2023 NFC SOUTH DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS
BUCCANEERS vs LIONS
HOT OF BUCCANEERS PRESS - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions will will battle this Sunday, January 21 in Detroit, Michigan, at Ford Field with kickoff set for 3:15 p.m. ET
At this time three years ago, the Buccaneers were in the midst of their march to a triumph in Super Bowl LV, while the Lions were making final decisions in yet another coaching search. They tabbed Dan Campbell, a former Lions player who became a temporary punchline with his unorthodox introductory press conference performance, in which he referenced kneecap biting to indicate the type of tough team he intended to build.
Three years later, Campbell's vision has become reality. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, have seen football nirvana, and also learned just how fleeting it can be. Tom Brady's retirement flung the team into uncertainty, and when Baker Mayfield arrived to replace him, few thought much of the Buccaneers' chances in 2023.
That doubt was exactly what Mayfield, a quarterback cast aside by two teams in 2022, needed for motivation. He's done nothing but deliver since then, posting a career year with his new team and leading them to a division title that most didn't see the Buccaneers securing back in August. They certainly didn't envision Mayfield and the Buccaneers taking the defending NFC champion Eagles behind the woodshed on Super Wild Card Weekend, either, setting up for a matchup full of pleasant surprises.
After finishing 2022 on a hot streak that nearly saw them reach the playoffs, the Lions expected to be here. They likely didn't expect, however, to meet Tampa Bay, a franchise with championship-winning experience still on the roster, setting up an incredibly intriguing showdown between revived contender and the block's new bully.
Who prevails? Well, that's why we play the games on the field, and not on paper. We'll find out Sunday, when this matchup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET at Ford Field.
HOT NEWS OFF THE TURF
2023 WATCH & WIN
Send Us Your Gameday Video
Both the Bucs first and third preseason games will have themes, including Play Football (Youth) against the Steelers on August 11 and Play Football (Jr. Cheer) against the Baltimore Ravens on August 26.
Here is the full 2023 schedule:
Preseason Week 1 (8/11/2023), vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Play Football – Youth Football
Preseason Week 3 (8/26/2023), vs. Baltimore Ravens: Play Football – Jr. Cheer
Week 2 (9/17/2023), vs. Chicago Bears: Back to Football
Week 3 (9/25/2023), vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Rondé Barber HOF Game
Week 6 (10/15/2023), vs. Detroit Lions: Creamsicle
Week 7 (10/22/2023), vs. Atlanta Falcons: Crucial Catch – Breast Cancer Awareness
Week 10 (11/12/2023), vs. Tennessee Titans: Salute to Service
Week 13 (12/3/2023), vs. Carolina Panthers: My Cause My Cleats
Week 16 (12/24/2023), vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Inspire Change – Holiday
Week 17 (12/31/2023), vs. New Orleans Saints: Thank You Fans – New Year's Eve
Tickets to all the team's home games are on sale now and available for purchase at Buccaneers.com. Limited Buccaneers season pass memberships and single-game tickets are available. For more information or to speak with a Buccaneers account representative, please contact 866-582-2827 or visit Buccaneers.com.
Wanted - Fanatical Tailgate Recipes
Email us with your Fanatical photograph
There is no experience in the seven seas quite like tailgating at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. The smell of grilling, camaraderie, and drink brings together the greatest fans in the NFL to enjoy the best day of the week, GAMEDAY.
We want to share your experience and invite you to email photographs with a note on what makes your tailgate experience special. If you plan to host tailgater send us your recipe to share, also like/join our FaceBook page to win some great fan gear CLICK HERE---> FACEBOOK BUCS1FAN
Peanut Butter/Brittle Cannonballs
Substitute almond or nut butter for those with peanut butter allergies.
In a large bowl, add peanut butter, melted butter, vanilla, salt and powdered sugar. Beat with an electric mixture until everything is combined.
Roll in peanut brittle
Use a 1-ounce cookie scoop (or about two tablespoons) to portion out the peanut butter/brittle mixture. Roll the 1-ounce portions into smooth balls and place onto a baking sheet.
Refrigerate the peanut butter balls for at least 30 minutes.
Combine coconut oil and chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between, until the mixture is melted.
Stick a toothpick or a skewer into a peanut butter ball and dip it into the chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip off and then put it onto a wax paper-lined baking sheet.
Repeat until all the cannonballs are coated. Chill in the fridge for at least 45 minutes before serving.
“TEAM NEWS”
Bucs' Offense Catches Full Sails at Right Time
The Buccaneers' had a great performance in Sunday's 34-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers, "IN GREEN BAY", with 452 total yards, 22 first downs, a third-down conversion rate of 63.6%, 78.6% pass completion rate, 353 net passing yards averaging 10.7 yards per compleated pass play and 13.6 yards per pass, and overall gaining 7.5 yards per-play. Overall fans are sailing into a optimistic view of a playoff opportunity.
Per Coach Bowles concerning the offensive re-birth during the playoff stretch run, "Just jelling together," said Head Coach Todd Bowles "The receivers knowing exactly where to be, audibles are on time, offensive line playing together – nobody is really missing a bunch of blocks right now. The confidence has grown, as a group, as the season went on. Dave is comfortable with them, they're comfortable with Dave. The adjustments, the roles everybody has, and moving people around. I think they've grown very comfortable with that and that's kind of helped us out a lot."
"It was great to see everything clicking over there," said Bowles. "You know, the run game [was] going, the pass game [was] going, [and] the ball [was] spread around. It was great to finally see some consistency over there. They've been putting it together for a couple of weeks now and it finally came to fruition."
