3 Things the Buccaneers Desperately Hope for During Their Bye Week
With Week 9 off, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers focus on rest, resetting, and relaxing before beginning the second half of the season. After the bye, they face the Patriots, Bills, and Rams—key matchups that could significantly impact the NFC playoff landscape.
Key Games to Watch
- Patriots vs. Falcons: If Atlanta beats New England, it would validate their victory over the Bills and position them as a potential threat to Tampa Bay in 2025. However, if the Falcons lose, their playoff hopes would likely diminish significantly.
- Panthers vs. Packers: This game presents a dilemma for the Buccaneers, but either team losing benefits Tampa Bay. A Packers loss would help Tampa Bay gain some control over the top seed. On the other hand, a Panthers loss would likely end their season hopes early.
Currently, if Carolina wins, they would record a 5-4 standing, just one win shy of Tampa Bay, though the Buccaneers still have two remaining opportunities to defeat them later in the season.
"The theme for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is rest, reset, and relax before starting the second half of its season."
"If Atlanta defeats New England, it will add credibility to their win over the Bills, and put them on watch as a team that could threaten the Buccaneers in 2025."
"If Carolina wins, they'd be 5-4, one win behind Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers still have two chances to beat them late in the season."
Author's summary: The Buccaneers aim to use their bye week for recovery while hoping key rivals falter, boosting their chances to secure a stronger playoff position.