Skip to main content
Advertising

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers' 2017 Opponents Set

A visit from the Giants and another trip to Arizona round out the Bucs' 16 games next season, which also feature matchups with teams from the NFC North and the AFC East.

Pictures of the Buccaneers opponents for the 2017 season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers locked up second place in the NFC South with Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers, and in the process they finalized their list of opponents for the 2017 season.

The Buccaneers' finish in the division standings sets up a home game against the second-place team in the NFC East and a road contest against the second-place team in the NFC West. That means a visit from the New York Giants and a trip to Arizona for the second straight year.

The rest of the Buccaneers' 2017 schedule was already known, though the dates and times will not be announced until the spring. It begins, of course, with home-and-away series with each of their division foes. The other opponents are determined by rotating divisional matchups in each conference, and next year the NFC South will be paired with the NFC North and the AFC East.

Specifically, here are the Buccaneers' 16 opponents in 2017:

HOME

  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Carolina Panthers
  • Chicago Bears
  • Detroit Lions
  • New England Patriots
  • New York Giants
  • New York Jets
  • New Orleans Saints

AWAY

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Carolina Panthers
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • New Orleans Saints

Depending upon the outcome of the Sunday afternoon game between the Giants and Washington, the Buccaneers will play either six or seven teams that made the playoffs in 2016. That includes two games against Atlanta and one each against New England, the New York Giants and Miami. The Buccaneers will also play the winner of the NFC North, either Detroit or Green Bay, and if Washington loses on Sunday, the loser of Sunday night's Lions-Packers game will also be in the playoffs.

Here are some additional notes regarding the Buccaneers' list of opponents in 2017:

  • The Buccaneers will play a regular-season game in Buffalo for just the second time in 42 seasons. Before the NFL's expansion and realignment in 2002, the scheduling process was driven largely by team's records the previous season, and the Bills were rare opponents for the Buccaneers. When Tampa Bay and Buffalo did meet, it was always in Florida, at least the first eight times. The Bucs finally made a regular-season trip to Buffalo in 2009, with the Bills prevailing, 33-20.
  • Buffalo is also the opponent against which the Buccaneers own their highest winning percentage. Tampa Bay has won seven of its 10 games against the Bills, including a 27-6 victory at home in 2013.
  • The Buccaneers will play host to both New York teams for just the third time in team history. They also got visits from both the Giants and Jets in 1984 and 2009.
  • Though they are frequent preseason opponents, the Buccaneers and Dolphins have only met 10 times in the regular season, with each team winning on five occasions. Tampa Bay will have an opportunity to win in Miami for just the second time in the regular season; the first was a 16-13 decision during the 2000 campaign.
  • Before the 2002 realignment, the Buccaneers were member of the NFC Central along with Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota. Those four teams now make up the NFC North, and next season will mark the sixth time the divisional rotation has matched that division up with the South. Since leaving the NFC Central, the Bucs are 3-5 against Chicago, 4-4 against Detroit and 4-3 against Green Bay.
  • These are the seasons in which the Buccaneers last won in each of the eight venues they will visit during the 2017 regular season: Arizona (2010), Atlanta (2016), Buffalo (n/a), Carolina (2016), Green Bay (2005), Miami (2000), Minnesota (2012) and New Orleans (2010). Tampa Bay has won on each of its last three trips to Minneapolis.
This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

Latest Headlines

Advertising