The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' schedule for the 2024 season has finally been announced.
Winners of three straight NFC South titles, the Buccaneers will have to navigate through some challenging matchups to earn their way back into the postseason this year.
The Bucs were overlooked entering the 2023 season following Tom Brady's departure. Baker Mayfield would have to win a quarterback competition over the summer, and few believed they stood a chance in the NFC South.
It wasn't easy. Tampa Bay started strong but lost six of seven games in the middle of the season. However, Todd Bowles' team bounced back with five wins from the final six, including Mayfield earning a perfect passer rating in a 34-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Tampa Bay then crushed the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 in the wild-card round. Who saw that coming at the start of the season?
Many will write Tampa Bay off again this season, but with Mayfield back on a new contract, confidence should be high.
Complete Tampa Bay Buccaneers schedule 2024
Week | Opponent | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Commanders | Sun, Sept. 8 | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
2 | at Lions | Sun, Sept. 15 | 1 p.m. | FOX |
3 | Broncos | Sun, Sept. 22 | 1 p.m. | FOX |
4 | Eagles | Sun, Sept. 29 | 1 p.m. | FOX |
5 | at Falcons (TNF) | Thu, Oct. 3 | 8:15 p.m. | Prime Video |
6 | at Saints | Sun, Oct. 13 | 1 p.m. | FOX |
7 | Ravens (MNF) | Mon, Oct. 21 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
8 | Falcons | Sun, Oct. 27 | 1 p.m. | FOX |
9 | at Chiefs (MNF) | Mon, Nov. 4 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
10 | 49ers | Sun, Nov. 10 | 1 p.m. | FOX |
11 | BYE | |||
12 | at Giants | Sun, Nov. 24 | 1 p.m. | CBS |
13 | at Panthers | Sun, Dec. 1 | 4:05 p.m. | FOX |
14 | Raiders | Sun, Dec. 8 | 1 p.m. | CBS |
15 | at Chargers | Sun, Dec. 15 | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
16 | at Cowboys (SNF) | Sun, Dec. 22 | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
17 | Panthers | Sun, Dec. 29 | 1 p.m. | CBS |
18 | Saints | TBD |
Games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions will be circled on the calendar. They are among the toughest challenges this team will face in 2024, but it's also an opportunity to compete against the best in the league. The Bucs will be underdogs in those games, but that's not a bad thing.
There are also several "winnable" games on the schedule, including matchups against the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, and two meetings with the Carolina Panthers.
Tampa Bay can expect tough competition from the Atlanta Falcons with Kirk Cousins, and it should make for a fascinating battle in the NFC South.
Nobody will give the Buccaneers a shot this season, but that's nothing new. This team reached the NFC's final four against all odds a year ago, and they have the chance to make another run in 2024.