The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have never played a schedule as loaded with prime time games as they will this season. Never have they played three nationally televised games back-to-back-to-back as they will in week seven at Las Vegas (SNF), week eight in New York against the Giants (MNF), and then week nine back home against the New Orleans Saints (SNF).
This is unprecedented.
We’ll Leave The Light On For You
There is just something about playing under the lights. The colors are crisper. The video boards pop. The rest of the NFL universe is watching because this is the only game on. This might take some getting used to. When a team doesn’t win a playoff game in 18 years, the national spotlight casts a very long shadow. Suddenly the team goes from little sea turtles digging their way out of the sand and following the moonlight to water, to a future so bright even Captain Fear will need his sunglasses.
This season the team will not only play a total of five games in prime time. They will actually play twice on Monday night football in the month of November.Three weeks after playing at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants, the Los Angeles Rams will come into Raymond James Stadium for a Monday night stanza. For those of you keeping score at home. That’s four nationally televised games in five weeks. Wait, what?
Loving Every Minute Of It
Four other games will have a 4:25 pm start. For the first time in a very long time the 1:00 pm game start will be an afterthought. Growing up “Buc” meant the only times the lights at the Big Sombrero would come on was for a cloudy Florida afternoon. This season the maintenance crew at Raymond James will have sore wrists from changing so many light bulbs.
The spotlight will shine bright on Raymond James all season. Culminating with the brightest party of the NFL year, Super Bowl LV. Another nationally televised game that Buccaneers faithful hope the team flexes into in 2020.
One thing is for sure. The Tampa Bay skyline is going to get ‘lit this upcoming season. There is finally light at the end of the tunnel and for the Buccaneers it is time to shine.
Quiet on the set.