Coach Bowles said the Bucs have been "staying the course" when it comes to letting Canales develop the offense and figure out what they do best and correcting the issues that held it back a bit for the first half of the season.
"Dave is very positive guy, very bright guy, excellent teacher," said Bowles. "The coaches around him are really excellent teachers. If something doesn't work, they know why, how, when – they can fix it, they can correct the mistakes, they can teach it to the players to adjust it and trust them to do the right thing. Over the course of the year, you learn a few things calling plays. Preseason, regular season, it doesn't matter – throughout your whole career, you're going to learn things. He's quick learner, he adjusts with himself, he adjusts with the team, and he's making all the right calls."
The Buccaneers have total control of its playoff destiny and if Mayfield, in his first season with the team, stays true-to-course, his current level of play will require ordering more cannon powder. "I love where he is at right now," said Bowles. "I loved him when he came in, not just because of the game he played yesterday. [He is] very smart, very tough, knows where to go with the football, very mature where he is as far as getting his reads, and getting everybody in the right place. I mean, me personally, I really like where the guy is at."
With a three-game winning streak placing the BUCS in a tie for first in the NFC South and in possession of the tiebreaker over the Saints. The Buccaneers have to be in full battle mode to dominate its final 3 games, and with the way the BUCS have been playing, the Fanatical Fans are ready to make some NOISE!.
IMPORTANT 2023 Season Dates
2023 NFL Playoff Schedule (All times Eastern)
WILD CARD ROUND
Saturday, January 13, 2024
AFC/NFC Wild card matchup - 4:30 p.m.:(NBC/Peacock)
AFC/NFC Wild card matchup - 8:15 p.m.:(Peacock)
Sunday, January 14, 2024
AFC/NFC Wild card matchup - 1:00 p.m.:(CBS or FOX)
AFC/NFC Wild card matchup - 4:30 p.m.:(CBS or FOX)
AFC/NFC Wild card matchup - 8:15 p.m.:(NBC)
Monday, January 15, 2024
AFC/NFC Wild card matchup - 8:15 p.m.:(ESPN/ABC)
DIVISIONAL ROUND
Saturday, January 20, 2024
AFC Divisional matchup
NFC Divisional matchup
Sunday, January 21, 2024
AFC Divisional matchup
NFC Divisional matchup
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
Sunday, January 28, 2024
AFC Championship Game - 3:00 p.m.:(CBS)
NFC Championship Game - 6:30 p.m.:(FOX)
SUPER BOWL LVIII
Sunday, February 11, 2024 - Las Vegas, NV
AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion - 6:30 p.m.:(CBS)
BUCS ODDS TO WIN IT ALL!
2023/24 NFL SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl 58 odds: +5000
It’s never too early for Buccaneers Fans dreams of Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas, and history has proved on many occasions we should expect the unexpected as we sail to the big game.
The 2022 season left us with a few Barnacles, as our defense was caught wadding in a rip-tide supported by an average offense at best. Despite limiting our opponents to 21.6 PPG, Tampa lost its sail for any efficiency in running the ball, finishing dead last in the league with an average of 75.6 yards per game on the ground.
Despite a season ending flutter, the Buccaneers dominated our division, finishing first in the NFC South with an 8-9 record and the fourth seed in the NFC. In the postseason it was the land-loving Cowboys, who eliminated our BUCS 31-14 in the wild-card round.
Football is as much a mental game, as physical, Tom Brady’s divorce fluttered his final year as he entered retirement, it's clear the BUCS MUST find a viable solution over center this season, either as priority number one or two alongside replacing Todd Bowles, who was hired as head coach. Once the quarterback solution is anchored, raising the offensive line mast and improving the league-worst running game should be key priorities to address as we plot the new season. Bolstering our defensive line would go a long way to improve our pass rush as well.
Super Bowl LV Buccaneers Broken Records
Super Bowl LV was an historic life moment Buccaneersfan.com will never forget.
Yes... The BUCS dominated the Chiefs for much of the game becoming the first ever NFL team to win (or even play) in a Super Bowl in their home Raymond James Stadium. But there were also other records set at the game.
According to BuccaneersFan.com, these Super Bowl records were also set in Super Bowl LV:
Most Games – 10, Tom Brady
Most Games, Winning Team – 7, Tom Brady
Oldest Head Coach, Winning Team – 68, Bruce Arians
Oldest Player, Game – 43, Tom Brady
Most Pass Attempts, Career – 421, Tom Brady
Most Passes Completed, Career – 277, Tom Brady
Most Passing Yards, Career – 3039, Tom Brady
Most Touchdown Passes, Career – 21, Tom Brady
Most First Downs by Penalty, Team – 6, Tom Brady
Most First Downs by Penalty, Both Teams – 9, Tampa Bay (6) vs. Kansas City (3)
Most Touchdowns, QB-Receiver Tandem, Career – 5, Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski
SUPER BOWL RECORDS TIED IN SUPER BOWL LV
Most Fumbles, Career – 5, Tom Brady
Most Fumbles Recovered, Career – 2, Patrick Mahomes
Fewest Touchdowns, Team – 0, Kansas City
Fewest Rushing Touchdowns, Team – 0, Kansas City
Fewest Passing Touchdowns, Team – 0, Kansas City
Fewest Punt Returns, Team – 0, Tampa Bay
Fewest Punt Return Yards, Both Teams – 0, Tampa Bay vs. Kansas City
Fewest Fumbles Lost, Both Teams – 0, Tampa Bay vs. Kansas City
Fewest Turnovers, Team – 0, Tampa Bay