It's right around the halfway point of the NFL season and it already feels like the Bucs are in do-or-die territory.
Back-to-back losses to Detroit and Atlanta -- at home, no less -- have humbled the Buccaneers after an impressive start to the year. Tampa Bay started the season 3-1, but quickly fell out of first place and to the fringe of the playoff picture in just two weeks.
Coming out of the bye week the Bucs offense has mustered up a mere 19 points, which hasn't been enough to support a defense that has allowed more than 20 points just once this season. The run game looks awful, the offensive line is in shambles, and there's a growing sense of panic among fans.
Compounding the anxiety is a Thursday night trip up to Buffalo, where the Bucs need to have a bounce back game against one of the best teams in the NFL. The Bills aren't unbeatable -- something the Jaguars, Patriots, and Jets proved -- but they're a Super Bowl contender and one of the toughest tests of the season so far.
How to watch Buccaneers vs. Bills in Week 8
Even if you don't have an Amazon Prime subscription there are a few different ways to catch tonight's game. The easiest will be listening in to Gene Deckerhoff on the Buccaneers radio call of the game, but fans can still watch the game on TV despite the game being an Amazon exclusive.
Tonight's game will be shown locally on FOX 13, so Bucs fans who want to watch but don't have a Prime Video subscription can tune in the same way they would on a regular gameday. The game willbe a simulcast, so whatever is being shown on the Amazon stream is going to air locally.
Anyone outside of the Tampa viewing area will have to watch on Amazon.
Here's everything you need to know:
- Date: Thursday, October 26th
- Start Time: 8:15 pm ET | 7:15 pm CT
- Location: Raymond James Stadium
- TV Channel: FOX 13 (Local only)
- Announcers: Al Michaels, Kirk Herbsteit
- Radio: WXTB 97.9 FM | More Affiliates
- Live Stream: Amazon Prime Video
Tonight is the second of two primetime games that were scheduled before the season, but it might not be the last time we see the Bucs in a marquee game. The NFL allows ESPN, NBC, and Amazon a certain amount of flex opportuntines to ensure their partners are getting the best possible game.
During Weeks 11-17 NBC can flex out of a scheduled game to a better one at the NFL’s discretion, with ESPN being able to do so between Weeks 12-17. Amazon was included in the flex procedures this year and has eligibility between Weeks 13-17.
The Bucs have already been flexed once this season, as the creamsicle game back in Week 6 was flexed out of the early window and into FOX's Game of the Week slot. Depending on how things go, there are a few games later in the season that could see the Bucs return to primetime and offer a chance to avenge how things went the first time around.