The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking for a bounce-back season in 2026. The 2025 calendar left a lot to be desired for the Bucs when it started with a playoff loss to the Washington Commanders and ended with the final steps of a late-season collapse. The Bucs and their fans are ready to forget about it by getting a new season underway, and we have that now with the schedule out.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine wrote up several key points and takeaways from the schedule, including a bold prediction. Within it, she suggests that Bucs head coach Todd Bowles may finally scratch the itch he’s constantly giving him.
Laine writes, “Coach Todd Bowles will finally defeat an AFC North team in Tampa. Wait, what? Yes, an odd quirk is that the Bucs are winless against the AFC North since 2019, when Bowles became the defensive coordinator. Against the Bengals they are (0-1), the Browns (0-2), the Ravens (0-2) and the Steelers (0-1). Those are the only teams Bowles and the Bucs have not beaten in that span.”
Bowles will have two chances to start the year to get a win over the AFC North as the Bucs face the Bengals and Browns in back-to-back weeks. If they do not get a win, then they will have to wait until Week 6 when they face off with the Pittsburgh Steelers for a third try.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: ESPN believes Todd Bowles can finally get one over on the AFC North