 |
|
Bucs Announce 2008 Regular Season Schedule |
 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will open the 2008 regular season in New Orleans on Sept. 7 (Cliff Welch) |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released their 2008 regular season schedule on Tuesday. The Bucs will open the season in New Orleans on Sept. 7. Tampa Bay is also scheduled to have three prime time games, including two at home vs. Seattle and San Diego.
The Buccaneers will attempt to become the first NFC South team team to repeat as division champions in 2008.
The National Football League released its entire 2008 regular season schedule on Tuesday, and Tampa Bay's attempt to defend its division title will begin vs. a division rival as the Bucs' regular season begins in New Orleans on Sept. 7. That contest will be played at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Click here to view Tampa Bay's entire 2008 schedule.
The Buccaneers will make their 2008 regular season debut at Raymond James Stadium at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sept. 14 vs. one of its other division rivals - the Atlanta Falcons. Tampa Bay swept both Atlanta and New Orleans during the 2007 regular season.
Tampa Bay was shut out of regular season prime time games in 2007 and hasn't hosted a nationally televised regular season prime time game since the 2003 season.
However, that drought will end in 2008 as the Buccaneers are scheduled to play in three prime time games this season, two of which are at Raymond James Stadium.
Tampa Bay's first prime time contest is against Seattle on Sunday Night Football on Oct. 19. The contest will kick off at Raymond James Stadium at 8:15 p.m. ET.
The Bucs' last Monday Night Football game was at Carolina in November of 2006. It will mark just over two years later when Tampa Bay returns to Carolina and Monday Night Football -- the Bucs and Panthers are scheduled to clash at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 8.
Tampa Bay's final prime time regular season game is at home against San Diego on Dec. 21. However, that Sunday Night Football contest is subject to change due to the NFL's flex schedule rule.
Tampa Bay is 15-20 all-time in prime time, including 5-11 (4-4 at home) on Sunday Night Football and 9-8 (2-5 on the road) on Monday Night Football.
The Buccaneers are scheduled to conclude the 2008 regular season vs. the Oakland Raiders at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 28. It will mark just the second time the Bucs have faced the Raiders in the regular season since Tampa Bay defeated Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Although the Buccaneers finish the 2008 regular season with two home games vs. San Diego and Oakland, they have two two-week periods where they play consecutive games on the road - at Dallas (Oct. 26) and at Kansas City (Nov. 2), and then at Carolina (Dec. 8) and at Atlanta (Dec. 14).
The Buccaneers appear to have a favorable bye week as it falls on Nov. 9, which is Week 10 of the 2008 regular season. It looks as though Tampa Bay will also dodge the cold weather bullet as their final outdoor road contest of the year is at Carolina on Dec. 8.
Tampa Bay's 2008 regular season home and away opponents compiled a combined record of 102-106 in 2007. Only four of those clubs made the playoffs last year. However, all four teams - Green Bay, San Diego, Seattle and Dallas - won their respective divisions in 2007.
2008 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS SCHEDULE
PRESEASON
Sat. Aug. 9 at Miami 7:30 p.m. NBC (WFLA)
Sun. Aug. 17 NEW ENGLAND 8:00 p.m. NFL Network *
Sat. Aug. 23 JACKSONVILLE 7:30 p.m. NBC (WFLA)
Thurs. Aug. 28 at Houston 8:00 p.m. NBC (WFLA)
REGULAR SEASON
Sun. Sept. 7 at New Orleans 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Sept. 14 ATLANTA 4:05 p.m. FOX
Sun. Sept. 21 at Chicago 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Sept. 28 GREEN BAY 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Oct. 5 at Denver 4:05 p.m. FOX
Sun. Oct. 12 CAROLINA 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Oct. 19 SEATTLE 8:15 p.m. NBC *
Sun. Oct. 26 at Dallas 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Nov. 2 at Kansas City 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Nov. 9 -Bye Week-
Sun. Nov. 16 MINNESOTA 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Nov. 23 at Detroit 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Nov. 30 NEW ORLEANS 1:00 p.m. FOX
Mon. Dec. 8 at Carolina 8:30 p.m. ESPN *
Sun. Dec. 14 at Atlanta 1:00 p.m. FOX
Sun. Dec. 21 SAN DIEGO 8:15 p.m. NBC *
Sun. Dec. 28 OAKLAND 1:00 p.m. CBS
CAPS = Home Game
* = Prime Time Game
BucFanTours.com will be offering travel packages to Tampa Bay's 2008 away games. Click here or call (800) 345-5195 to inquire further about traveling to another city or cities to see the Buccaneers play in 2008.
