The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not receive the maximum number of prime-time matchups in 2024, but the franchise came close with four. With the club's nucleus intact following the re-signing of Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Lavonte David, the Bucs will get maximum exposure on their quest for another NFC South crown.
The NFL released its full 2024 regular-season schedule on Thursday night and the Buccaneers have several marquee matchups lining the docket: at Atlanta on Thursday Night Football in Week Five, at home against Baltimore on Monday Night Football in Week Seven, at Kansas City on Monday Night Football in Week Nine and at Dallas in Week 16. The Bucs begin their prime-time schedule with a matchup against a divisional opponent featuring a new quarterback at the helm in Kirk Cousins. The other three showdowns feature contests against 2023 division winners: Ravens in the AFC North (13-4), Cowboys in NFC East (12-5) and the reigning Super Bowl Champion Chiefs (AFC West leader, 11-6).
The Bucs travel to Atlanta and face-off against the Falcons on Thursday, October 3, with kickoff set for the Prime Video broadcast at 8:15 p.m. The Falcons finished the 2023 season with a 7-10 record for the third-consecutive season and parted ways with Arthur Smith following the year. Atlanta lost five games last season in the final minute and the club will seek redemption against a divisional foe in 2024 on Thursday Night Football.
The Ravens finished the 2023 season with the best record before exiting in the AFC Championship game. The club finished with a 13-4 record, the team's best record since 2019. Mike Macdonald's defense finished first in points allowed (16.5), sacks (60) and takeaways (31). On the offensive side of the ball under the direction of Todd Monken, the Ravens ranked fourth in the league in scoring and led the NFL in rushing for the third time in the previous five seasons. The Bucs will face the Ravens on October 21 at Raymond James Stadium in Week Seven. Kickoff will take place at 8:15 p.m. on Monday Night Football and will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Bucs will travel to Kansas City to take on the powerhouse Chiefs via Monday Night Football on November 4 in Week Nine (8:15 p.m. kickoff). In 2023, the Chiefs' defense guided the team to their eighth-consecutive AFC West crown and 11-6 finish to the regular season. Kansas City's offense struggled down the stretch with turnovers and penalties, but the club rallied and repeated for another Lombardi Trophy. Steve Spagnuolo's unit ranked second in the league in points allowed and the Chiefs became the only team in the NFL to hold opponents under 30 points in every game.
Tampa Bay will take on the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, December 22 in Week 16. The game will be broadcast on NBC with an 8:20 p.m. kick. The 12-win Cowboys landed a home playoff game last season as the Eagles cruised to a 1-6 finish, but Dallas fell short of lofty expectations with a 48-32 loss to the Green bay Packers in the Wild Card Round. Dallas concluded the 2023 campaign ranked third in passing (258.6), fifth in total defense (299.7) and fifth in passing defense (187.4). The Week 16 clash will mark the first matchup between the two clubs since the Cowboys defeated the Bucs, 31-14 in the NFC Wild-Card Game following the 2022 season. Tampa Bay will be out for a revenge on the road.
