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Latest Bucs 2025 schedule release predictions have the NFL giving Tampa Bay something it's rarely seen the last 20 years

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Evan Winter | Last updated May 12, 2025 10:36 AM ET

We are getting closer and closer to the start of the 2025 season and the latest step forward involves the NFL's schedule release on Wednesday.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already know who's on the docket and where it plays, but it doesn't know when and how the future opponents stack up in terms of the order they meet. Those are two crucial factors when it comes to determining the difficulty, or ease, of a team's regular season schedule.

So, with that being said and some of the unknowns on track to be revealed at various points before Wednesday, let's go ahead and dive into some predictions for the Bucs' 2025 schedule release.

1. The Bucs will open at home on Monday Night Football

Since 2015, the Bucs have opened the season at Raymond James Stadium just four times. This includes the Bucs-Dolphins 2017 opener that was slated to kick off in Miami, but Hurricane Irma shelved the game until later in the year. Excluding that contest, the Bucs are 6-3 in Week 1 over the last 10 seasons.

Despite the .667 winning percentage, the NFL has yet to give the Bucs back-to-back home openers since 2014-2015 and Tampa Bay hasn't opened the season in primetime just twice in the last 22 years: in 2003 and 2021. The main reason they were involved in those games is because they won the Super Bowl the previous years.

And, sure enough, the Bucs even had to open the season on the road in 2003. Right after they won the Super Bowl.

Make it make sense. Honestly, you can't.

The NFL has a very good chance to give a very good Bucs team its due this year and that's exactly what will happen. Since the Tampa Bay Rays are playing at home on September 7, the Bucs will get to kick off the 2025 season on Monday night, in primetime and in Ray Jay, against any one of their home opponents not named the Eagles (most likely the 9ers).

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2. Tampa Bay won't go overseas in 2025

2022 was the last time the Bucs played a game overseas (a 21-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks) and that streak extends another year in 2025, as the team will stay in the States for the duration of the regular season.

It's pretty simple: The only away team hosting an international game on the Bucs' schedule is the Miami Dolphins and it's heavily rumored that the Washington Commanders will face off against them in Madrid, Spain.

That leaves a grand total of zero away teams hosting international games on the Bucs' schedule. Process of elimination, baby.

3. The Bucs will get at least four primetime games

Tampa Bay is 0-6 in primetime over the last two years, but four of those games have been entertaining, one-score contests. Two of the four have gone to overtime, as well.

So, even thought the Bucs are 0-6 in primetime with Baker Mayfield at quarterback, they're at least providing plenty of entertainment for those not wearing Pewter and Red.

Aside from the typical Thursday Night Football matchup, I'm predicting Tampa Bay gets at least three more matchups under the lights. One being the aforementioned Monday Night opener prediction and then the NFL can choose from either the Bills, Lions, Eagles, Rams, Texans, or Dolphins as the other two, at minimum, games.

That's a very stacked list of teams to choose from and especially when it comes to the recent history between the Bucs and teams like the Eagles and Lions (hell, even the Rams), it makes too much sense to have them playing during the day on Sundays.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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