Heading into the 2025 season, we are following several storylines from the Bucs. We wanted to offer some of those up after the NFL Schedule became public earlier today.

Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta, who will conquer the south?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the NFC South and have been the only NFC South team to reach the playoffs for the last four seasons. While the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers are still putting it together, the Atlanta Falcons have tried to go all in and reclaim the South. They even swept the Buccaneers in 2024 and were one Tampa loss away from claiming the title. Now, behind quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and a revamped defense, look for things to come down to the wire once again between these two teams.

Jamel Dean, CB1, or just a well-paid backup?

It’s no secret that Dean has had trouble staying on the field, especially when he has not played a full season in his entire career. The Buccaneers tried to improve their cornerback situation in free agency, but the cost was far too high, leaving Dean on the roster. However, the Buccaneers invested in two corners in the draft in Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. Todd Bowles has referred to them both as outside corners first who can play all over, which just so happens to be Dean’s position. Could we see Dean benched? Or will he step up and show he can be THE guy?

Bucs will face a Carlton Davis second straight year

Carlton Davis, once the Bucs’ best corner, left for Detroit last season and seemed to have a chip on his shoulder. Could see an inspired Davis when he returns to Tampa for the first time with the Patriots.

Baker Mayfield returns to where he saved his career

The Buccaneers will go to Los Angeles this season to face the Rams and, more importantly, it will be Baker Mayfield’s return to where his career was revived on his short week with the Rams in primetime. Baker Mayfield would lead the Rams to victory just three days after signing with the team on a miraculous last-minute throw. This, in turn, led to him being signed in Tampa on a prove-it deal after Tom Brady’s retirement — and boy has he delivered.

Bucs look to overcome the Sean McVay hump

In the 2021 playoffs, the Buccaneers lost on their last-second deep throw from Stafford to Cooper Kupp, which lined the Rams up for a game-winning field goal. The Rams went on to win the Super Bowl after that. Many think that if the Bucs had won that game, they would have been repeat champions. Since then, the Buccaneers have had trouble beating the Rams and will look to break the curse as they sail to Los Angeles for a Sunday Night Football matchup.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 5 storylines that are on the Bucs schedule in 2025