Buccaneers: Hurricane Irma may affect week one vs Dolphins

Week one is just around the corner, but Hurricane Irma may throw a wrench into the Buccaneers match-up with the Dolphins.

Let’s get one thing clear immediately – the hurricane heading towards Florida is no joke. People will be in danger, homes be destroyed, and it will bring a mass of destruction to anything in its path. For the sake of those in the area, we are all hoping the path changes course and it misses the Florida coast. However, there is still the Buccaneers and Dolphins week one opener to figure out.

The current rumor is that the game will be moved to earlier in the week to avoid any risk of Irma interfering with the game. It’s not like the NFL can move the game to a later week. That puts the game at week eleven – when both teams happen to have their bye – but that puts both franchises at a huge disadvantage down the stretch since neither would get a true bye week. The most logical solution is Friday, unless they move the location.

The NFL isn’t going to want two games going on during their big Thursday Night Kickoff between the Patriots and Chiefs. All eyes will need to be glued to the one game. If the Bucs and Dolphins are playing at the same time, that creates a ratings drop from anyone able to watch it locally or on the DirecTV NFL package. That won’t make the NFL or NBC too happy.

Next, how does it affect preparation? Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel said the Dolphins are currently preparing for the game as if it will be played on Friday night;

This gives an advantage to the Dolphins right out of the gate. The Bucs would lose practice time to re-coordinate travel to Miami. No, it’s not a long trip, but it does throw a wrench into preparations. Also, I believe it will negatively affect new safety T.J. Ward. Mike Smith’s defense is difficult enough to pick up, let alone losing time to do so before the first game. We will likely see an even more diminished role for Ward. It seemed likely he would be rotational at first until he had a full grasp on the scheme and could be the every down player.

The Buccaneers are in dire need of a fast start. Having to face the Giants and Patriots within a five day span weeks four and five, they can’t afford to stumble out of the gate. Anything less than 2-1 is unacceptable and will put the Bucs way behind the 8-ball yet again.

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Hurricane Irma is serious business and as I stated before, the health and safety of all those in her path is the number one concern. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, “the show must go on” and for the Buccaneers it can not change the fact that week one is a must win, no matter the date.