Buccaneers schedule 2023: Dates and times every game, strength of schedule, final record prediction
By Josh Hill
Everything to know about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers schedule 2023, from dates and times to TV channels and primetime games, and final record prediction.
After an offseason that has produced more hope than most Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans expected, the day has finally arrived when we learn how things will shake out this season.
Well, at least we’ll get a better idea. As we’ve seen with the Bucs before, anything can happen and the NFL has shown over the last few years that no team should be counted out.
Of course, it’s easy to write the Bucs off before the NFL schedule release even happens. Most of the national media has already done that, from Peter King deeming Tampa Bay the second-worst team in the league to outlets simply forgetting the Bucs exist at all.
That’s what happens when Tom Brady retires and takes with him the bright lights of national attention.
Brady might be gone but the Buccaneers still have a team that looks capable of competing next season. A Super Bowl might be a bit lofty in terms of realistic expectations, but lest we forget how awful the NFC South is and how winnable the division remains.
We won’t know how the Bucs do this year until the games are played, but the NFL schedule release at least gives us an early idea of what to expect and how things might shake out.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers schedule 2023 (Updated)
- Week 1, Sept. 10: at Minnesota Vikings – 1 pm ET on CBS
- Week 2, Sept. 17: vs. Chicago Bears – 1 pm ET on FOX
- Week 3, Sept. 25: vs. Philadelphia Eagles – 8:30 pm ET on ABC (MNF)
- Week 4, Oct. 1: at New Orleans Saints – 1 pm ET on FOX
- Week 5: BYE WEEK
- Week 6, Oct. 15: vs. Detroit Lions – 1 pm ET on FOX
- Week 7, Oct. 22: vs. Atlanta Falcons – 1 pm ET on FOX
- Week 8, Oct. 26: at Buffalo Bills – 8:25 pm ET on Amazon Prime (TNF)
- Week 9, Nov. 5: at Houston Texans – 1 pm ET on CBS
- Week 10, Nov. 12: vs. Tennessee Titans – 1 pm ET on CBS
- Week 11, Nov. 19: at San Francisco 49ers – 4:05 pm ET on FOX
- Week 12, Nov. 26: at Indianapolis Colts – 1 pm ET on CBS
- Week 13, Dec. 3: vs. Carolina Panthers – 1 pm ET on CBS
- Week 14, Dec. 10: at Atlanta Falcons – 1 pm ET on CBS
- Week 15, Dec. 17: at Green Bay Packers – 1 pm ET on FOX
- Week 16, Dec. 24: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – 4:05 pm ET on CBS
- Week 17, Dec. 31: vs. New Orleans Saints – 1 pm ET on FOX
- Week 18, TBD: at Carolina Panthers – TBD
light. Trending. Predicting every Buccaneers game on 2023 schedule
Tampa Bay Buccaneers strength of schedule
Last year teams that will play this Buccaneers went a combined 138-148-2 (.483), which gives Tampa Bay the 13th-easiest schedule in the league. That’s pretty much smack-dab in the middle of the pack, which is the first bit of good news when looking at the schedule.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers schedule 2023: Final record prediction
Here’s where things get interesting, and potentially humbling for the Bucs. We’re going to talk this out in real time so buckle up.
Let’s assume a divisional split, which gets us to 3-3. It’s tough to see the team going into Buffalo and San Francisco and leaving with a win, but the Colts and Texans seem to be beatable opponents with the Packers and Vikings as wild cards.
The home slate is a little tougher, as realistically there might be one win on the schedule. Let’s say the Lions go full-Lions and lose a close game, and the Jaguars regress a bit and the Bucs can catch them napping. It’s hard to see the Bucs beating the Eagles, but anything can happen with the Jaguars, Bears, and Titans.
Non-divisional Home record: 2-4
Non-divisional Away record: 2-3
Add in the NFC South record and the Bucs are looking at a 7-11 season this year. That seems to be in line with how the team plans on being competitive but it likely will fall short of making an impact.
What this would also do is put the team on the outskirts of landing a top quarterback in next year’s draft. The Panthers, Falcons, and Saints all finished with 7 wins last year and owned picks No. 7-10 in the draft (although Carolina and New Orleans didn’t pick there).
That’s what the Bucs can expect in terms of where they’ll land in the order if this season shakes out in what seems to be a best-case scenario.