So you're looking for the kickoff time. You’ve got the jersey ready, the snacks are basically waiting in the pantry, and you're scrolling through your phone trying to figure out what time is the tampa bay buccaneers game today, Saturday, January 17, 2026.
Here is the cold, hard truth: There isn't one.
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The Bucs aren't playing today. In fact, their season ended about two weeks ago. While the NFL Divisional Round is currently in full swing with teams like the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos duking it out, the pirate ship is docked in Tampa for the winter. It’s a bit of a bummer, especially since the NFC South was such a wild ride this year, but the 2025-2026 campaign is officially in the rearview mirror.
The Playoff Picture Without Tampa Bay
If you're checking the schedule today, you're likely seeing a lot of playoff hype. Today’s actual NFL slate features the Bills at the Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by the 49ers taking on the Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET. But our guys in red and pewter? They’re watching from the couch just like us.
How did we get here? Honestly, it was a heartbreaking finish. The Buccaneers ended their season on January 3, 2026, with a narrow 16-14 win over the Carolina Panthers. While a win usually feels good, that particular victory wasn't enough to save the season. Because the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints, the Falcons clinched the tiebreakers needed to push the Bucs out of the postseason picture.
It's a tough pill to swallow. For the first time since 2021, Tampa Bay isn't playing a first-place schedule next year because they didn't win the division. They finished second in the NFC South with a 8-9 record. Not exactly the dominant "Tom Brady era" vibes we got used to, but that’s the reality of the current NFL landscape.
When Is the Next Tampa Bay Buccaneers Game?
Since there is no game today, you’re probably wondering when you can actually see them take the field again.
The NFL won’t release the official 2026 regular-season schedule with specific times and dates until May 2026. However, we already know exactly who they are playing. Because the NFL uses a rotating formula, the opponents for the 2026 season are already locked in.
Instead of looking for what time is the tampa bay buccaneers game for this weekend, mark your calendars for the preseason in August 2026. That’s your next real shot at seeing live Bucs football. In the meantime, the front office is shifting focus to the NFL Draft and free agency to figure out how to reclaim the NFC South crown from Atlanta.
2026 Home Opponents
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Los Angeles Chargers (The "17th game" matchup)
2026 Road Opponents
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Dallas Cowboys
Why the Schedule Matters Right Now
You might think that because there’s no game today, the news is dead. It's actually the opposite. This is "Draft Season" and "Evaluation Season."
The Buccaneers are currently sitting with a second-place finish, which means their 2026 schedule is technically "easier" than if they had won the division. They’ll be facing the second-place finishers from the NFC West (the Rams) and the NFC East (the Cowboys). If they had won the South, they’d be staring down the barrel of the Seahawks and the Eagles instead.
There's a sort of silver lining there. By missing out on the playoffs today, the Bucs actually get a slightly more favorable path for a comeback next year. Plus, they’ll have nine home games at Raymond James Stadium in 2026 because it’s the NFC’s turn to host the extra 17th game.
Actionable Next Steps for Bucs Fans
Since you can't watch a game today, here is how you can stay locked in with the team during the offseason:
- Track the 2026 NFL Draft: The Bucs will likely have a mid-round pick (somewhere around 15-18). Keep an eye on mock drafts starting in February to see if they target a new edge rusher or interior offensive line help.
- Check Free Agency Rumors: March 2026 is when the "legal tampering" period begins. This is when the Bucs will decide which of their own free agents to keep and which big names to bring to Tampa.
- Update Your Calendar for May: The official NFL schedule release usually happens the second week of May. That is when we will finally have a real answer to what time is the tampa bay buccaneers game for every week of the 2026 season.
The quest for another Super Bowl ring starts with the work being done in the front office today, even if the scoreboard at Ray Jay is dark for now.