Buccaneers 2013 schedule: Secondary to be tested on the road

If Tampa Bay hopes to make a playoff run in its second season under coach Greg Schiano, it will have to handle a schedule that includes road tests against explosive passing attacks in New England and Detroit.

Coach Greg Schiano's second season with the Bucs includes road games at Detroit and New England. (US Presswire)

If Tampa Bay hopes to make a playoff run in its second season under coach Greg Schiano, it will have to handle a schedule that includes road tests against explosive passing attacks in New England and Detroit.

The Bucs finished 2012 ranked last in the NFL in pass defense, and facing QB Tom Brady's Patriots and WR Calvin Johnson of the Lions -- both on the road -- shouldn't exactly help matters in 2013. Add those games to always-tough tests against the explosive passing attacks of NFC South rivals Atlanta and New Orleans, and the secondary should get plenty of opportunities to test its mettle.

There will be plenty of new coaches making trips to Raymond James Stadium, as the home slate includes games against Arizona, Buffalo and Philadelphia -- all franchises which fired their coaches on Black Monday.

Buccaneers 2013 schedule

Home: Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco

Away: Atlanta, Carolina, Detroit, New England, New Orleans, New York Jets, St. Louis, Seattle

For more from Tampa Bay Bucs blogger Patrick Southern, follow @CBSBucs on Twitter.