Bucs Expected To Open Week 1 On The Road
May 2nd, 2026
Joe is smelling a fun Bucs-fan watch party on Sunday, Sept. 13, as Tampa Bay hits the road to open the 2026 season.
Bucs super fan “Skip” (@its_skip_b on X) tipped Joe off that Bruno Mars has stadium shows at The Licht House on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13. In addition to that, Joe’s research shows the Mars stadium setup takes multiple days, so it seems ridiculous and impossible that the Bucs would open this season at home.
The official schedule release is expected in about 10 days.
Joe loves the Bucs opening on the road. They seem to play better on the road with Todd Bowles, and Week 1 on the road builds more hype for the home-opener.
Tampa Bay’s away games this season are at Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Dallas, Cincinnati, Atlanta, New Orleans, Carolina. One of those games could be in Europe.
The Joe typing here would like to see the Bucs open at Detroit.
Lions QB Jared Goff eats a lot of sacks (the Bucs dropped him four times last year), and Joe wants to see the revamped Bucs pass rush gain confidence early in the season. A division matchup would be a nice second choice.
The other Joe wants the Bucs to face the Bears to start the season, to avoid any chance of a cold weather game in Chicago. Sage of Tampa Bay Sports Ira Kaufman wants the Bucs facing the Panthers in Week 1 — to “show Carolina who’s boss.”
May 2nd, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Yeah let’s hope for a road start against the Bears. Seriously?
Ben Johnson is a vastly superior coach to Toad Bowels. It’s not even close.
Just imagine how many yards and TDs Caleb Williams will have against the wide open Swiss cheese pass defense.
That will be the cherry on top of the start of the season.
All the Pom Pom waivers will find anyone except Todd to blame.
He’s a defensive mastermind and a complete Guru.
May 2nd, 2026 at 3:01 pm
Vastly superior huh?
This Pom Pom waiver has been a Super Bowl count at 0 as a coordinator
May 2nd, 2026 at 3:20 pm
We can’t predict the outcome of these games, based on the 2025 teams
May 2nd, 2026 at 3:20 pm
Def would rather play in Chicago Sept instead of December. Come on football gods!
May 2nd, 2026 at 3:33 pm
Lynchmob:
Why do you bother logging on to a Bucs site just to bitch and complain about EVERYTHING?
Sad person.
JL just had fantastic draft. Smile my man. Life is short
May 2nd, 2026 at 3:35 pm
The Bucs have to play the Bears on the road. So why not in September as opposed to December?
I swear people on here just bitch about everything.
May 2nd, 2026 at 3:57 pm
Yes they do and we play very strong in September- it’s before the typical injuries start setting in. Let’s have an atypical season with *NO* major injuries. I’d love to see how far we get in those circumstances!
May 2nd, 2026 at 4:15 pm
I just want a W regardless. A 0-2 start to this season will create a lot of fire people noise early. I don’t want to march for Arch 2027 just yet. With that said it’s going to take a strong playoff push to not want change up top. Kind of the same spot Bills were in last year. Close but not enough to get over the mountain. I would wait till the mid season slump with Mayfield’s contract talk. It’s happened every year but last year the team didn’t pull through at the end. There’s a reason why two HOF players are done. I hope it’s due to age and not because somebody knows something, but can’t say something. I got a new hat to throw around the living room just in case.
May 2nd, 2026 at 4:34 pm
Bring on the hype after the road loss.Mod me baby.
May 2nd, 2026 at 4:36 pm
If you are not getting modded you are just a pom pom cheerleader.
May 2nd, 2026 at 4:44 pm
Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah!
Taaaampa! Baaaaay!
Get that ball and go!
Go Bucs!!!
Defense!! Defense!
Hey Hey Hey were the Buccaneers!
Whoop de Doo!
May 2nd, 2026 at 4:57 pm
What Lakeland said above. You can NEVER predict the outcome of the games based on prior year. Add to that the fact that our defense will likely be comprised of over 50% different players. Also, add to that that defense is typically ahead of offense early in the season. But… If I were a troll I would probably say what Lynch said above. He’s obviously on the depressive side of his manic depressive state.
May 2nd, 2026 at 4:59 pm
Fan, yeah, I don’t get it. No one says it needs to be kumbaya in the comments. Plenty of the more positive folks render criticism when necessary. But to come on and only say strictly negative things and clearly troll like Lynch and Grover. Unhappy people trying to make others unhappy.
May 2nd, 2026 at 5:32 pm
Looks like 8 road losses to me. And Ben Johnson is indeed vastly superior to our Failure Who Was Retained.
Only an inferior coach turns a home field into a disadvantage. Congratulations, Todd.
