With the Bucs off to a 3-1 begin forward of their Week 5 bye, their Week 6 matchup on Oct. 15 at Raymond James Stadium in opposition to the 3-1 Lions is a a lot greater recreation within the panorama of the NFC. Because of this, the NFL has flexed the kickoff time from 1:00 p.m. to 4:25 p.m., the league introduced Monday. The sport can be televised on FOX as a part of that afternoon’s nationwide doubleheader.
This Week 6 recreation is shaping as much as be fairly the event for Tampa Bay, as it’s going to get a giant highlight whereas the crew dons its throwback uniforms for this yr’s “Creamsicle Recreation.” The Bucs can be sporting the orange and white of their previous for the primary time since 2012, they usually’ll be doing so in opposition to a former NFC Central opponent.
The crew unveiled its throwback uniforms again in July with an exceptional video that featured Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and Mike Alstott, in addition to some imagery of the late nice Lee Roy Selmon. Present gamers Mike Evans, Lavonte David, Chris Godwin and Antoine Winfield Jr. additionally starred within the video, as did comic Bert Kreischer and make-up entrepreneur Jaclyn Hill.
Our legacy continues. pic.twitter.com/HbkrvoAJDZ
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 12, 2023
Bucs Have A Likelihood To Make A Massive Assertion In Week 6
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown – Picture by: USA Right this moment
This Week 6 recreation was already a giant one for Todd Bowles and the Bucs, and now it’s been given a nationwide stage. The Lions are one of many hottest groups within the NFL relationship again to the second half of final season. With a win over them at Ray-Jay on Oct. 15, the Bucs may make an announcement.
Below head coach Dan Campbell, they made a powerful run down the stretch in 2022 and simply barely missed out on the playoffs. Even after being eradicated earlier within the day in Week 18, Detroit performed spoiler in its season finale by beating Inexperienced Bay at Lambeau Discipline to complete off a 9-8 common season and preserve the Packers out of the playoffs.
The way in which they completed final season made the Lions a preferred choose to make the playoffs and probably win the NFC North this yr, they usually’re taking part in like a crew able to run away with its first division title because the division was reclassified because the NFC North in 2002. Actually, the Bucs have received that division extra not too long ago than the Lions have, successful it in 1999 whereas Detroit final received it in 1993.
Historical past apart, the Lions have began out this new season with wins over the Chiefs (in Kansas Metropolis), Falcons and Packers (in Inexperienced Bay on Thursday Night time Soccer). Their lone loss was a 37-31 additional time defeat in opposition to the Seahawks in Week 2. They’ll play the 0-4 Panthers in Week 5 earlier than coming to Tampa Bay to face the Bucs, who may have an opportunity to steal a few of the NFC highlight with a house win.
The Bucs have been written off all offseason after shedding Tom Brady to retirement, with some choosing them to complete final within the NFC South and probably land a top-five choose within the 2024 Draft. To this point this season, Tampa Bay has been exhibiting that studies of its demise have been vastly exaggerated.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Picture by: USA Right this moment
The Bucs beat the Vikings and Bears to begin off the season earlier than a tough Monday evening exhibiting in opposition to the defending NFC champion Eagles. However coming off that recreation, they took it to the Saints within the Superdome to hit their bye week because the NFC South leaders.
So, this Week 6 matchup will now characteristic two division leaders, and the Bucs can be seeking to unseat the Lions as one of many extra talked-about groups within the convention exterior of Philadelphia and San Francisco. The great factor for Bowles and his crew, too, is that they’ll be at house and recent off every week of relaxation.
The bye will function an opportunity to get the likes of Mike Evans, Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea, Devin White, Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean and Ryan Neal totally wholesome and able to go for what can be an extended remainder of the season with 13 straight recreation weeks.
This received’t be the final time the Bucs are within the nationwide highlight both, as they’ve a street Thursday Night time Soccer recreation in Buffalo every week and a half later in opposition to the Payments.
