The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2025 schedule includes games against five teams that captured division titles last season, which is the most that can be produced by the current scheduling format. That includes three teams that won at least 13 games in 2024. The Bucs also have four prime-time games dotting their 17-game slate and a December/January run of home dates against NFC South foes that could make Tampa the epicenter of the division race.
So yeah, there's a lot going on there, and no matter what your preferred flavor of schedule intrigue is, the Buccaneers have it in 2025. As such, it's not easy to look at that 17-game list and pick just one matchup that stands out above the rest.
You want to see some young passers try to solve Todd Bowles' confusing defense? How about New England's Drake Maye in Week 10 or maybe even Atlanta's Michael Penix in the season opener. You prefer two screamingly-aggressive defenses trying to turn everything into chaos? You might get that in Week Three when the Jets visit the Bucs. Gunslingers trading shots? How about Baker Mayfield-Matthew Stafford. Division titles hanging in the balance? You can come to Raymond James Stadium three times after the calendar turns to December to see the Bucs against an NFC South foe.
You don't really have to choose, but the purposes of our current exercise, Staff Writer/Reporter Brianna Dix, Buccaneers.com Contributor Gabriel Kahaian and I do. As we continue our series of schedule-related Roundtable discussions, we will each now pinpoint one game on the Bucs' 2025 schedule that we are anticipating the most. This is the third in our series of four Roundtable debates. Here's the run-down for the whole series:
Thursday, May 15: What one thing would you most like to thank the NFL schedule makers for this year?
Friday, May 16: What is your most anticipated game on the Bucs' 2024 schedule?
Friday, May 16: Who is the most interesting rookie the Buccaneers will face on their 2024 schedule?
The three of us are not allowed to duplicate answers, so the order in which we go in this discussion could impact the outcome. Therefore, we are rotating that order from article to article, and this time it's Brianna's turn to kick things off.
View photos from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers participating in rookie minicamp on May 10, 2025 in AdventHealth Training Center.
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safety Shilo Sanders #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' helmet during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Elijah Roberts #95 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' helmet during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Facemask during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safety Shilo Sanders #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' helmet during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Anton Juncaj #58, Outside Linebacker Chantz Williams #48, Defensive Lineman Elijah Roberts #95, Linebacker Micah Cretsinger #44, Nose Tackle Desmond Watson #56, and Cornerback Lejond Cavazos #22 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Cornerback Jacob Parrish #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Helmet during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' helmet during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' helmet during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Nash Hutmacher #64 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Nose Tackle Desmond Watson #56 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Robert Ayers Jr., Assistant Defensive Line Coach for University of Tennessee, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Nose Tackle Desmond Watson #56 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Elijah Roberts #95 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Elijah Roberts #95 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Sled pad during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Cornerback Benjamin Morrison #21 and Assistant Secondary Coach Rashad Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Ashleigh Wilkinson-McQuaid, Defensive Backs Coach for Wheaton North High School, and Cornerback JayVian Farr #26 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safety Shilo Sanders #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safeties Coach Nick Rapone of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Cornerback JayVian Farr #26 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safety Shilo Sanders #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Cornerback Jacob Parrish #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Robert Ayers Jr., Assistant Defensive Line Coach for University of Tennessee, Defensive Lineman Dvon J-Thomas #78, and Nose Tackle Desmond Watson #56 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Director of Performance Nutrition Jessica Pastuf, Maurice Fleming, Cornerbacks Coach/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator for Eastern Illinois University, Linebacker Colin Ramos #41, Luke Mueller, Defensive Coordinator for Bolingbrook High School, Inside Linebackers Coach Mike Caldwell, Juan Thrasher, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach for Flower Mound High School, and Linebacker Nick Jackson #52 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safety Shilo Sanders #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Nose Tackle Desmond Watson #56 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Chase Baker, Defensive Line Coach for NFL Academy, and Defensive Line Coach Charlie Strong of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Quarterback Connor Bazelak #8, Quarterback Connor Watkins #14, and Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Keanon Lowe, Head Football Coach for Mountainside High School, and Wide Receiver Melquan Stovall #81 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Nadine Nurasyid, Defensive Assistant Coach for the Stuttgart Surge, Outside Linebacker David Walker #51, Run Game Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote, and Outside Linebacker Warren Peeples Jr. #59 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Outside Linebacker David Walker #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safety Rashad Wisdom #38 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Linebacker Adam Bock #53 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Luke Mueller, Defensive Coordinator for Bolingbrook High School, and Juan Thrasher, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach for Flower Mound High School, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Cornerback