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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Info Guide: Buccaneers' Home Games

Everything you need to know about the Bucs' home games this season.

Take a look at photos of the regular season opponents that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face, starting with week 1 (AP Images).

By Joe Kania and Andrew Norton.

Tennessee Titans (BUY)

  • Date: Sunday, September 13 (Week 1)
  • Time: 4:25 PM ET
  • Marquee Players: TE Delanie Walker, CB Jason McCourty, DE Jurrell Casey
  • Key Losses: WR Nate Washington, T Michael Oher
  • Key Additions: WR Harry Douglas, LB Brian Orakpo, S Da'Norris Searcy
  • First Three Draft Picks: QB Marcus Mariota (2), WR Dorial Green-Beckham (40), G Jeremiah Poutasi (66)

Must-See Storyline: Since 2000, the team with the first pick in the NFL Draft has faced the team with the second pick on eight different occasions. The team that went #1 overall has won five of those eight games, including the most recent when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013. To begin the 2015 season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and #1 overall selection Jameis Winston will face the Tennessee Titans and #2 pick Marcus Mariota, a can't-miss battle between two of the most highly-touted Heisman-winning rookie quarterbacks in years.

Carolina Panthers (BUY)

  • Date: Sunday, October 4 (Week 4)
  • Time: 1:00 PM ET     
  • Marquee Players: QB Cam Newton, WR Kelvin Benjamin, LB Luke Kuechly
  • Key Losses: RB DeAngelo Williams, DE Greg Hardy, T Byron Bell
  • Key Additions: WR Ted Ginn, T Michael Oher, CB Charles Tillman
  • First Three Draft Picks: LB Shaq Thompson (25), WR Devin Funchess (41), G Daryl Williams (102)

Must-See Storyline: The Carolina Panthers advanced to the Divisional round of the 2014 playoffs after wrapping up a first place finish in the NFC South for the second year in a row. They are the first team to ever win back-to-back NFC South division titles since it formed in 2002. This stat is sure to add even more fuel to the fire in the two matchups between these division rivals. On top of that, look for exciting battles between sophomore standout WRs Mike Evans and Carolina's Kelvin Benjamin and two of the best linebackers in the game, Lavonte David and Carolina's Luke Kuechly. In case you need any more reason to come down to Raymond James Stadium, a certain legendary Buccaneers fullback, Mike Alstott, will be forever enshrined in the Ring of Honor during halftime.

Jacksonville Jaguars (BUY)

  • Date: Sunday, October 11 (Week 5)
  • Time: 1:00 PM ET
  • Marquee Players: QB Blake Bortles, DT Sen'Derrick Marks, S Johnathan Cyprien
  • Key Losses: WR Cecil Shorts, LB J.T. Thomas, CB Will Blackmon
  • Key Additions: TE Julius Thomas, DT Jared Odrick, C Stefen Wisniewski
  • First Three Draft Picks: LB Dante Fowler (3), RB T.J. Yeldon (36), G A.J. Cann (67) Must-See Storyline:
     The Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars will pit Jameis Winston, 2015's first quarterback taken, against the 2014 Draft's first quarterback, Blake Bortles. The possibility of two young gunslingers and potential faces of their franchises squaring off in this one is only brightened by the fireworks sure to come with an in-state rivalry. (Jaguars #3 overall selection Dante Fowler will miss the 2015 season with a knee injury.)

New York Giants (BUY)

  • Date: Sunday, November 8 (Week 9)
  • Time: 4:05 PM ET
  • Marquee Players: QB Eli Manning, WR Odell Beckham Jr., DE Jason Pierre-Paul
  • Key Losses:  CB Walter Thurmond, S Antrel Rolle, S Stevie Brown
  • Key Additions: RB Shane Vereen, WR Dwayne Harris, DE George Selvie
  • First Three Draft Picks: G Erick Flowers (9), S Landon Collins (33), DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (74) Must-See Storyline:
     For the better part of last season, the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award was really just a two-man race. Buccaneers' seventh-overall selection WR Mike Evans vs. New York Giants 12th-overall pick WR Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham took home the honor at the end of the year after ending the season on a record setting pace. In just 12 games, he hauled in 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 108.8 receiving yards per game was an NFL rookie record. Mike Evans matched Beckham's touchdown number at 12, and posted 1,051 receiving yards of his own. The two certainly have bright NFL futures and will put their skills on display head-to-head for the first time on November 8.

