Buccaneers’ 2017 Regular Season Schedule Released
By Bailey Adams
Happy New Year, Bucs fans. Of course, the NFL’s new year began back in March, but the regular season schedules are now set. That means we now know how the Buccaneers’ calendar will look this fall.
The Buccaneers have known their opponents for the upcoming season since the 2016 regular season ended on New Year’s Day. However, they now know how each opponent lines up on the schedule. The NFL will officially release its full 2017 slate on Thursday night, though small leaks occurred throughout the afternoon.
The biggest news, from an initial look, is that the Bucs will have two primetime games at home this season. The first is a Thursday Night Football matchup with the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots. The second is a Monday Night Football game against the defending NFC champion Falcons on Dec. 18.
Tampa Bay’s full schedule looks like this (subject to change if leaks prove to be wrong, of course):
Week 1: Sept. 10 at Miami Dolphins (1 p.m.)
Week 2: Sept. 17 vs Chicago Bears (1 p.m.)
Week 3: Sept. 24 at Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m.)
Week 4: Oct. 1 vs New York Giants (4:05 p.m.)
Week 5: Oct. 5 vs New England Patriots (Thursday Night Football- 8:25 p.m.)
Week 6: Oct. 15 at Arizona Cardinals (4:05 p.m.)
Week 7: Oct. 22 at Buffalo Bills (1 p.m.)
Week 8: Oct. 29 vs Carolina Panthers (1 p.m.)
Week 9: Nov. 5 at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m.)
Week 10: Nov. 12 vs New York Jets (1 p.m.)
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Nov. 26 at Atlanta Falcons (1 p.m.)
Week 13: Dec. 3 at Green Bay Packers (1 p.m.)
Week 14: Dec. 10 vs Detroit Lions (1 p.m.)
Week 15: Dec. 18 vs Atlanta Falcons (Monday Night Football- 8:30 p.m.)
Week 16: Dec. 24 at Carolina Panthers (1 p.m.)
Week 17: Dec. 31 vs New Orleans Saints (1 p.m.)
It’s a little disappointing to see so many 1 p.m. games for a team on the rise, but if the Buccaneers play anything like they did down the stretch last season, there are plenty of opportunities to be flexed into 4:25 p.m. or Sunday Night Football slots.
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You’ll see plenty of schedule breakdown from us here at The Pewter Plank in the coming days, but what are your first thoughts, Bucs fans? Let us know in the comments, on Twitter or on Facebook.