2026 schedule is rough

[TD alt]

1 hour ago, PootieNunu said:

Get a FS that is actually a FS. 

Get LBs that are NFL starter material. 

Pass rush. 

Knowing us we probably go draft more WRs and RBs. 

I would say pass rush is our biggest need based upon our far too consistent lack of one. I thought that we invested too much money into Turk Wharton at the time, and I do believe that this was confirmed by injuries and disappearing acts when it mattered the most.

I'm kinda thinking that running a 4-3 with the current personnel could help fix some of the pass rushing woes, but I could be wrong. 

Within that same vein, we need a dominant MLB in the mold of Luke, Morgan or Beason, so I would also give that a high priority. 

Being that we can't address everything on day one and two, we certainly have to use FA to set up the draft. I think that it would be easier to find a legit free safety in free agency, and we still have to continue developing Ransom. My son says Mike Jackson would make for a great free safety.

We have two legit WRs. The position has to be in the discussion for upgrade. Some say it's easy to find one. I don't know about that. I just can't see investing another pick on one with our top pick. I'd consider TE, but only a potential boss, and only if Canales has the desire and proficiency to use one.

Dan Morgan still has lots to do. 

 

 

[PootieNunu]

Just now, TD alt said:

I would say pass rush is our biggest need based upon our far too consistent lack of one. I thought that we invested too much money into Turk Wharton at the time, and I do believe that this was confirmed by injuries and disappearing acts when it mattered the most.

I'm kinda thinking that running a 4-3 with the current personnel could help fix some of the pass rushing woes, but I could be wrong. 

Within that same vein, we need a dominant MLB in the mold of Luke, Morgan or Beason, so I would also give that a high priority. 

Being that we can't address everything on day one and two, we certainly have to use FA to set up the draft. I think that it would be easier to find a legit free safety in free agency, and we still have to continue developing Ransom. My son says Mike Jackson would make for a great free safety.

We have two legit WRs. The position has to be in the discussion for upgrade. Some say it's easy to find one. I don't know about that. I just can't see investing another pick on one with our top pick. I'd consider TE, but only a potential boss, and only if Canales has the desire and proficiency to use one.

Dan Morgan still has lots to do. 

 

 

Pass rush is definitely our biggest need. 

[DeadpoolPanther]

I mean it’s never gonna be but so easy. This year we played the Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, Bills, Patriots, that’s 5 legit Super Bowl contenders.

[frankw]

2 hours ago, TD alt said:

I know that we have just had a roller coaster season, and that the team has obvious shortcomings and downright holes, but I take issue with that comment. We didn't "back our way into five wins," we worked hard for every one of them, save for maybe the one game against Atlanta where we dominated them.

Sir. Let's look at this logically. We won a game that was against the Jets and our offense successfully made one trip to the end zone. One.

Most of our games we won within a single score. We had a lot of luck bounce our way. We had some bad calls but we also got a lot of make up calls in our favor. All in all can't expect a repeat of that. Also as ugly as our division was at one point I expect things to even back out next year. The Falcons hiring a good coach could be a thorn in our sides for years. The Saints are up and coming and swept us with a rookie QB. The Bucs are still a good team regardless of how they faltered down the stretch and honestly if they seek out a new coach they could be even more of a problem. Like I said. Things could look a lot different this summer.

[PanthersATL]

From a different thread….

Here’s the strength of schedule rankings for each team we’re playing next season.  No idea how other teams’ SoS impacts us

[Donald LaFell]

2 hours ago, Manna said:

If Bryce stays the same then we can expect him to come out the gate in the 2026 season with an 0-2 record…Mr. 0-2

2023: 0-2

2024: 0-2

2025: 0-2

2026: 0-2?

For the rest of his career I’ll just be expecting an implosion style game. It can happen against top or bottom tier teams. Doesn’t seem like he can handle the expectations of being the main dude. Has to be an underdog first. 

[Manna]

27 minutes ago, Donald LaFell said:

For the rest of his career I’ll just be expecting an implosion style game. It can happen against top or bottom tier teams. Doesn’t seem like he can handle the expectations of being the main dude. Has to be an underdog first. 

