We knew the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have a star-studded schedule this season, and after last week’s release, we now know exactly what their road back to the playoffs will look like on a weekly basis in 2022.
The Bucs open up with back-to-back road games, followed by a pair of marquee matchups at home against playoff contenders with superstar quarterbacks. For the second year in a row, Tampa Bay will have the maximum five prime-time games, including the first Christmas Day game in franchise history.
This season could be the last of Tom Brady’s legendary NFL career, making the Bucs must-see TV every week.
How will the Bucs fare this season?
Here are our early predictions for every game on Tampa Bay’s 2022 schedule:
Week 1: AWAY vs. Dallas Cowboys
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
A rematch of last year’s season opener, but this time, the Bucs travel to Arlington to take on Dak Prescott and company. Tampa Bay needed a vintage Tom Brady drive in the final minutes and a field goal from Ryan Succop as time expired to win last year, and this one should be another tight contest.
The Bucs are likely to still be without Pro Bowl wide receiver Chris Godwin as he works his way back from a severe knee injury suffered late last season, but the Cowboys are also missing one of their top receivers in Amari Cooper, who was traded this offseason.
Both of these teams still have plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball, as well as star quarterbacks, so we could be in for another epic tilt in front of a national audience. While the home-field advantage might tip things in the Cowboys’ favor in most situations, Brady and the Bucs should have the mental toughness to overcome the crowd and leave Dallas with a narrow victory.
Bucs 31, Cowboys 27
Week 2: AWAY vs. New Orleans Saints
(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Even since Brady arrived, the Bucs have only beaten the Saints once in five tries….