Hoping/Praying For An Easier Start
May 11th, 2023
Save the Josh Allen ride for midseason.
Lots of 2023 schedule leaks are out there and not one involves the Buccaneers. That let’s you know many 1 o’clock games are on the way.
And that’s fine with Joe. Early-afternoon games are good. Win plenty of them and the night games will come. Simple as that.
But while Joe isn’t hoping for night games and 4:25 p.m. starts, Joe is aching/praying/hoping for the Bucs to get second-rate opponents early in their schedule, which will be revealed at 8 p.m. tonight.
As discussed on the recent Ira Kaufman Podcast, bring on the Colts in Indianapolis in Week 1, for example, and serve up the Panthers or Falcons at home in Week 2. Each team has a shaky quarterback situation and unknown quantities at head coach, in addition to roster challenges.
A solid start by the Bucs is critical to keeping the masses from screaming for Todd Bowles’ head before Halloween, and the team could really use the confidence boost of early wins as it transitions to a new quarterback, whomever that may be.
So football gods, for example, please don’t have the Bucs heading to Buffalo in Week 2 for the Bills’ home opener after Tampa Bay opens at home against the Jaguars — with Week 3 at San Francisco.
May 11th, 2023 at 2:47 pm
Doesn’t matter who they play. This team isn’t built to win.
No QB + Bad Head Coach = Losing
May 11th, 2023 at 2:47 pm
But would the 3 teams your worried about all want us the first 3 weeks of the season for the same reason you want Indy, ATL and Carolina?
Again, it doesn’t matter. If Baker is QB1 according to you, then I want the hardest teams out the gate. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS
May 11th, 2023 at 2:50 pm
I just saw Tampa at Minnesota week 1, unverified.
May 11th, 2023 at 3:03 pm
Seeing this online:
Week 15: The Buccaneers visit their old NFC Central rivals in the Packers.
May 11th, 2023 at 3:06 pm
I can understand the Bucs getting a 22nd rated schedule but from what I’ve seen recently posted elsewhere the stinking Chiefs are at the 16th spot while Philly is supposed to have the #1 hardest rated schedule. Something smells rotten if that’s true!
May 11th, 2023 at 3:09 pm
DingleBerry … You’re not paying attention. This team is better than last year’s team.
I’d love Carolina early and Saints late.
May 11th, 2023 at 3:14 pm
We know who we’re going to play; it’s the dates that are unknown. How about Baker vs. Falcons in week 1? Maybe give him a weaker opponent to get started?
Home: Falcons, Panthers, Saints, Bears, Lions, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles
Away: Falcons, Panthers, Packers, Texans, Colts, Vikings, Saints, 49ers, Bills
May 11th, 2023 at 3:17 pm
MNF game against the Eagles. At home. Opening at Minnesota. Hey, remember 2005 ? Remember how we were supposed to be awful and the Vikings had SB aspirations ? Play the games and let’s see how things unfold.
May 11th, 2023 at 3:24 pm
I’m seeing Minny week 1, Jags on xmas eve and Pack on Week 15
May 11th, 2023 at 3:28 pm
Week 3 MNF doubleheader. Home against the Eagles. Starting time is TBA. We could kick off at 5pm or so. Or at 10 or 11 pm. Graveyard shift game would be better, IMO.
May 11th, 2023 at 3:29 pm
Could be some intrigue Bucs Pants week 1. The #1 pick in the draft going against their former QB if its Baker might have some appeal . I’m glad I don’t have to wait till 9 pm to see our first game. Like joe said, win the rest will come.
May 11th, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Don’t care. You play the schedule you’re dealt and you don’t make excuses.
May 11th, 2023 at 3:43 pm
It’s going to be a long season for us Bucs fans.
I would guess Vegas will have the Bucs as favorites in either two or three games:
Home Against Carolina
Home Against Chicago
Away against Texas (maybe)
May 11th, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Slypirate better than last years team you drank the kool aid also Bwahwahwahwah!
May 11th, 2023 at 3:46 pm
Maybe they can play USF.
May 11th, 2023 at 3:53 pm
“Early-afternoon games are good. Win plenty of them and the night games will come. Simple as that.”
AMEN!!!!
May 11th, 2023 at 5:12 pm
No matter how the schedule lines up, this is a six win team with Todd at the helm
May 11th, 2023 at 5:33 pm
Lol, yeah they would have a chance against USF. Seriously, we are at the bottom of the NFC South with Carolina and it probably doesn’t matter who we play early in the season. Saints are 9.5 and Falcons are at 8.5. Vegas believes the Bucs with Baker are going to tank.
May 11th, 2023 at 7:12 pm
In the decade before Brady we would be turning our attention to the draft by mid October. Hopefully there will be no draft talk until early January
May 11th, 2023 at 7:20 pm
I like the 1’clock games pretty well anyways, so that’s ok with me. Don’t have to wait to watch in the day and it’s just better watching football in the sun/afternoon. We all grew up playing in the AM/Early Afternoon and there is just something nostalgic about it. It’s meant at its core!
May 11th, 2023 at 7:52 pm
hard not to want us to tank for caleb i do not like baker so much. i know i do not like todd bowles, just wish we could get a new HC and put bowles back to DC. Canales has his work cut out, our running attack will continue to be worst in nfl, we have changed nothing much. no tackle and no running baack in FA or draft. ok bring on the early games, we will be an easy out for these other teams. we need to get into QB drafting position next season.
May 11th, 2023 at 8:06 pm
I will gladly accept 1pm games since I work 3rd shift now…im usually asleep by 3-4pm anyway…
May 11th, 2023 at 10:00 pm
Joe’s take is exactly the opposite of what mine is and thankfully, I got my wish. The Bucs have a tough start of the season and a pretty easy one the second half. The way I see it, there are so many changes in the roster and coaching staff, the Bucs are going to have a lot of kinks to work out early. Might as well do that against teams that were going to beat you anyway and by the time it’s all clicking, you’re playing weaker teams, which means more wins.
May 12th, 2023 at 3:01 pm
Been a diehard Bucs fan for 44 years. Since when have we ever had a cupcake schedule even back in the Dark Ages (1980s)? So what? I’m thrilled that we’re not gonna have all the da##ed night games! I follow on Bucs Radio anyway so the boob tube streaming doesn’t affect me.