After 2023 expectations were high because he had a new offensive minded coach. Came out 0-2 and benched. 
After the 2024 season he was riding high off the ATL performance and expectations were high. Came out 0-2. 
After making the playoffs at the end of the 2025 season, expectations are sky high to make it back. Most likely come out 0-2 again. 

[TD alt]

1 hour ago, frankw said:

Sir. Let's look at this logically. We won a game that was against the Jets and our offense successfully made one trip to the end zone. One.

Most of our games we won within a single score. We had a lot of luck bounce our way. We had some bad calls but we also got a lot of make up calls in our favor. All in all can't expect a repeat of that. Also as ugly as our division was at one point I expect things to even back out next year. The Falcons hiring a good coach could be a thorn in our sides for years. The Saints are up and coming and swept us with a rookie QB. The Bucs are still a good team regardless of how they faltered down the stretch and honestly if they seek out a new coach they could be even more of a problem. Like I said. Things could look a lot different this summer.

You face the competition in front of you. The phrase "any given Sunday" hasn't endured because it's bullsh¡t. This is the NFL. Too many teams to count win multiple games every year via one score. Hell, the Chiefs made it all the way to the Super Bowl with a preponderance of one-score games. That doesn't move me. It is the NFL, and winning has less to do with logic than hard work and professionalism. Our roller coaster of a season, multiple times losing games we were projected to lose and winning games that we were projected to win speaks to the spirit behind "Any given Sunday." Come on, dude, I never said that we were going to have the dynamics of this season going forward. In fact, looking at all my comments today, I've pretty much said the opposite in so many words. I said that I took issue with that one phrase, not that we will be able to repeat what we did this year and expect to make the postseason.

I will say this however, we won't be back-dooring into any wins next year either, regardless of whether we improve or not.

[rodeo]

We had the hardest SOS in the NFCS this year at least in the second half of the season, and won it, so it'll be fine. If you want to be good you have to beat good teams.

[Jmac]

33 minutes ago, Manna said:

After 2023 expectations were high because he had a new offensive minded coach. Came out 0-2 and benched. 
After the 2024 season he was riding high off the ATL performance and expectations were high. Came out 0-2. 
After making the playoffs at the end of the 2025 season, expectations are sky high to make it back. Most likely come out 0-2 again. 

We didn't win the games we needed to make the playoffs without help. I wouldn't rely on being pushed into the playoffs again. Nothing is likely with this team 

[dep]

Nothing the Reaper can't handle right guys

[frankw]

6 hours ago, frankw said:

we aren't going to back our way into 5 wins

 

50 minutes ago, TD alt said:

we won't be back-dooring into any wins next year

So we agree.

[TD alt]

12 minutes ago, frankw said:

 

So we agree.

As I don't think back-dooring exists for winning in the NFL, we don't agree unless you think that too.

[ProcessBlue2]

Being 1st place only affects 3 games. I’m not so pessimistic on it. 
 

Division Games:

-Falcons, Bucs, Saints (Who knows)

AFC games:

@ Browns (meh, depends who takes them over and changes they make)

@ Steelers (Historically against them but they aren’t what they have been in years past, last time we played there they ruined Cam’s shoulder for good)

VS Bengals (Probably tough but I don’t think they will be fixing their defense anytime soon)

VS Ravens (Depends what they do at HC, Lamar is hurt half the time)

Other games:

-VS Bears (I think we match up well against them honestly)

-VS Lions (Tough but being at home helps)

-VS Seahawks (Tough but again at home)

-VS Broncos (Probably our toughest game but again at home)

-@ Green Bay (Probably going to get our ass whooped as revenge)

@ Philly (Bryce homecoming game, we did decent here in 2024 against a better Eagles team. We have a better chance earlier in the season)

@ Minnesota (No clue what to expect from them with No Flores and McCarthy being so inconsistent)

It’s easy to call this hard without seeing all the offseason changes we make and they make. 
 

I think the Bucs will implode, the Falcons will be rebuilding. I am worried about the Saints though. They seem to be figuring it out quickly and have an easy schedule.

Edited 3 hours ago by ProcessBlue2