May 2nd, 2026 at 5:41 pm
True, you can’t predict next season judging by last season’s outcome . I really hope the Bucs have a better than last season injuries outcome. We are surely due to ohave less injuries & hopefully the brains at one Buc Palace have figured out the root cause, be it field conditions, conditioning, off-season weight training , nutrition, I don’t know. I have stated over & over i wish they had hired a DC but as long as the Todd is our HC thats not happening, they did hopefully upgrade the assistant coaches on both sides plus ST so maybe this TEAM has a better season. I hope we do start strong avoid the mid-season swoon & this season finish strong make the playoffs & at least play into the 2nd rd . But as much as I back the Bucs & have since the mid 80s unfortunately with great success we keep Bowles as our HC & Defensive Cordinator, (Defensive genius) it’s gonna be a different kinda season as a fan. GO BUCCANEERS!!!!
May 2nd, 2026 at 5:41 pm
True, you can’t predict next season judging by last season’s outcome . I really hope the Bucs have a better than last season injuries outcome. We are surely due to ohave less injuries & hopefully the brains at one Buc Palace have figured out the root cause, be it field conditions, conditioning, off-season weight training , nutrition, I don’t know. I have stated over & over i wish they had hired a DC but as long as the Todd is our HC thats not happening, they did hopefully upgrade the assistant coaches on both sides plus ST so maybe this TEAM has a better season. I hope we do start strong avoid the mid-season swoon & this season finish strong make the playoffs & at least play into the 2nd rd . But as much as I back the Bucs & have since the mid 80s unfortunately with great success we keep Bowles as our HC & Defensive Cordinator, (Defensive genius) it’s gonna be a different kinda season as a fan. GO BUCCANEERS!!!!
May 2nd, 2026 at 5:48 pm
3.28, HC Grover, and Lynchmob troll all day everyday with their constant negativity.
We can troll too clowns. All 3 of you will never succeed in life and should have already been fired from whatever jobs you have. You’re fat and lazy and will never succeed at anything you ever do, ever.
See – not too hard is it?
Seriously though – wishing you 3 would just take a breath and see life through brighter lenses. The world is not ending. All the best, and Go Bucs!!
May 2nd, 2026 at 5:56 pm
I’m with Ira. Make it the Panthers.
May 2nd, 2026 at 6:03 pm
Are Lynchmob and Grover the same moron or is it just my imagination?
I have my pom poms and pewter + red glasses ready!
Let’s do this!
May 2nd, 2026 at 6:11 pm
It does make you wonder since Todd always starts so well what a healthy team all year would do.
Unfortunately we may never know.
That’s why depth is imperative and we have it in key places.
May 2nd, 2026 at 6:58 pm
3.28, HC Grover, and Lynchmob In a circle jerk who will win?
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:09 pm
I can’t decide who I want to play first. Dallas? Mayby.
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:15 pm
God I hope it’s in Carolina … Bucs fan here in Atlanta , we owe them !!! Went to that disaster in Charlotte last season … GO BUCS!!!
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:38 pm
Living rent free in the minds of the Pom Pom waivers and Kool Aid drinkers!!!
Good times!!!
I heard there was a horse named Todd Bowles in the Kentucky Derby today.
It came in last…..
May 2nd, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Let’s start on the road in Carolina boys 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
May 2nd, 2026 at 8:59 pm
Baker is a once in a lifetime/generational talent we should be grateful for. Im not sure why we didnt go “all in” every year he has been here. His only shortcomings is he cannot play the other 21 positions on the field.
If we get him great coaching, elite line, backs, wideouts and a very good defense he can win 12 games and we can at least go to the NFC title game. We are fortunate to have him, he is the best Qb we have ever have and ever will.
Baker has won the division title 2/3 years and is top 3 in yards and touchdown passes over the last 3 years. Every coach and defender walks on eggshells and make sure to not provide any bulletin board material in fear of angering Baker.
We should offer him a 12 year/1 billion dollar contract, effectively making a Buc the rest of his career. We should have made Liam the HC. No way would Liam take the bigger, younger Trevor Lawrence over Baker.
Mike Evans will miss the Bucs more then the Bucs will miss him. Mike was so upset about the 19th ranked Bucs defense he chose to leave here with the juggernaut 21st ranked offense.
For all the haters, Baker has the highest playoff “passer rating”. Now baker haters will tell you “passer rating” has been obsolete for about 2 decades but either way, Baker is #1. Now, some may argue “passer rating” is stupid because Jeff Hostetler has a higher passer rating then John Elway and Dan Fouts and countless other HOF qbs from older eras.
I absolutely think we need to trade away picks and submerge ourselves in salary cap HELL because we are unlikely to have another Qb like baker in our lifetime. Baker is absolutely infallible and there are no flaws to his game. his only weakness is that he puts the team ahead of himself and his body.
We need to extend him now. Sean Mcvay has his calendar marked for March 2027. he will either cut Stafford and sign baker in LA, or will leave La and take baker with him to his new team. I dont know this for a fact but about 30 years ago i saw it in “Any Given Sunday”. McVay will be Al Paccino and baker will be steamin Willie Beamon.
