Early Four-Week Stretch Could Make Or Break Season
May 14th, 2025
Physical four games.
Under Todd Bowles, the Bucs always start strong, then collapse in the middle of the season only to rally and fight like dogs to get back atop the NFC South.
This year, that midseason dip could come a little earlier than normal.
Joe believes a four-game stretch from late September through much of October could either make the Bucs’ season, or doom it to the unthinkable: no playoff berth.
The Bucs begin this stretch on Sept. 28, a 1 p.m. kickoff against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles at The Licht House. You know that will be a bruising game.
The next week, the Bucs travel clear across the country to the Pacific Northwest to play the Seahawks. Mike Macdonald is building a tough, scrappy team much like what he had in Baltimore and before that, at Michigan with Jim Harbaugh.
Being a Harbaugh disciple, Macdonald is trying to emulate the Harbaugh Bros. by playing smashmouth football. This will be a physical game.
The next week the Bucs host the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan has had Bowles’ number in recent years. Not unlike Seattle, San Francisco is a tough, physical team in the mold of their general manager John Lynch. They may not be as good this year as they have been, but Joe believes this, too, will be a tough game.
And then, that four-game stretch ends with a game at Detroit on Monday Night Football. We all know that can and probably will be a slobberknocker game (hat tip, Mike Ditka).
If the Bucs survive that four-game stretch without serious injuries and can pull off three wins against those four teams, the Bucs ought to be in very good shape for the home stretch in their quest for a Super Bowl, and a five-peat as NFC South champs.
Week 1 Sun. Sept. 7 at Atlanta 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 2 Mon. Sept. 15 at Houston 7: p.m. (ABC)
Week 3 Sun. Sept. 21 N.Y. JETS 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 4 Sun. Sept. 28 PHILADELPHIA 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 5 Sun. Oct. 5 at Seattle 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Week 6 Sun. Oct. 12 SAN FRANCISCO 1 PM (CBS)
Week 7 Mon. Oct. 20 at Detroit 7 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
Week 8 Sun. Oct. 26 at New Orleans 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Week 9 BYE
Week 10 Sun. Nov. 9 NEW ENGLAND 1 p.m. (CBS)
Week 11 Sun. Nov. 16 at Buffalo 1 p.m. (CBS)
Week 12 Sun. Nov. 23 at L.A. Rams 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Week 13 Sun. Nov. 30 ARIZONA 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 14 Sun. Dec. 7 NEW ORLEANS 1 p.m. (CBS)
Week 15 Thurs. Dec. 11 ATLANTA 8:15 p.m. (Prime)
Week 16 Sun. Dec. 21 at Carolina 4:30 p.m. (FOX)
Week 17 Sun. Dec. 28 at Miami 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 18 TBD Jan. 4 CAROLINA TBD TBD
PRESEASON DATES/TIMES NOT RELEASED
Week 1 — TENNESSEE
Week 2 — at Pittsburgh
Week 3 — BUFFALO
May 14th, 2025 at 8:20 pm
Because we play in a crappy division and the NFL schedules division games at the end of the year the Bucs once again have a cakewalk down the stretch last 6 games. go 5-6 before that and we still in good shape.
May 14th, 2025 at 8:28 pm
Seahawks will be a victory, and Miners only have Kittle and CMAC (if healthy), Aiyuk will still be injured then and Deebo gone. No back end defense for Niners either.
So 2-2 worst case from weeks 4-7.
And we always match up well with Philly.
Could be 3-1 in that stretch.
May 14th, 2025 at 8:31 pm
Funny Joe you don’t mention Atlanta to open the season. They beat us twice last year. Even more odd do you think the Monday nighter in Houston is a cake-walk? Seems to me more like an 8 game stretch.
May 14th, 2025 at 8:50 pm
The Bucs begin this stretch on Sept. 28, a 1 p.m. kickoff against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles at The Licht House. You know that will be a bruising game.
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Bowles owns the stupid Eagles for whatever reason. I’ll take the Bucs and give 13 points in that game. That has zero barring on the rest of the schedule to be clear as I have the Bucs going 10-7 overall.
May 14th, 2025 at 8:52 pm
That was the stretch that jumped out to me too.
May 14th, 2025 at 9:08 pm
i’d settle for 2 wins. heck maybe even 1 if no injuries
May 14th, 2025 at 9:08 pm
Can’t wait to hammer Bucs -2.5 at minimum week 1 (if we come outta preseason healthy). Bowles record early and the fact that Bucs should want revenge … I think we roll! Reddick and the new DBs, a healthy Winfield, if Grizzard is on it we might win by 20.
New DC in ATL right? New starting S, new starting C, rookie edge rusher and ILB that Wirfs, Goedeke, Baker will expose.
May 14th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
If we can go into the bye week 5-3 we will be in good shape. LET’S BAKE!
May 14th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Optimistic goal, 3 out of 4. I think 2-4 would be great considering this is the “tough stretch”.
May 14th, 2025 at 9:14 pm
I think the Bucs got the best possible opener – Atlanta in Atlanta. I absolutely believe the Bucs will blow them out in the season opener.
May 14th, 2025 at 9:16 pm
10-7 is the worst I think the Bucs will be this year, barring a rash of devastating injuries. They could go as high as 12-5.
May 14th, 2025 at 9:18 pm
This is the time for coach to evolve into an aggressive play caller on both sides of the ball. Do not get scared on 4th and 3 at mid field. Do not get scared to play your corners up to the line.
I give him a break for dropping the LBs last year due cb issues.
May 14th, 2025 at 9:32 pm
Could see the Bucs being 4-4 at the BYE with this schedule, but finishing strong, winning 6 or 7 of the final 9 games (10-7 or 11-6). Good enough to win the division. And if our defense improves into the Top-10, no reason we couldn’t hold our own in the playoffs.
May 14th, 2025 at 9:52 pm
Joe, I see your point, but I’m not sure I completely agree with you.
All four of those teams are tough. I won’t argue that.
We’ve had Philly’s number for a couple of years now. San Fran was shedding/losing players left and right before the draft. Seattle lost a couple of marquee names as well. It’ll be interesting to see how Detroit fares will new offensive and defensive coordinators.
We can win all four of these, but we’ll have to bring our A-game to the table.
My concern is the back to back road trips to Buffalo, then L.A. Mid-November weather in Buffalo can be a real cr@p shoot. Then, all the way to the west coast for the Rams. Winter comes early sometimes in upstate NY, and the Rams just seem to have our number these past couple of years.
Just my opinion, but I think there’s a better chance of chalking up “L”s against the Rams and Bills than the other four games.
May 14th, 2025 at 9:53 pm
*with* not “will”
May 14th, 2025 at 9:59 pm
IMO this year the glazers will be looking for the next step or evolution of the team under Bowles……meaning not collapsing mid season or any point in the season and seeing some consistency across the board giving us 12 or 13 wins. If there’s another collapse I would hope it would mean a serious look at the HC.
May 14th, 2025 at 10:13 pm
It seems fortunate that the four tough weeks Joe mentioned are followed by a game against the Saints, the bye week, and then a game against the Patriots.
May 14th, 2025 at 10:47 pm
We know the defense and only have hope to indicate improvement.
Offense might take a few games to resume form.
Should be 12 win team minimum.
Could be a 6 win team.
Mostly requires the half half guy to properly craft a defense and adjust for things like injuries, different QBs, etc. And then if the game hangs in the balance and offense is the strength of the team, bet on them to win instead of a bend over and break defense that can’t force a rookie QB to punt in a playoff game.
After reading back to last years JBF comments, I’m sad we didn’t retire half half and keep Coen.
May 14th, 2025 at 11:30 pm
While I agree that we’ve had Phillys number in recent years, they also were without AJ Brown and Devonta Smith last year when we played them. And I’m pretty sure they didn’t lose another game all season after the loss to us… I wouldn’t expect that game to be another blowout.
May 14th, 2025 at 11:40 pm
I agree 💯with “Obvious.” The expectations have to MUCH higher than a 10-win season by now, for this team, QB, AND Head Coach. If relatively healthy, then 10-wins and another ‘1st-Round’ Playoff Exit, just isn’t gonna cut it. Period. End of Story. THIS Team needs to be thinking ‘1st-Round’ Bye, or at least a home playoff game, at a minimum. AND, the better ‘WIN’ that home playoff game, too!!!! Just CANNOT continue accepting ‘mediocrity’ any longer, at this point. It’s TIME. Expectations should be VERY HIGH.
May 15th, 2025 at 2:11 am
No reason why we can’t win at least 12-13 games this season we should be better this year hopefully everyone stays healthy 💯
May 15th, 2025 at 4:48 am
Joe, thank you for the full graphic of all NFL games. It’s so much better looking it over in one place. The Jets, Browns, and Eagles having the same bye as us too. Glad we were not in real early bye! Hoping for an injury-free season and no bad ref calls. Go Bucs!
May 15th, 2025 at 6:17 am
We have the talent to win majority of these games. Coming to come down to Bowles inept coaching and the defense.
May 15th, 2025 at 7:23 am
atlanta has 7 games against teams with winning record last year. (bucs twice) 5 at home – 2 away. bucs have 6. 3 at home – 3 away. very imp. they beat atlanta in both games. this could come down to a tie breaker if both go 10-7 or 11-6. todd, are you paying attention? can’t afford any 1-3 or 1-4 stretches. DEFENSE. DEFENSE. DEFENSE.
May 15th, 2025 at 8:41 am
PASS DEFENSE PASS DEFENSE PASS DEFENSE
May 15th, 2025 at 9:34 am
1st game in a dome? We’re winning that game!
May 15th, 2025 at 10:05 am
If baker keeps int down we going to stomp these teams
May 15th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
When we go into a slump it doesn’t matter the quality of injury status of the opposition. When we are sizzinin’ it doesn’t matter the quality of the opposition. When we are cold we couldn’t beat Sisters of the Blind bible college. When we are hot we are almost unbeatable. Keep ’em hot Todd!