Want the inside scoop on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2008 offseason plans? Want to find out who the Bucs are targeting in free agency and the NFL Draft this year? Subscribe to PewterReport.com's Pewter Insider by clicking here.
WATCH Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds and Jim Flynn on select Sunday nights at 11:30 p.m. on Sports Zone with Al Keck and Tom Korun on ABC Action News in Tampa Bay for Bucs game highlights and the latest Bucs news. And for the best local coverage of Tampa Bay sports and Tampa Bay news, check out ABCActionNews.com.
LISTEN to Pewter Report's Jim Flynn each Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. on the Pewter Pulse with Dan Sileo on WDAE 620 AM The Sports Animal, and catch Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds each Wednesday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. on the PewterReport.com Buccaneer Blitz with Steve Duemig on WDAE 620 AM The Sports Animal
Comments
quezilla
I say we make the playoffs if we can go +.500 weeks 3-8.
3:05pm, April 15, 2008
pinkstob
I like this schedule. Given the teams we have to play and the possibilities for cold weather games we made out pretty good. It'll probably be in the low 60's for the Kansas City game and maybe high 40's for the Carolina game since it's at night.
I also like the 3 primetime games. The only thing I'm weary of is that opener against the Saints. They're pissed we beat them twice last year when they were the defending division champs, especially that last one at home. It's tough to beat a division team at home when the crowd will be in full effect. They obviously wouldn't have lost a game yet so they'll have that "This could be our year!" mindset.
Maybe they'll lose both of their staring offensive guards and have C. Simms under center due to trades and injuries by opening day. That seemed to work wonders for the Ravens in '06!
3:32pm, April 15, 2008
BucWild02
Schedule looks favorable. I like the return to primetime and I think the Bucs have done the things necesary in the offseason to win the division again. Free agency has reloaded our Sp. Teams, solidified the O-Line, and added proven offensive playmakers in Dunn and A. Bryant-a talented but troubled wild card. Losing Kelly hurt, but not with the solid play of Buchanon and the addition of E. Wilson. Bucs gotta draft next and I have confidence they will draft well. In the first round I think this is the year the Bucs draft a franchise QB. Bucs have six QB's and two are worth their roster spot. I think you bring in a Brian Brohm(rollout wheels, above average in all QB disciplines) or a Joe Flacco(canon, size, and accuracy, yet untested at Deleware). By drafting Brohm, you pick up a concensus preseason top five pick at a great value. More importantly, the Bucs will have taken their shot at securing their future. Brohm could learn behind Garcia and Griese, who will be Bucs for 2-3 more years, tops. Perfect grooming period. Round 2...gamebreaker in the return game...RB, CB, WR, I don't care...a gamebreaker. Rounds 3 through 5, a WR, CB, DT will do nicely for some depth and competition to develop into BucBall. Yep, it's gonna be good to be a Bucs fan this year.
12:37am, April 16, 2008
BucWild02
sniff...sniff...smells like 11-5 and another division crown.
12:42am, April 16, 2008
kennys
6 dash 11, sorry. but if this defense can't rush the passer and if the passing game is just Joey Galloway again, the season could be bad. also Jeff Garcia needs to stay healthy, which is highly unlikely. This is the year the bucs have a losing season after they had a winning season
9:40am, April 16, 2008
DLS5492
A week 1 victory at the Saints will be HUGE. It will be just as important as last season victory there. A road divsion win, especially opening weekend, is always good. But, if they lose, it won't be the end of the season. It will be harder to win the division, though.
Wasn't the defense ranked number 2 last season? I am not worried about the pass rush or the defense. I also believe there are playmakers on the offense other than Joey.. They need to step it up! Go Bucs!!
11:56am, April 16, 2008
Leave a Comment
INSIDER ARTICLES |
PewterReport.com Buccaneer Blitz Podcasts
Did you miss the PewterReport.com Buccaneer Blitz show on WDAE 620 AM from...
Pewter Pre-Game Show: Week 11
Watch the Pewter Pre-Game Show now! Pewter Report's editorial staff...
PI Quick Hits
Which Buc sounds as if he is on borrowed time in Tampa Bay? What is going on...
PR.com Buccaneer Blitz Podcast 11-12
Did you miss the PewterReport.com Buccaneer Blitz show on WDAE 620 AM from...
MORE ARTICLES |
