2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2023 season is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 48th in the National Football League, their tenth under the leadership of general manager Jason Licht and their second under head coach Todd Bowles. They are attempting to improve upon their 8–9 record from the previous season and enter this season as defending back-to-back NFC South champions. This will be their first season since 2019 without quarterback Tom Brady, after he announced his second retirement from the NFL on February 1, 2023. On March 15, the Buccaneers signed free agent quarterback Baker Mayfield, who subsequently earned the starting job during training camp. For the first time since 2012, Tampa Bay wore their orange throwback uniforms. The Buccaneers donned their "Creamsicle" jerseys and "Bucco Bruce" helmets against Detroit in Week 6. Draft

Draft trades
 The Buccaneers traded a fourth-round selection to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for 2022 fifth and sixth-round selections (157th and 235th overall). The Buccaneers traded LB Grant Stuard and a seventh-round selection to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a sixth-round selection. The Buccaneers traded a 2022 sixth-round selection (206th overall) to the New York Jets in exchange for NT Steve McLendon and a seventh-round selection. The Buccaneers traded G Shaq Mason and a seventh-round pick (230th overall) to the Houston Texans in exchange for a sixth-round selection. Staff

Current roster

Preseason
The Buccaneers' preseason opponents and schedule was announced in the spring. Regular season

Schedule

Notes
 Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Networks and times from Weeks 10–17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling. The date, time and network for Week 18 will be finalized at the end of Week 17. Game summaries

Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay traveled to Minnesota in Week 1 with Baker Mayfield making his first start as quarterback. Mayfield threw for 173 yards and two touchdown passes, as the Buccaneers won on Opening Day for the third year in a row. Chase McLaughlin kicked a 57-yard go-ahead field goal with 5:10 left in regulation. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns, but lost two fumbles, and threw an interception at the goal line. With the upset victory over the Vikings, the Buccaneers started off the season 1-0. Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears

Tampa Bay won their home opener and improved to 2–0 with a 27–17 victory over the Bears. Baker Mayfield threw for 317 yards and one touchdown pass. Baker connected with Mike Evans for a 70-yard reception early in the second quarter, which led to the first Buccaneers touchdown. He later found Evans for a 32-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. With 2:12 left in regulation, the Bears were backed up at their own 6 yard line and trailing by 3 points. Justin Fields' pass attempt was tipped and intercepted by Shaquil Barrett who muscled his way into the endzone for a touchdown. Barrett's "pick-6" sealed the win for Tampa Bay. Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay hosted Philadelphia on Monday Night Football. Jalen Hurts threw for 277 yards and D'Andre Swift rushed for 130 yards as the Eagles defeated the Buccaneers 25–11. The Buccaneers defense gave up 201 yards on the ground. Baker Mayfield threw an interception (the team's first turnover of the season), and the offense did not reach the endzone until 9:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Ronde Barber was honored at halftime after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tampa Bay picked up their first loss of the season, falling to 2-1. Week 4: at New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay defeated division rival New Orleans by the score of 26–9 and took over sole possession of first place in the NFC South. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes and Chris Godwin had eight catches for 114 yards. Derek Carr started at quarterback for New Orleans, and Alvin Kamara returned from a three-game suspension, but the Saints offense struggled, and failed to reach the endzone. Mike Evans caught three balls for 40 yards, but left the game around halftime with a hamstring injury. Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions

Tampa Bay wore their orange throwback ("Creamsicle") uniforms and "Bucco Bruce" helmets against Detroit. The Buccaneers were unable to get much of anything going on offense. They were held out of the endzone, and managed only two field goals. Jared Goff put up 353 yards passing, and threw two touchdown passes as the Lions won 20–6. In the first quarter, at their own 8-yard line, Baker Mayfield had Mike Evans wide open down field for what could have been a 92-yard touchdown pass. Instead, the pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Isaiah Buggs and intercepted by Charles Harris. The Lions scored a field goal off of the turnover, and would never trail the rest of the game. Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Tampa Bay defense forced three turnovers in the red zone. In the final two minutes, the Buccaneers drove to the Falcons 8 yard line. Chase McLaughlin kicked a 36-yard field goal to tie the score at 13–13 with 45 seconds left. However, Younghoe Koo kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired, and Atlanta won 16–13. Week 8: at Buffalo Bills

Tampa Bay traveled to Buffalo on Thursday Night Football. Trailing 24–10 in the fourth quarter, Baker Mayfield drove the Buccaneers 92 yards in 17 plays. The drive ate up over 7 minutes, but was capped off by a 24-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans with 2:51 to go. With the score 24–18, Tampa Bay forced a punt, and got the ball back with just under 30 seconds left. Mayfield's hail mary pass to the endzone fell incomplete as time  expired, and the Bills held on to win. Week 9: at Houston Texans

Standings

Division

Conference

Awards
 NFC Special Teams Player of the week
 Week 2: Jake Camarda
 NFC Special Teams Player of the Month
 September: Jake Camarda
 Nickelodeon Valuable Player
 Week 2: Mike Evans

References

External links
 

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers seasons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers