The NFL schedule makers did the Buccaneers no favors as they will play on the road from September 29 until November tenth. In those six weeks, the Bucs will make a trip to London to play the Carolina Panthers, make two trips to the west coast for games against Seattle and the LA Rams, and also make trips to New Orleans and Tennessee.
This is the hardest schedule of any NFL team. In Bruce Arians first season it will be a challenge to get to .500. Here is a breakdown of the 2019 Buccaneers schedule and game by game predictions.
Sept. 8th Home San Francisco. The Bucs are pulling out all the stops for this one, even bringing in country superstar Tim McGraw for a pre-game concert. The 49ers are much improved since John Lynch took over as General Manager. But this Buccaneer defense should keep 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo scrambling all afternoon and get the first win in the Bruce Arians era. 1-0
Sept. 12th At Carolina. Three days after they open the season at home, the Bucs hit the road for the first Thursday night game of the season against Carolina. This has always been a difficult place for the Bucs to win a game and this year will be no different. The Panthers led by Cam Newton will do just enough to get the win over the Bucs. 1-1
Sept. 23rd Home New York Giants. Daniel Janes may be the Giants starting quarterback by the time the Giants come to Tampa. Doesn’t matter if Eli Manning or Daniel Jones is the Giants starting quarterback, the Bucs win this game despite a 100 yard game from Saquon Barkley. 2-1
Sept 29th At LA Rams. This will be a tough game for the Bucs. Despite an improved run defense, Jared Goff and his passing coupled with the running of Todd Gurley give the Rams the easy win. 2-2
Oct 6th at New Orleans. Who can forget the season opener of 2018 when Ryan Fitzpatrick out dueled Drew Brees in a 49-42 Bucs win? The Saints get revenge on the Bucs this time and win easily in New Orleans. 2-3
Oct. 13th in London Carolina. As the mid point of the season approaches, Cam newton will begin to show some wear and tear and the young Bucs defense will be getting better every week. The Bucs beat the Panthers in London. 3-3
Oct 19th. Bye week
Oct. 27th at Tennessee. A matchup of the top two pick from the 2015 draft Jameis Winston vs. Marcus Mariota. The Titans won 42-14 in a 2015 matchup in Tampa. Another tough road game for the Bucs, but they will finish and get the win against Tennessee. 4-3
Nov. 3rd at Seattle. Not many times go into Century Link Field and come out victorious. This game will be no different as the Bucs will take a loss in Seattle. 4-4.
Nov. 10th Home Arizona. Finally home sweet home. Bruce Arians former team the Arizona Cardinals will be in Tampa with rookie Kyler Murray as the starting quarterback. The Bucs defense should be hungry and get some good home cooking as they will beat the Cardinals for the fifth win of the season. 5-4.
November 17th Home New Orleans. This will not be an easy game to win. It will be a close game, but Drew Brees will work his magic and the Saints will get the win in a nail biter. 5-5
November 24th at Atlanta. The Bucs get their first look at former head coach Dirk Koetter in his new role as the Falcons offensive coordinator. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had some really good years working with Koetter previously and the Falcons should win this one against the Bucs. 5-6.
Dec. 1st at Jacksonville. The Jaguars will have another good defense, but the offense is till suspect. Led by ex-Eagle quarterback Nick Foles, running back Leonard Fournette will probably be out with some kind of injury as he just can’t stay healthy. Bucs win a close one. 6-6
Dec. 8th. Home Indianapolis. Another of Bruce Arians former teams the Indianapolis Colts will be in Tampa with new starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett. This will be a chance for Bucs fans to also get a look at Colts running back Marlon Mack the USF Alum. Colts could really be spiraling downward by this point in the season. Bucs get the win. 7-6.
Dec. 15th at Detroit. The Lions seem to be a perpetual dumpster fire every year, doesn’t seem to matter what they do. This year should be no different as they will finish last in the NFC North. The Bucs win in the motor city. 8-6
Dec. 22nd home Houston. The Texans will bring a good defense to Tampa, and should be playing for a playoff berth They will do just enough to defeat the Bucs. 8-7
Dec. 29th Home Atlanta. The Falcons will have just missed the playoffs by the time these two teams go at it to wrap up the 2019 season. Dirk Koetter comes back to Tampa and rubs salt in an open wound as the Falcons beat the Bucs in the season finale. 8-8.
Unfortunately the 8-8 record will not be good enough for the Bucs to end their playoff drought. And so the misery continues for at least one more season.
