The Bucs surprised a lot of people by rolling to a 4-2 start behind Jeff Garcia and a resurgent defense. But the last two weeks - at Detroit, home to Jacksonville - saw them drop imminently winnable games to stem a lot of the optimism they had engendered.

So at the season’s midpoint, where do the Bucs truly stand? Are they 4-4 with a bullet - or a prayer? Is the remaining schedule forgiving, or forbidding? In the soft NFC, are the Bucs playoff material at this point, or will they be at all?

They have a chance at this point. Much will depend this Sunday on not only how they do against the Cardinals but also how the Saints and Panthers make out in their contests.