At 31, Baker is just a pup. Ive witnessed Brady, Favre and Brees be elite after 40. Peyton Manning, Rodgers and stafford were elite in their mid 30s to late 30s. I remember late last year the Pewter report said that Coen loves baker so much hed be willing to give up Lawrence and 2-3#1 picks to reunite with Baker.
Im not suggesting we should have done that. In my eyes, Baker’s value cannot be measured or quantified. Im just saying look how much someone is willing to pay for him….And that was late in the year of a 13 win season for Jacksonville.
Id much rather focus on Ol depth, interior depth, weakside backer, slot wr and nickel back over our starting Qb.While I have Baker just a “notch” below mahomes, Allen, Lamar and Burrow( aside from Mahomes Baker has as many Sb titles as the other 3) and Baker is better then Goff, Darnold, Herbert,Hurts, Love, Stroud, Lawrence, Purdy,Maye, caled, daneils and Bo Nix). While I think Stafford is slightly better, He’s 38 and shows signs of aging…..he has grey in his in beard.
Speaking of Stafford, he was 51-58 his first 8 seasons in detroit and he just recently went over .500 for his career. The talent gap between Stafford and Baker is negligibile, if a talent gap exist at all. I know Sb titles, appearances and double digit wins and title games will be in the cards the next 8 years with baker. I know this because stafford had a losing record in his 30s too.
Yes, baker played with several all pro and pro bowl offensive players in their prime in Cleveland. he was a victim of circumstance there. They went 1-31 the 2 years before he got there. If i didnt know any better, I would have thought they tanked for 2 years to save money and aquire picks.
If baker leaves im convinced the sky will fall. If he does prepare for something like being.500 over a 4 year span and winning a single wildcard game in 4 years. I know we win our division week 18 every year but its because its so competitive. Nobody has a good W-L because all the teams in the division beat up on each other. Rick Stroud says Seam Mcvay was relieved when Atlanta beat the saints in week 18. Mc vay hair fell out of facing the Qb with the “highest passer rating” of all time.
Hopefully this has been positive enough for everyone.Like Homer Simpson said”Look at me, Im making people happy, Im happy man from happy land”. Anyone who thinks anything other then baker is a great, hall of fame bound Qb is a idiot and byproduct of inbreeding. he is fantastic. He either cost you money on a game, was rude to you in public, Your a texas fan or ex browns fan or Lincoln Riley supporter if you think he sucks. Did you know in 2024 he had 4500 yards and 41 td passes?
May 2nd, 2026 at 9:14 pm
Carolina. The NFL wants to start with the Bucs against the defending NFL South Champion.
May 2nd, 2026 at 10:15 pm
Day after my 61st birthday!
I have always felt the first two games should be out of state games because its one of the busiest months for hurricanes.
May 2nd, 2026 at 10:55 pm
I knew Bruno Mars was at Ray Jay on the 12th, didn’t realize the 13th as well.
Roadtrippin starts week 1 this year, hopefully in Chicago. #LFG
May 2nd, 2026 at 11:04 pm
I’m with the other Joe — kick it off in the windy city! The Bears are a good team — premium for a re-introduction of the TTB!
A lot of time between now and opening day. I hope the guys are healthy, in shape, motivated, and ready to roll.
If our O-line is healthy and strong, and our defense gels with the new krewe, winning will be the new norm.
May 2nd, 2026 at 11:42 pm
“show Carolina who’s boss.”
Easier said than done Ira!
May 2nd, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Bye Baker Bye Bowles…you need to talk to Rod Munch.
May 3rd, 2026 at 12:22 am
Whoever it is, money says Bowles loses his first opener as a Bucs headless coich, and it only gets worse from there.
No that’s not what I want. But the writing is on the wall in the largest eye test chart font available. The consolation prize is, there’s a chance to get someone better. Anyone.
May 3rd, 2026 at 5:33 am
There are rumors that Bears will play in Seattle week 1.
May 3rd, 2026 at 7:16 am
@Bye Baker: Looks like the kombucha worked. Fyi, satire is best kept short.
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:28 am
Brevity is the soul of wit.
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:49 am
KABucs Says:
May 2nd, 2026 at 6:03 pm
Are Lynchmob and Grover the same moron or is it just my imagination?
++±+++++++++++++++++
You are correct. One is created by the other with a different email and probably on a different device.
.
May 3rd, 2026 at 12:29 pm
So opening home game will likely be week 3.
Bucs can replace sod pretty quickly but after covering the stadium 2 days on both Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th and USF playing on the sod on the 19th before it gets to take very well, I doubt the NFL will have the Bucs playing on that sod on the 20th.
So, home opener on week 3.
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:05 pm
NFL team schedules not ready to post as of this evening. I’ve already checked a couple of sites. Opening home game in Chicago? Cooler than down here.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:17 pm
Wait, week 1 isn’t until the middle of September? WTF
May 4th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
If we have 5 prime time games we will be 1-4 at best.