Tampa Bay Buccaneers Get Franchise High Primetime Games for 2020 NFL Season

The NFL released the 2020 season schedule. The season will kick off at Arrowhead Stadium where defending champions Kansas City Chiefs take on Houston Texans. Fans can have a sigh of relief and celebrate as the schedule has game week 1 beginning as per schedule on September 10. However, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans have another reason to celebrate after looking at the schedule.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers see fortunes change with Tom Brady arrival

The Bucs fans saw their team awarded with five prime-time games for the upcoming season. They played just 17 primetime games in the last 15 years. It was a league-low for the NFC franchise. However, what has turned their fortunes around is a 2 year $50 million investment in Tom Brady. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter calls this “the Tom Brady effect.”

They share are one of 8 teams to have 5 primetime games. The other teams are the New England Patriots(12-4), Baltimore Ravens(14 -2), Los Angeles Rams (9-7), Kansas City Chiefs(12-4) San Francisco 49ers(13-3), Green Bay Packers (13-3) and Dallas Cowboys(8-8)

However, none of these teams finished the 2019 season with a losing record. Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 7-9 and finished 3rd in the NFC South. The 6 times Super Bowl Champion’s drawing power is evident by the NFL’s decision to hand the team a season-high primetime slot.

Tom Brady will have the entire league scrutinizing his every move. They want to say he left for a final payday and will be eager to see him fail. Fans in Boston where Brady found solace too will have turned on him. 

However, he can be ensured of the backing of Super Bowl starved fans at the Raymond James Stadium. He will be aided by Rob Gronkowski who has come out of retirement. 

Brady’s move amidst the Coronavirus pandemic has presented a fair share of bumps. First, he was spotted flouting coronavirus restrictions, later he mistakenly barged into the wrong house when going to meet the team’s offensive coordinator. 

It is clear proof that he will work hard to adapt to life in a new division. Also, other teams can learn that appeasing big names can result in a huge windfall with prime time slots.