For the first time since 2020, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not win the NFC South. Four straight division titles ended in 2025, after the Buccaneers' late-season collapse led to the Carolina Panthers' capture of the crown. While the Panthers didn't get past the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card round, many believe them to be a team on the rise.
Meanwhile, many think the Buccaneers are falling behind. The team's biggest leaders, wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David, are now gone. Evans bolted for San Francisco in free agency, inking a three-year deal with the 49ers. David retired, capping off a potential Hall of Fame career. Without the duo, plus other contributors like long-time starting cornerback Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay will look different in 2026.
Still, a large part of the core remains intact. Quarterback Baker Mayfield returns for his fourth season as the starting signal caller. Veteran receiver Chris Godwin takes over as a team leader, with rising youngsters Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka looking to make an even bigger mark in 2026. The defense has been revamped after the Buccaneers' disappointing season. With the 2026 NFL schedule now fully released, how will the Buccaneers fare on a game-by-game basis this fall?
Buccaneers' 2026 home slate filled with difficult tests
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) runs against Carolina Panthers cornerback Chau Smith-Wade (26) in the first half at Raymond James Stadium.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Home Schedule: Cleveland Browns (Week 2- WIN); Minnesota Vikings (Week 3- WIN); Green Bay Packers (Week 4- WIN); Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 6- WIN); Atlanta Falcons (Week 8- WIN); Carolina Panthers (Week 12- WIN); Los Angeles Chargers (Week 13- WIN); New Orleans Saints (Week 15- WIN); Los Angeles Rams (Week 17- LOSS)
While the Buccaneers have nine home games, as opposed to eight on the road, their slate at Raymond James Stadium is filled with tests. Tampa Bay will likely be favored against the Browns in their home opener. In addition to Cleveland, a win against the Falcons at home feels like a lock as well.
However, the rest of the schedule could pose issues. The Steelers and Chargers, the other visiting AFC foes, will provide stiff challenges after coming off playoff appearances in 2025. Division rivals Carolina and New Orleans always play the Buccaneers tough at “RayJay.” A win over Minnesota feels likely at this point as well, although Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray could make that matchup a difficult one as well if he returns to Pro Bowl form.
Yet, the two toughest tests will certainly come from the Packers and Rams. Former NFC Central rivals, the Buccaneers and Green Bay clashed for supremacy many times throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Meanwhile, the Rams made a run to the NFC Championship game just a few months ago. MVP Matthew Stafford returns with a host of weapons. Los Angeles was also the team that dashed the Bucs' hopes at a second straight Lombardi Trophy, as they defeated Tampa Bay en route to their second title. If Mayfield can lead the Buccaneers to a victory over the visiting NFC powerhouses, it will go a long way towards cementing Tampa Bay as a true contender.
Buccaneers face a slightly smoother road away from “RayJay” in 2026
Away Schedule: at Cincinnati Bengals (Week 1- WIN); at Dallas Cowboys (Week 5- WIN); at Carolina (Week 7- LOSS); at Chicago Bears (Week 9- LOSS); at Detroit Lions (Week 11- WIN); at Baltimore Ravens (Week 14- LOSS); at Atlanta (Week 16- WIN); at New Orleans (Week 18- LOSS);
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While the Buccaneers face more tests at home, their road slate is certainly just as challenging. The divisional clashes against Carolina, Atlanta, and New Orleans are games that could give the Bucs headaches. The AFC road trips to Cincinnati and Baltimore could also be problematic. The Bengals and Ravens are led by a pair of star quarterbacks in Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. Both teams are looking to put a disappointing 2025 behind them and make key moves this offseason to improve on their results last year.
Three more away trips to fellow NFC contenders in Dallas, Chicago, and Detroit will also show if the Buccaneers are serious Super Bowl threats. The Bears won the NFC North in head coach Ben Johnson's first season before falling in the NFC Divisional Round. Dallas and Detroit missed the playoffs last year, yet were in the annual tournament in 2024. Both teams are looking to get back there. Tampa Bay's road slate could prove them to be a viable threat to the Seattle Seahawks' crown. Can a .500 or better mark away from “RayJay” punch the Bucs' ticket back to playoff football?
2026 schedule could propel Buccaneers back to NFC South crown
Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) reacts after a play during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at Raymond James Stadium.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Buccaneers' projected 2026 strength of schedule is one of the easier slates in the NFL. Losing David and Evans in the same offseason is a massive blow. However, Tampa Bay still has a great deal of talent. Mayfield is in his prime. So is Godwin. Not to mention Antoine Winfield Jr., Vita Vea, Tristan Wirfs, and so many others. Egbuka, McMillan, Bucky Irving, and Zyon McCollum lead an ascending group of talent behind the current core.
Many analysts believe that the Buccaneers will once again not only compete for an NFC South title, but for a potential Super Bowl run as well. While Tampa Bay has had plenty of regular-season success under the leadership of Mayfield, it's time for another deep postseason run. The departure of Evans was particularly tough because he reportedly turned down the Bucs to join the Niners. The perception is that the longtime Buccaneer believes that San Francisco is closer to a Lombardi Trophy than his now-former team.
That will likely lead to an even bigger chip on the shoulder of not only Mayfield, but his talented teammates as well. The Buccaneers play in what is likely the weakest division in the NFC, if not the entire NFL. A division title and playoff berth need to once again be the standard at Raymond James Stadium. Can the Bucs ride a prickly schedule towards another deep postseason run? If so, the predictions of many NFL analysts this offseason could become true next February.
FINAL PROJECTED RECORD: 12-5, first place in the NFC South
For the first time since 2020, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not win the NFC South. Four straight division titles ended in 2025, after the Buccaneers' late-season collapse led to the Carolina Panthers' capture of the crown. While the Panthers didn't get past the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card round, many believe them to be a team on the rise.