By: Robert Craft

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare for their 50th season in the NFL, there’s more than nostalgia in the air—there’s anticipation.

Following a 2024 campaign that saw them clinch their third straight NFC South title, the Bucs are eyeing another playoff push behind a retooled roster, a familiar core, and one of the most intriguing schedules in the league.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield enters the season with a renewed contract and growing confidence as the leader of Tampa Bay’s offense. Last season, Mayfield silenced critics after a 10-win season and a playoff victory.

He returns with trusted weapons in wideouts Mike Evans—still among the league’s elite—and Chris Godwin, while dynamic second-year back Bucky Irving is poised to become a focal point in both running and passing.

Evans, chasing his 12th straight 1,000-yard season, could tie Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history— one of the many potential milestones in this golden-anniversary campaign.

The Bucs stayed busy in the offseason, aiming to solidify a defense that was inconsistent in 2024.

The headliner additions include linebacker Haason Reddick and rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who are expected to boost the Buc’s pass rushing and secondary coverage.

On offense, Tampa drafted wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, giving Mayfield another explosive option.

One big change: offensive coordinator Liam Coen departed for a head coaching job and his replacement, Dave Canales, returns to Tampa after a stint in Seattle.

Canales’ history with Mayfield from 2022 in Carolina could help smooth his transition.

The Bucs’ 2025 schedule is balanced in terms of home and road games with a challenging midseason stretch that will define their season.

They open on the road against division rival Atlanta—a team with a new quarterback and playoff ambitions—followed by a Monday Night Football clash with the Houston Texans in Week 2.

The first big test comes in Weeks 4 through 7, when Tampa faces the Eagles, Seahawks, 49ers, and Lions—all playoff teams in 2024. This brutal gauntlet will test the depth and resilience of the roster.

Back-to-back road games late in the year at Buffalo and Los Angeles, followed by a short-week Thursday night matchup at home against the Falcons, make for a tricky stretch in Weeks 11–13. Fortunately, the Bucs enjoy a Week 9 bye that lands perfectly in the middle of the season, allowing recovery and strategic recalibration.

The NFC South remains wide open. The Saints, Falcons, and Panthers all made moves to improve in the offseason. The Bucs’ path to another division crown will hinge on winning these three key matchups. They face all three rivals at least once in the season’s final six weeks, including a season finale at home against Carolina that may carry major playoff implications.

Tampa Bay is scheduled for multiple prime-time games, including a Monday night at Detroit and a Thursday night against the Falcons. These nationally televised games reflect the team’s rising reputation and offer a chance to showcase their stars to a broader national audience.

With nine to ten wins projected by most analysts, the Bucs are considered slight favorites in the NFC South. But if their offense gels under Canales, and the revamped defense can create turnovers- this team has the pieces to make a deeper postseason run.

As the Bucs celebrate their 50th year in the league, expectations are high. With Mayfield entrenched as the leader, Evans chasing history, and a hungry defense, the 2025 season promises fireworks in Tampa Bay.

If they survive the midseason and maintain divisional dominance, a fourth straight playoff appearance (possibly more) could cap off this golden anniversary in fitting fashion.