The Bucs have a whole lot of powerful video games on their 2026 schedule. So, any little benefit on a week-to-week foundation might be big for Todd Bowles and his workforce, particularly in the case of the very best groups on their slate. To not point out, with the NFC South usually coming all the way down to a single sport or perhaps a tiebreaker, something helps.
Talking of which, did the Bucs catch a break with one among their hardest video games this season?
Beneath Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions have was one of many NFC’s greatest groups 12 months in and 12 months out. They went 9-8 and missed the playoffs final 12 months, however they’re nonetheless 36-15 over the past three seasons. The Bucs have seen them loads as of late. Detroit beat Tampa Bay within the common season again in 2023, then received a rematch within the NFC Divisional Spherical later that season. The Bucs received some revenge in Week 2 of the 2024 season, however the Lions then returned the favor in Week 7 of the 2025 season.
Now, in 2026, the 2 groups are set to fulfill at Detroit’s Ford Subject in Week 11 on Sunday, Nov. 22. And the Bucs would possibly’ve caught a break – even when it’s the slightest one – with the way in which this matchup units up.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and Lions QB Jared Goff – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
However right here’s the kicker: Not solely are the Lions not coming off a bye to play the Bucs – they’re coming into this sport off a world journey. In Week 10, the Lions head to Munich, Germany, to face the defending AFC champion Patriots as a part of the NFL’s Worldwide Sequence. Groups taking part in internationally get the choice of getting their bye week after the worldwide sport, however Detroit declined it.
So, as an alternative, the Lions will journey 4,347 air miles from Detroit to Munich for a sport towards the Patriots, then head 4,347 air miles again dwelling to host the Bucs seven days later. Sure, they get the good thing about taking part in at dwelling, at the least. However certainly this has to play into Tampa Bay’s favor, proper? In a sport between a workforce coming off its bye week and one coming off a world journey, you’d suppose the workforce coming off its bye has a little bit of a bonus.
Oh, and the way about the truth that after taking part in the Bucs, the Lions face a brief week as they’re set to host the division rival Bears, final 12 months’s NFC North champs, on Thanksgiving Day 93(ish) hours later?
How A lot Of An Benefit Will This Truly Be For The Bucs?
You’d suppose groups would all the time decide to have their bye week following a visit to Germany, England, Spain or wherever their worldwide sport is. However not everybody does, and the Lions clearly opted to do with out it. Their bye as an alternative comes earlier on within the season in Week 6.
Lions QB Jared Goff and HC Dan Campbell – Photograph by: IMAGN Photos – Jeffrey Becker
So, what do the numbers say about groups taking part in the week after a world sport with no bye? ESPN1530 Cincinnati’s Mo Egger shared the stat late final week after the NFL’s schedule launch.
Curiously sufficient, groups taking part in the week instantly after a world sport are 12-9. Nevertheless, in 2025, groups taking part in below such circumstances went 1-3.
21 NFL groups have performed the week after a world sport, with no bye.
These groups are 12-9 straight up and 9-12 ATS.
Final season, 4 groups performed the week after a world sport.
These groups went 1-3 straight up and 0-4 ATS.
After all it isn’t, proper? However there must be some form of intangible edge. It could not come into play, however it’s arduous to say you’d fairly be the world-traveling workforce on this situation.
What could assist the Bucs extra than simply the truth that the Lions are getting back from Germany to play them is the sheer depth of the stretch that the Lions shall be in the midst of.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
After their Week 6 bye, the Lions play two divisional video games at dwelling towards the Packers and Vikings. They then go all the way down to Miami in Week 9 earlier than that Week 10 journey to Munich to face an excellent Patriots workforce coming off a Tremendous Bowl look. And we already talked about the truth that there’s the Bucs sport after which a Thanksgiving matchup – and it’s in all probability going to be a vital one within the NFC North race – towards the Bears 4 days later.
On the opposite aspect, the Bucs have that Week 10 bye, and after the Week 11 journey to face the Lions, they really have an additional day of relaxation as their subsequent sport comes on Monday Night time Soccer – at dwelling towards the Panthers. So, theoretically, Tampa Bay shall be nicely rested and in place to empty the tank eight days earlier than taking part in one other sport.
Will all of this matter come November? Possibly not. However once more, each little benefit will help. It’s nearly exploiting these benefits and capitalizing.
