What are the five biggest games on the Buccaneers 2017 schedule?
The Buccaneers enter 2017 with great expectations. Coming off of a 9-7 season that brought playoff dreams with it, the Bucs have gotten better. The defense is maturing as a group, and the offense has added weapons to an already potent group of players. The talk of a playoff run, and a deep one, is already in full swing before training camp has even started.
But before we can get there, we have to make it through the regular season. You know, those pesky 16 games before we get to the “tournament”. The Bucs do catch a bit of a break in 2017, facing the AFC East as opponents outside the conference. Other than those always tough Super Bowl champions from New England, the division doesn’t offer much.
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However, every schedule has big games in it. There are always those games that you say, “If we can get through this one, we’ll be fine”. It’s simply the nature of a 16 game season. There are always going to be big ones.
So which are the biggest for the Bucs in 2017? What are those earmarked games that they must get through? Everyone will have their own opinions about this, but I present you with mine.
So without further adieu, here are the five biggest games on the upcoming Bucs schedule, presented in the order of appearance on the schedule.
We it started right at the beginning.
Week One: at Miami
It all gets started week number one. Jameis Winston and the rest of the Bucs head south to face the Miami Dolphins. Last year, the Dolphins were better than expected, finishing with a 10-6 record, well behind the perennial winners from New England. Jay Ajayi was the breakout star, rushing for 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns, earning himself a trip to the Pro Bowl. On the defensive side of the ball, Cameron Wake led the way with 11.5 sacks, and Ndamukong Suh added five of his own.
The last time these two teams met, the Bucs won a 22-19 decision at Raymond James. On that 2013 afternoon, a late touchdown by Bobby Rainey proved to be the game winner. Mike Glennon went 11-21 for 139 yards, one touchdown and one interception that day. Neither team went over 300 yards of offense that day, despite the points scored. It’s a different group now, as there was no Jay Ajayi or Winston back then.
This one is a big one because it’s the first one. For one week, all teams are even. Everybody sports a record of 0-0, and Super Bowl dreams are equally alive and well. It’s important to start the season out on the right foot as it often sets the tone for at least the first quarter of the year. It’s not impossible to get out of an 0-1 start, but 1-0 sets you up for an excellent beginning. The Bucs need this one to get rolling.
Week Five: vs. New England
I said that the AFC East doesn’t offer much? Well these guys are the exceptions. Look who we have coming into Raymond James to start the second quarter of the season. It’s none other than Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and the rest of the Super Bowl winning New England Patriots, eager to win yet another divisional crown and get back to the big game. Adding our old friend Brandin Cooks to the mix makes them, dare I say, even scarier than before.
This will actually be the first time the Patriots have played the Bucs in Florida since November of 1997, when the Bucs beat them 27-7. The Bucs have lost their last three games against New England, and haven’t beaten them since the year 2000. That day, a third quarter touchdown by Mike Alstott proved to be the difference in a 21-16 victory.
In three matchups against the Bucs, Brady has been spectacular, completing 68% of his passes and throwing for eight touchdowns. Gerald McCoy and company are going to need to get in his face to have any chance to win. This will be as good of an early season litmus test as you can find. How far along is this team? We will really figure that out with this one. It is the Bucs chance to make a statement to the rest of the NFL. Even if they simply play well, the league will take notice.
Week Ten: vs. New York Jets
Yes folks, this game. The matchup against the New York Jets is a big one for the Bucs, and I am not crazy. Don’t click on the button to close your browser until I explain.
Obviously the Jets roster is not looking good. It is impossible to say who the quarterback is even going to be when week ten rolls around. The roster is young. The influential veterans have been released. The team isn’t expected to do very much in 2017. The fan base is convinced they are packing it in for 2017 for the chance to draft Sam Darnold. Be that as it may, you can’t choose your opponents, so these guys are next up for the Bucs.
This sets up to be a “trap” game. The previous week, the Bucs have a divisional matchup against the Saints, and head into the bye week after the Jets game. Coming out of the bye week, the NFC Champions are looming in Atlanta. It would not be out of the realm of the possibility for the Bucs to be looking past this game. I mean, on paper, they should be able to beat up the Jets without even thinking about it, right? That’s the way upsets happen.
Both being a trap game potentially, and because it’s heading into the bye week, this is a big one. If the Bucs were to lose this one, it will leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. It could leave them in a difficult position, needing to regain their confidence in Atlanta after getting upset by a far inferior team. The Bucs must stay motivated and bring it all in this one.
Week 12: at Atlanta
Coming out of the bye, it’s the first of two matchups with the Atlanta Falcons. Isn’t it nice to be in the same division with the conference champions? Our Bucs have been “lucky” enough to live with that faith over the last two years. The NFC South is becoming one of, if not the best division in the NFL. With that, these divisional games are always going to be tough.
But these two teams are looking to be the cream of the crop. They are the two picks to win the division. Anyone that isn’t still on the Falcons bandwagon seems to believe that the Bucs will win the division in 2017. It’s a huge opponent, one that happens to be in our division, and it’s one we are likely to be fighting with all season long. That’s a lot to consider in sixty minutes of football.
Now, unlike other teams of late, the Bucs have had recent success against the high-powered Falcons. Winston is 3-1 against them in his short career so far. The two teams have happened to match up well against each other. But this is a new year, and the Bucs aren’t a group of underdogs anymore. They are expected to play meaningful football in December and subsequently January. They need to make a statement in all division games, but especially when they go up against these Atlanta Falcons.
Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints
Many of us will remember back when there was very little juice to the end of the regular season. Yes there were playoff races, but not often a lot of great games. In 2010, Roger Goodell changed that by increasing the number of divisional games over the final three weeks and making the final games of the year be divisional matchups. He wanted to keep things exciting, and frankly, it was a great choice. It makes the end of the year great fun.
The Bucs second NFC South go-round happens over the final three weeks, and it all culminates here in week 17. Raymond James is the site, and the Bucs face off against the New Orleans Saints. Unless they have overtaken the Falcons by this point, this game will have a lot riding on it for Tampa Bay. Even if they have, there will still likely be playoff seeding to fight for. Raymond James will be buzzing for its Bucs.
It should be a winnable matchup for the gang in pewter. Over the last two years, they are 2-2 against the Saints, so they have had some success. Drew Brees has never been as good on the road as in that dome. This sets up as a potentially very successful final week for the Bucs. And that way it should shape up, it will be a huge week for them as well.
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Which games do you think are the biggest this year? Let us know…