Some thoughts on the Buccaneers' 2017 schedule, which was unveiled last night:
Danger ahead
Because Tom Brady and the Patriots need the help, the NFL schedule overlords have offered the Bucs as a Week 5 sacrifice in front of a national audience on Thursday Night Football.
The problem with this stretch of Tampa Bay's schedule isn't that it plays the Super Bowl champions just four days after it plays the New York Giants. It's that the game against the Giants is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. instead of 1 p.m.
The time between the late Sunday game and the Thursday night game isn't "short rest"; it's a Gatorade break.