NFL schedule makers did the Bucs no favors
With the release of the 2019 NFL schedule The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were shown no respect and have one of the more difficult schedules in the league.
The Bucs will give up a home game because of the awarding of the Super Bowl to Tampa in 2021. That makes no sense. Because you have a great city and can logistically put on great events in your city, the NFL takes a regular season game away from you because your city was awarded the Super Bowl? Please.
In place of a home game at Raymond James, the Bucs will fly across the pond to England to play the Carolina Panthers on Oct 13th. That will count as one of the Buccaneer home games. At least they will be the designated home team 4,411 miles from Tampa. Nice home field advantage.
In addition to the London trip, the Bucs will also make two trips to the west coast as they travel to Los Angeles and Seattle.
The Bucs play the New York Giants at home on Sept 22nd and will not set foot at Raymond James again until November 10th. Seven weeks between home games.
The NFL realizes in hindsight that this is terribly unfair to the Buccaneers "This is one that the NFL would love to have back. It's certainly not unusual for an NFL team to have one home game over a six-week stretch," NFL vice president of broadcasting Michael North told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday evening. "But when that one home (game) isn't actually home, this is likely something that the NFL would seek to avoid in the future. "I'd love a redo on that one."
The Bucs will kick off the season September eighth against Kwon Alexander and the San Francisco 49ers. That just doesn't sound right. Alexander probably will not suit up for that game as he will be finishing up his rehab from last seasons ACL injury.
Four days later the Bucs will kick off the Thursday night portion of the NFL season with a visit to Charlotte to play the Carolina Panthers On September 12th.
The Bucs will host the New York Giants on September 22nd before the road trips from hell begin
Sept 29th, the Bucs make their first trip to the west coast as they will play the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams.
The next week the Bucs will play in New Orleans against the Saints, before traveling to England to play the Carolina Panthers on October 13th.
The Bucs will then have their bye week before resuming the season in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans on October. 27th.
The Bucs will officially wrap up the first half of the season with a trip to Seattle to take on Russell Wilson and the Seahawks On November third.
The Bucs then finally get some home cooking as they will host Bruce Arians old team the Arizona Cardinals on November 10th, followed by a visit from the Saints on the 17th.
The Bucs will then make their first visit to Atlanta on the 24th, and then head north to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars the first of December.
The Bucs then welcome Andrew Luck and the Colts to Tampa on December 8th and that is followed by a trip to Detroit on the 15th, and then two home games against Houston and Atlanta to wrap up the season.
The game against the Texans is a flex game and is slated for either December 22nd or 23rd.
There will again be no Sunday Night game and no Monday Night game for the Bucs.
The three best home games for me will be the home opener against San Francisco, The Cardinals visit on November 10th, and the Saints visit to Tampa a week later on November 17th.
The Bucs have the 12th toughest schedule in the league as their opponents had a .508 win percentage in 2018.
So here is a not too early look at my game by game predictions for the 2019 Buccaneers.
Sept. 8 San Francisco Win
Sept. 12 at Carolina Loss
Sept. 22 NY Giants. Win
Sept, 29 at LA Rams. Loss
Oct. 6. at New Orleans Loss
Oct. 13 Carolina (London) Win
Oct. 20 Bye
Oct. 27 at Tennessee Win
Nov. 3 at Seattle Loss
Nov. 10 Arizona Win
Nov. 17 New Orleans Loss
Nov. 24 at Atlanta Win
Dec. 1 at Jacksonville Win
Dec. 8 Indianapolis Loss
Dec. 15 at Detroit Win
TBD Houston Loss
Dec. 29 Atlanta Win
