but if he can regain his Minnesota form he'll certainly be an upgrade over what they've had for...I don't even know how many years. Possibly even a viable, full-time starter.

I'd love to see the Lions do it too, but I have no faith in Culpepper. He looked like the 2005+ Culpepper to me, yesterday. Even the passes that worked weren't crisp, and that 4th quarter INT was one of the worst I've ever seen in terms of decisions. He looks physically better than he has the last couple years, but the package just isn't there. Hope I'm wrong.

11-5 is the bare minimum to get a bye, and root hard for the NFC South leaders to fall apart. Delhomme is playing like crap, and that doesn't bode well for the Panthers, at least.

 

[moklerman]

I'd love to see the Lions do it too, but I have no faith in Culpepper. He looked like the 2005+ Culpepper to me, yesterday. Even the passes that worked weren't crisp, and that 4th quarter INT was one of the worst I've ever seen in terms of decisions. He looks physically better than he has the last couple years, but the package just isn't there. Hope I'm wrong.

11-5 is the bare minimum to get a bye, and root hard for the NFC South leaders to fall apart. Delhomme is playing like crap, and that doesn't bode well for the Panthers, at least.

I didn't devote a whole lot of time to the game but the little I did see it looked like he had his legs back and that's what is most important for now. The late interception was a bad decision to be sure but this is only his 2nd week with these guys, this system and a long layoff so that sort of thing isn't much of a surprise especially considering the woeful Lions and the pretty good Panthers D.

Smith had 96 last week vs. Jacksonville and 100+ today vs. the Panthers so the Lions are cultivating an actual running game and I think part of that has to do with Culpepper being there. If they continue to grow in that direction, it's not impossible for them to get a win or two. The only reason I think they have a chance against TB is that they don't always do well in a dome and they don't score much in general. If Detroit can put up 27+, a tough task against that Tampa D to be sure but Jax and Carolina aren't slouches, they might be able to outscore the Buccaneers.

 

[BACH]

Carolina and Tampa Bay are the Cardinals two obsticals for the 1st round bye

Carolina has a really tough schedule down the stretch
@ Atlanta
@ Green Bay
Tampa Bay
Denver
@ NY Giants
@ New Orleans

Prediction: 3-3

Tampa Bay has a relatively cake schedule
@ Detroit
New Orleans
@ Carolina
@ Atlanta
San Diego
Oakland

Prediction 4-2

Remember that the NFC South is extremely competitive where the home-team almost always wins the games. The Bucs have a pretty tough remaining schedule if you ask me.