Dallas Cowboys (BUY)

  • Date: Sunday, November 15 (Week 10)
  • Time: 1:00 PM ET
  • Marquee Players: QB Tony Romo, WR Dez Bryant, LB Sean Lee
  • Key Losses: RB DeMarco Murray, LB Bruce Carter, DT Henry Melton
  • Key Additions: RB Darren McFadden, DE Greg Hardy
  • First Three Draft Picks: CB Byron Jones (27), OLB Randy Gregory (60), OT Chaz Green (91) (Also acquired rookie free agent OT La'el Collins) Must-See Storyline:
     Three of the Buccaneers biggest free agent signings so far this offseason were starters on the Cowboys defense a year ago. DT Henry Melton, LB Bruce Carter and CB Sterling Moore accounted for 157 tackles, six sacks and 28 passes defensed last season in 45 games played. Carter also tacked on five interceptions. The trio should make a smooth transition into the Buccaneers defense as the Cowboys deploy a similar defensive scheme to that of the Buccaneers. Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli spent five years working with Lovie Smith on the Bucs defensive coaching staff from 1996-2000. He also joined Smith in Chicago, serving as his Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator from 2009-2012. The defensive similarities don't stop there – long-time Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin currently serves as the Dallas Cowboys Assistant Defensive Head Coach. Because of their familiarity with the system, this Bucs free agent group should be a meaty storyline when their former team rolls into Raymond James Stadium. 

Atlanta Falcons (BUY)

  • Date: Sunday, December 6 (Week 13)
  • Time: 1:00 PM ET                                                           
  • Marquee Players: QB Matt Ryan, WR Julio Jones, WR Roddy White
  • Key Losses: WR Harry Douglas, DT Corey Peters, LB Sean Weatherspoon
  • Key Additions: DE Adrian Clayborn, LB Brooks Reed
  • First Three Draft Picks: OLB Vic Beasley (8), CB Jalen Collins (42), RB Tevin Coleman (73) Must-See Storyline:
    First of all, the Buccaneers are sure to be circling both Falcons matchups on their calendars as revenge games after falling by a combined 52 points in the two-game series of 2014. The Bucs will look to fight back and return the favor to the Falcons who enter the season with a brand new coaching staff. Dan Quinn makes his first head coaching stint after a run as Defensive Coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks. Defensive Coordinator Richard Smith, Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan and Asst. Head Coach Raheem Morris also round out the first year staff. They'll look across the field at a new Buccaneers coordinator who will be facing his previous team. Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter served as the Falcons' OC for three seasons and will lead the Bucs offensive charge to take back the NFC South. During halftime of this division rivalry, we celebrate one of the all-time Buccaneers greats, Doug Williams with his Ring of Honor induction.

New Orleans Saints (BUY)

  • Date: Sunday, December 13 (Week 14)  
  • Time: 1:00 PM ET                
  • Marquee Players: QB Drew Brees, RB Mark Ingram, DE Cameron Jordan
  • Key Losses: TE Jimmy Graham, LB Curtis Lofton, CB Patrick Robinson
  • Key Additions: RB C.J. Spiller, C Max Unger, CB Brandon Browner
  • First Three Draft Picks: OT Andrus Peat (13), LB Stephone Anthony (31), OLB Hau'oli Kikaha (44) Must-See Storyline:
     Last season the Saints stole two close battles against the Bucs, with a 37-31 win overtime win in New Orleans and a last-minute 23-20 win to close the season in Tampa. Despite plenty of close games, shootouts and a rich rivalry history, perhaps the biggest storyline for this matchup and the entire New Orleans Saints offseason is their trade that sent All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks. Graham was arguably the Saints' top playmaker for the last four seasons and the Saints will now lack his talents when they twice take on the underrated Buccaneers defense that is hungry for the top spot in the division.

Chicago Bears (BUY)

  • Date: Sunday, December 27 (Week 16)
  • Time: 1:00 PM ET
  • Marquee Players: RB Matt Forte, WR Alshon Jeffery, DE Jared Allen
  • Key Losses: WR Brandon Marshall, DT Stephen Paea, CB Charles Tillman
  • Key Additions: LB Pernell McPhee, LB Mason Foster, S Antrel Rolle
  • First Three Draft Picks: WR Kevin White (7), DT Eddie Goldman (39), C Hroniss Grasu (71)

Must-See Storyline: Lovie Smith, of course, made a name for himself as the Chicago Bears' head coach from 2004-2012. After his first season with the Bears, he took the team from 5-11 and fourth place in the NFC North to 11-5, first in the division, and their second playoff appearance in over a decade. His defense in that second season as head coach ranked second in the NFL yards allowed and first in points allowed. Last season, Smith coached against his former team for the first time in the November winds of Soldier Field. This year, in Smith's second season at the helm for the Buccaneers, the Bears will venture to central Florida to face the Bucs on our home turf.

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