The NFL Schedule is set to release this week, and as is tradition, bits and pieces of the schedule have begun to surface early. One of this year's early leaks involves the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing in a marquee slate.
Bucs to travel to Los Angeles on Thanksgiving night
Pat Donovan, a Buccaneers analyst for WDAE, is reporting that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams in the nightcap game of the NFL’s Thanksgiving tripleheader.
I have a trustworthy friend who's got a source telling him it's going to be @Buccaneers at @RamsNFL as the nightcap on Thanksgiving! #Bucs #WeAreTheKrewe #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/qhRsNBLRpJ
— Pat Donovan🎙╠(@PatDonovanRadio) May 12, 2025
The Buccaneers have only played one Thanksgiving game in franchise history. That lone game was a 38-10 blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys all the way back in 2006. Seeing the Bucs get another chance in the national spotlight to take part in one of the sport's greatest traditions is something worth celebrating.
Buccaneers vs. Rams is full of storylines
The storylines packed into this matchup helped make it a perfect fit for the marquee holiday prime time game. First, there is quarterback Baker Mayfield's connection to the Rams. After being released by the Panthers in 2022, Mayfield was picked up by the Rams, and his short stint in Los Angeles headlined by his comeback win over the Raiders helped get the gears turning on his career revival.
Next, there is the team's recent history that ties them together. The Rams beat the Bucs in the 2021 NFC Divisional Round, ending Tampa Bay's bid at a Super Bowl repeat. The Brady-led Bucs came all the way back from a 27-3 deficit to tie the game, but eventually fell short in heartbreaking fashion in one of the most heartbreaking losses in team history.
Lastly, the Buccaneers and Rams are both contenders in the NFC. Both went 10-7 a year ago, and the Bucs have made the playoffs a conference-leading five seasons in a row, while the Rams have earned a playoff berth in each of the last two seasons.
This game could hold a lot of weight in the NFC playoff picture, adding just another dimension to the exciting matchup.
Buccaneers must overcome recent struggles to avoid disaster on Thanksgiving
The Buccaneers will have to overcome a lot of woes in order to win on Thanksgiving. For one, the team has really struggled in Thursday night games. The Bucs have lost a Thursday Night Football game in three consecutive seasons, and the franchise is 5-11 all-time on Thursday nights.
And it's not just Thursday games, it’s prime time games as a whole that the Buccaneers can’t seem to figure out. Tampa Bay went 0-4 in regular season prime time games in 2024 and lost another in the playoffs to the Commanders.
Something about the national spotlight is the Buccaneers’ kryptonite, which spells trouble on Thanksgiving.
Another major weakness the Bucs must overcome is the Rams as an opponent. In the last ten matchups, the Bucs are 2-8 against the Rams, including a 1-3 record since 2020. Frankly, the Rams seem to really own the Bucs, and Sean McVay clearly has the upper hand on Todd Bowles in their meetings.
The combination of their recent prime time struggles and a tough road matchup against a team that’s had their number in the Rams could spell trouble for Tampa Bay. Still, there’s hope the Bucs have turned a corner and can put those past issues behind them.
On the bright side, it’s a huge moment for the franchise, getting a shot on one of football’s biggest stages for just the second time in team history.