Jacob Parrish #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safety Gervarrius Owens #15 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receivers Coach Bryan McClendon and Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Pass Game Coordinator Coach Kefense Hynson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Vann Hunt, Head Football Coach for Manchester University, and Long Snapper Colby Cox #45 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Cornerbacks Coach Kevin Ross and Cornerback Benjamin Morrison #21 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Linebacker John Bullock #57 and Outside Linebacker Warren Peeples Jr. #59 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Joey Slackman #76, Robert Ayers Jr., Assistant Defensive Line Coach for University of Tennessee, Nose Tackle Desmond Watson #56, Defensive Lineman Dvon J-Thomas #78, Defensive Lineman Mason Narcisse #77, and Defensive Lineman Evan Bearden #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safety Rashad Wisdom #38 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Glove during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safety Shilo Sanders #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Quarterback Connor Bazelak #8 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Simon Bramberger, Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach for the Munich Cowboys, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Quarterbacks Coach Thaddeus Lewis of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Henry Schlegel, Quarterback Coach for Nordic Storm, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Winston Wright Jr. #82 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Garrett Greene #85 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Michael Gerst, Head Football Coach for Fort Lee High School, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Assistant Director of Performance Science Adam Pinkoski and Raymond Holland, Football Analyst for Lehman High School, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Ashleigh Wilkinson-McQuaid, Defensive Backs Coach for Wheaton North High School, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Ashleigh Wilkinson-McQuaid, Defensive Backs Coach for Wheaton North High School, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Juan Thrasher, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach for Flower Mound High School, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Juan Thrasher, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach for Flower Mound High School, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Maurice Fleming, Cornerbacks Coach/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator for Eastern Illinois University, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Cornerback Jacob Parrish #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Robert Ayers Jr., Assistant Defensive Line Coach for University of Tennessee, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Chase Baker, Defensive Line Coach for NFL Academy, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Robert Ayers Jr., Assistant Defensive Line Coach for University of Tennessee, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jason Nelson, Defensive Coordinator for University of Chicago, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Maurice Fleming, Cornerbacks Coach/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator for Eastern Illinois University, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Assistant Secondary Coach Rashad Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Cornerback Benjamin Morrison #21 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Henry Banks II, Assistant Football Coach/PE Teacher for Webster Groves School District, and Assistant Secondary Coach Rashad Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Cornerback JayVian Farr #26 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Safety Gervarrius Owens #15 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Linebacker Colin Ramos #41 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Signage during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Winston Wright Jr. #82 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 and Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Keanon Lowe, Head Football Coach for Mountainside High School, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Wide Receiver Garrett Greene #85 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Michael Gerst, Head Football Coach for Fort Lee High School, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Evan Bearden #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Helmet during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Outside Linebacker David Walker #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Warren Peeples Jr. #59 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Jason Nelson, Defensive Coordinator for University of Chicago, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Lukkes Gilgan, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator for George Fox University, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Run Game Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Outside Linebacker David Walker #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Nadine Nurasyid, Defensive Assistant Coach for the Stuttgart Surge, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Lukkes Gilgan, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator for George Fox University, during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Jason Nelson, Defensive Coordinator for University of Chicago, and Outside Linebacker Warren Peeples Jr. #59 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Robert Ayers Jr., Assistant Defensive Line Coach for University of Tennessee, Defensive Lineman Elijah Roberts #95, Defensive Lineman Evan Bearden #93, and Defensive Lineman Joey Slackman #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 10, 2025 - Taped hands during rookie minicamp practice. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brianna Dix: At Detroit Lions, Week Seven
This is a marquee matchup for the Buccaneers that will undoubtedly feel like a playoff game. The Bucs will play on Monday Night Football when they visit the Lions in Week Seven. Including playoffs, the Bucs will be embarking on their fifth trip to Detroit since 2019, which is two more trips than they have made to any other non-divisional opponent during that span. A rivalry has sparked between the two teams and this clash will be on a national stage on Oct. 20. For any football fanatic, it does not get any better than this.
