Want to schedule a concert or monster truck show at Raymond James Stadium in October?
Go right ahead. The Buccaneers won’t be using it.
The Bucs open the 2019 season Sept. 8 at home against the San Francisco 49ers, then travel for six of the next seven games, including an Oct. 13 game against the Carolina Panthers in London in which Tampa Bay is considered the “home” team.
Only a Sept. 22 home game against the New York Giants and an Oct. 20 bye week break up the heavy travel schedule.
The stretch mercifully comes to an end with back-to-back home games Nov. 10 against the Arizona Cardinals and Nov. 17 against the New Orleans Saints.
The upside to the early road stretch is that the Bucs end the season with three of their final four games at home — Dec. 8 against the Indianapolis Colts, followed by Dec. 15 at the Detroit Lions, and then back home Dec. 21 or 22 against the Houston Texans and Dec. 29 against the Atlanta Falcons.
In addition to their usual NFC South opponents, whom they play both home and away, the Bucs will face every team from the AFC South and NFC West this season.
Here is a week-by-week breakdown of opponents, dates, times, sites and television information, along with what to watch for in each matchup:
Sept. 8: San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Kwon Alexander could make his 49ers debut against his former Bucs teammates at Raymond James Stadium in the season opener. It also will mark the return of 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who missed most of 2018 with a knee injury.
Sept. 12: at Carolina Panthers, 8:20 p.m., NFL Network
Bucs have a much shorter trip to play the Panthers than their meeting in England. Carolina whupped the Bucs 42-28 at Bank of America Stadium last season. Could be a key NFC South matchup.
Sept. 22: New York Giants, 4:05 p.m., FOX
This is becoming pretty common. For three straight years the G-men have played Tampa Bay. Now they get to do it again with running back Saquon Barkley. Will Eli Manning still be at quarterback? Or will they have turned it over to a rookie? Barkley is worth the price of admission.
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Explore all your optionsSept. 29: at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m., FOX
Rams coach Sean McVay got his start as an offensive assistant on Jon Gruden’s staff with the Bucs. Now he has a perennial playoff team led by Todd Gurley and Jared Goff. Last time the Bucs played the Rams in Los Angeles was a 35-3 loss in 1987.
Oct. 6: at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., FOX
Ah, what memories the Bucs have of the Superdome. This is where Ryan Fitzpatrick passed for more than 400 yards and four touchdowns in the season opening 48-40 win over the Saints. But Drew Brees has at least two good years left in his right arm.
Oct. 13: Carolina Panthers in London, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network
The Bucs are the host team at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 6. It’s a long trip to London and one the Bucs have made twice before, losing to New England in 2009 and to Chicago in 2011. Both of those games were at Wembley Stadium. This is the Panthers’ first trip across the pond.
Oct. 27: at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., FOX
Marcus Mariota vs. Jameis Winston will always be linked due to their draft status, going 1-2 in 2015. They met in their first NFL game, with Mariota throwing four touchdown passes and Winston throwing five interceptions. His first NFL pass was a pick-six. This should go much better.
Nov. 3: at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m., FOX
Bucs travel to Seattle to face Russell Wilson, who signed to become the richest player in the NFL at $35 million per year. Last time the Bucs visited Seattle, they lost 27-24 in overtime. LA. Seattle. London. That’s some serious plane time.
Nov. 10: Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m., FOX
Bruce Arians will face his old team. The only question is who will be at quarterback? Josh Rosen or Oklahoma rookie Kyler Murray? Larry Fitzgerald returns to the scene of his prime, Raymond James Stadium, where he nearly single-handedly rallied the Cards before losing to Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl.
Nov. 17: New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., FOX
The Bucs and Saints coach Sean Payton always make for a good rivalry. Don’t know what it is, but even when the Saints are the king of the NFC South, these games come down to the wire. Payton has a new Bucs coach to welcome in Arians.
Nov. 24: at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m., FOX
Always a test for the Bucs to play the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Mohamed Sanu are always a handful. This will be one of biggest teats for new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
Dec. 1: at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., FOX
The Bucs beat quarterback Nick Foles a year ago when he was coming off a Super Bowl MVP performance. Now Foles pilots the Jags, who are one season removed from appearing in the AFC championship game. Stopping running back Leonard Fournette is the key.
Dec. 8: Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., CBS
Bruce Arians got his first NFL head-coaching job as the interim boss in 2012, taking over from Chuck Pagano, who was diagnosed with Leukemia. He went 9-3 and was named NFL Coach of the Year.
Dec. 15: at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m., FOX
Bucs take on the last-place team from the NFC North. Matt Patricia has loaded up on former Patriots players. Quarterback Matthew Stafford still has one of the best arms in the NFL and will test the young Bucs secondary.
Dec. 21 or 22: Houston Texans, TBD
Jason Licht’s good friend, Texans coach Bill O’Brien, pays the Bucs a visit. DeShaun Watson returns to Raymond James Stadium, where he won a national championship with the Clemson Tigers. The Bucs offensive line may get its best test vs J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney.
Dec. 29: Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m., FOX
Nobody knows the Bucs better than Dirk Koetter. The former Tampa Bay coach is back with the Falcons as their offensive coordinator. Last time he was in this position in 2014, he handed the Bucs two losses. Matt Ryan will be at his best in Koetter’s offense.