(via Tampa Bay Buccaneers Communications) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2018 regular season schedule, released today by the National Football League, is highlighted by a home game versus the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first visit to Tampa since 2010, which will be featured on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
Tampa Bay’s regular season begins on the road, facing a familiar opponent in the division rival New Orleans Saints in Week 1. The two teams split the season series in 2017, with the Buccaneers winning the Week 17 matchup after rookie wide receiver Chris Godwin caught a 39-yard touchdown from quarterback Jameis Winston with under 10 seconds remaining. This will mark the first time the Buccaneers have opened the regular season with the same opponent they faced in the final regular season game the season prior since 2006-07 (Seattle Seahawks).
In Week 2, the Buccaneers will have their first home game of the 2018 season, with the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles coming to Raymond James Stadium. This offseason, the Buccaneers signed former Eagles Beau Allen and Vinny Curry, who were a part of the Super Bowl LII champions. The last time that Tampa Bay faced Philadelphia was a 45-17 Buccaneers win in 2015.
Tampa Bay will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3 on ESPN’s Monday Night Football in what will also serve as the team’s annual Ring of Honor game featuring an on-field halftime ceremony to recognize this year’s inductee. The Steelers have not played at Raymond James Stadium since 2010 and it is the first matchup between Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay since 2014, when the Buccaneers won 27-24.
The Buccaneers go back on the road in Week 4, traveling to take on the Chicago Bears. This is the fifth consecutive season that the Buccaneers and Bears have faced off, but the first game between the two clubs at Soldier Field since 2014. Tampa Bay has won each of the past two matchups in the series.
Following a Week 5 bye, Tampa Bay will travel to face the Atlanta Falcons in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the site of Super Bowl LIII on October 14. The all-time series between the Buccaneers and Falcons is tightly contested, with the Falcons holding a 25-24 lead.
The Buccaneers return home to take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 7. The Browns, who hold the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, will be making their first trip to Raymond James Stadium since 2010. The Buccaneers have won three of the past four matchups between the two teams, including each of the past two at home.
Tampa Bay then plays consecutive contests on the road, first taking on the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Week 8. The Buccaneers have won in each of the team’s past four trips to Cincinnati.
After back-to-back games against AFC North teams from Ohio, the Buccaneers will play the team’s third and final divisional road game of the season, going up against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. Since the formation of the NFC South in 2002, this marks only the second time that the Buccaneers will have faced all three divisional opponents on the road before playing any at home.
Following the team’s game against the Panthers, Tampa Bay has consecutive games against the NFC East, first hosting the Washington Redskins for the first time since 2012, in Week 10. After that, the Buccaneers travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants in Week 11. This offseason, Tampa Bay traded for former Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who would be facing his former team for the first time in his career.
In Week 12, the Buccaneers play the first of three straight home games, leading off with a November 25 contest against the San Francisco 49ers. This is only the second time the 49ers will have played in Tampa since 2004, with five of the previous six matchups between the two teams having been at San Francisco.
Tampa Bay’s next two home games are divisional matchups, first going against the Carolina Panthers on December 2, followed by a game against the New Orleans Saints on December 9.
The Buccaneers head back on the road in Week 15, traveling to face the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. This marks only Tampa Bay’s third ever road game against the Ravens.
On December 23, Tampa Bay closes out the team’s away schedule with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. The last time the Buccaneers and Cowboys squared off was in a Sunday Night Football game in 2016, also at AT&T Stadium.
In Week 17 Tampa Bay closes out the regular season by playing host to the Atlanta Falcons, in a game that could have divisional playoff implications.
All games will feature a radio broadcast on 98Rock (WXTB-97.9 FM), as well as stations throughout Florida that are part of the Buccaneers Radio Network. In addition, fans can listen online at Buccaneers.com and on the Buccaneers mobile app.
This season, the NFL will again utilize “flexible scheduling,” which may be applied in Weeks 5-17. Up to two games may be flexed into Sunday Night Football between Weeks 5-10. A select number of games may also be “cross-flexed,” moving between CBS and FOX to bring potentially under-distributed games to wider audiences.
Flexible scheduling will be used in Weeks 11-17 as usual and it will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights.
A flexible scheduling move would be announced at least 12 days before the affected game. For Week 17, the change may be announced six days before the game. Flexible scheduling is intended to ensure quality matchups on Sunday night in those weeks where it is applied.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now offering season pass memberships at a wide variety of price points. Memberships start as low as $45 per game for adults and $22.50 per game for youth. For more information or to speak with a Buccaneers account representative, please contact 866-582-BUCS (2827) or visit Buccaneers.com.
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