This matchup, that pits two No. 1 overall picks against one another in Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff, along with two power NFC teams, is poised to be a riveting battle for four quarters inside Ford Field. For me personally, I love the hostile environment inside their stadium. The press box is open air, which means while typing and analyzing, I get to experience the palpable excitement and roar of the crowd from my seat. With a cast of explosive skill players on both sidelines, this contest is one I will have circled on the calendar.
Scott Smith: At Los Angeles Rams, Week 12
I find this Rams team fascinating. Going into last season it seemed like they might be headed towards a rebuild, part of the eventual fallout from "effing" all "them picks" for years. Instead, they rebuilt their defensive front in one fell swoop with the twin drafting of Florida State teammates Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, overcame a rash of injuries to tape together an effective offensive line and rebounded from a 1-4 start to take the NFC West at 10-7. Of all the teams the Eagles faced in the postseason on their way to the way to last year's title, the Rams gave them the most trouble.
The current offseason began with discussion of a possible trade of Matthew Stafford, which surely would have meant a rebuild at that point, right? Instead, Stafford got a new deal, the Rams cleanly replaced Cooper Kupp with Davante Adams and might have traded for Jalen Ramsey (again!) by the time you're reading this. They're loaded again, and while they won't be sneaking up on anybody this time around, they are without a doubt a top NFC contender in 2025.
I alluded to the joy of watching Stafford and Mayfield trading shots earlier, and that is definitely one of the main draws here. If Stafford has an explosive crew to work with in the Rams' passing game, Mayfield might have an even better situation with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka and top-five offensive line from 2024. This one could be a blast, and the NFL knows it, putting it in the Sunday Night Football spotlight in Week 12. We should know at that point if both the Rams and Buccaneers are, as I suspect they will be, in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt, and this one could be a playoff preview. Or a playoff rematch, given how the end of the 2021 postseason went down for the Buccaneers. A 16-13 regular-season win over the Rams during the 2022 regular season didn't really make up for that wild finish that sent a very strong Tom Brady-led team home early in January of 2022. Maybe a rousing win in front of a national audience on the Rams' turf would do so.
Gabriel Kahaian: Atlanta Falcons, Week 15
Heading into Week 15, both the Buccaneers and the Falcons will have been through a lot of football. They will be completely different teams from when they first met in Week One. This game has the opportunity to be one of the most pivotal games of the Buccaneers' 2025 NFL season. The Thursday Night Football matchup could have major playoff implications and play a key role in deciding the NFC South champion.
If recent history tells us anything, the division race might come down to the wire. The NFC South has been decided by two or fewer games in the past three seasons. Of course, the Bucs hope to have a substantial lead by Week 15. That doesn't diminish the significance of defeating a division rival, particularly when seeding position and tiebreakers are on the line. Four of the Bucs' final five games are against division opponents, raising the stakes down the stretch. Tampa Bay will also be on the national stage, participating in the main event on Thursday night. This game could be a significant factor in the Bucs' pursuit of a record fifth-straight NFC South crown. A lot will be on the line at Raymond James Stadium.
(Fun Fact, Week 15 will be the 65th meeting between the Buccaneers and Falcons. If Tampa Bay wins both battles in 2025, the all-time series record would flip in their favor 33-32.)
