Tampa Bay Buccaneers Playoff Games
(January 8, 2000)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the playoffs for the fifth time in franchise history. In the past the Bucs have played a total of six playoff games, winning twice and losing the other four. The Bucs were 2-1 in postseason games at the old Tampa Stadium. Here is a look at the history of Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoff games.

Date: December 29, 1979
Result: Tampa Bay 24, Philadelphia 17
Site: Tampa Stadium
Attendance: 71,402

The famous 1979 team, which won its first five games, finished with a 10-6 record, won the Bucs first division championship and earned the first playoff berth. Not only was this the Bucs first postseason game, but it was the franchises first appearance on National television. The Philadelphia Eagles were the opponents in an NFC Divisional Playoff game. On their first possession, the Bucs went for it on a fourth down play at the Eagles 4 yard line. A Ricky Bell touchdown run capped of an eighteen play drive of 80 yards, using 9:34 off the clock. Bell's second touchdown run of the half gave the Bucs a 17-0 lead at the break. Ron Jaworski (15 of 39 for 199 yards) threw the first of his two touchdown passes and the Eagles closed the gap to 17-10. Late in the third quarter, with Philadelphia driving, Lee Roy Selmon sacked Jaworski on back-to-back plays to force a punt. Early in the fourth quarter, Doug Williams (7 of 15 for 132 yards and an interception) hit Jimmie Giles with a 9 yard TD pass and the Bucs posted the franchise's first postseason victory 24-17. Ricky Bell carried the ball a postseason record 38 times and gained 142 yards against Philadelphia. Eagles coach Dick Vermeil stated, "We were beaten by a better team. With such a strong defense, these Bucs can be contenders for a long time." Jimmie Giles added, "The Bucs have ceased being a joke."

Date: January 6, 1980
Result: Los Angeles 9, Tampa Bay 0
Site: Tampa Stadium
Attendance: 72,033

After beating the Eagles, the Los Angeles Rams were the opponent as the Bucs hosted the NFC Championship Game. The outcome would decide who would play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIV. Both teams had made it to the game with outstanding defense and the defensive struggle was exemplified by Rams defensive end Jack Youngblood playing on a fractured leg. Doug Williams (2 of 13 for 12 yards and an interception) started the game with eight straight incompletions, before injuring his arm in the third quarter and being replaced by Mike Rae (2 of 13 for 42 yards). Running back Jerry Eckwood completed a pass in the game for 42 yards, but Williams and Rae combined for only 54 yards through the air. The Bucs could only manage seven first downs and were out gained 369 to 177 yards. Quarterback Vince Ferragamo (12 of 23 for 163 yards) and running back Cullen Bryant (106 yards rushing) lead the Rams, who scored on three short field goals by Frank Corral (19, 21 and 23 yards). In the second half, the Bucs had a touchdown pass called back and Lee Roy Selmon left the game with an ankle injury. The Rams won the first Championship Game in history which did not feature a touchdown 9-0.

Date: January 2, 1982 >br> Result: Dallas 38, Tampa Bay 0
Site: Texas Stadium
Attendance: 64,848

This team won the second and, until this season, the last division title in team history. The 9-7 Buccaneers traveled to Texas Stadium to play the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoff. The game was close for a while with Dallas leading 10-0 at halftime. Early in the third quarter, Cowboy running back Ron Springs ran 1 yard to make it 17-0, then a Tony Dorsett (86 yards rushing) TD run made it 24-0. In the fourth quarter, Doug Williams connected on a 75 yard pass to Jimmie Giles to give the Bucs a first down on the Cowboy 5 yard line, however, the Bucs turned the ball over on downs. Williams (10 of 29 for 187 yards) was intercepted four times, sacked four times and flagged for intentional grounding twice, as Dallas won going away 38-0.

Date: January 9, 1983
Result: Dallas 30, Tampa Bay 17
Site: Texas Stadium
Attendance: 65,042

This was the year that a players strike reduced the regular season to nine games and changed the playoff format. At 5-4, the Buccaneers made the postseason and again drew Dallas in the first round. Hugh Green returned a Danny White fumble 60 yards for a touchdown and the Bucs held a 10-6 second quarter lead. The first of two Danny White (27 of 45 for 312 yards and 2 interceptions) touchdown passes gave Dallas a 13-10 halftime lead. Doug Williams (8 of 28 for 113 yards and 3 INTs) hit wide receiver Gordon Jones on a 49 yard TD pass to give Tampa Bay the advantage after three quarters 17-16. Early in the fourth quarter, Dallas rookie cornerback Monty Hunter intercepted Williams for the winning touchdown. Tony Dorsett rushed for 110 yards, the Cowboys ran 92 plays and rolled up 445 yards in total offense in route to a 30-17 victory.

Date: December 28, 1997
Result: Tampa Bay 20, Detroit 10
Site: Houlihan's (Tampa) Stadium
Attendance: 73,361

Two seasons ago, the Bucs won their first five games and finished at 10-6. The last professional football at the old Tampa Stadium would be the NFC Wild Card Playoff. The Bucs were two point favorites over Detroit, which was the first time the team was favored in the postseason. Detroit's Barry Sanders had rushed for 2,053 yards, was on an NFL record fourteen game streak of at least 100 yards rushing and was named league co-MVP. On a soggy field, the Bucs contained Sanders and he finished with 65 yards on eighteen carries. On a seventeen play, 89 yard drive, Trent Dilfer (13 of 26 for 181 yards and an INT) found Horace Copeland in the back of the end zone for a 9 yard touchdown pass and a 10-0 lead early in second quarter. Michael Husted became the first Buccaneer to kick two field goals in a playoff game and his team postseason record 42 yarder gave the Bucs a 13-0 halftime advantage. Mike Alstott broke through the line and rumbled 31 yards to stretch the lead to 20-0. Late in the third quarter, Scott Mitchell (10 of 25 for 78 yards and an interception) left the game with a concussion and Frank Reich came in at quarterback. Reich (11 of 15 for 129 yards and an INT) brought the Lions to within 20-10, halfway through the fourth quarter, but that was the way it ended. Tony Dungy said of the victory, "It's a special feeling. I know they've been waiting eighteen years for it and it doesn't get much better than this."

Date: January 4, 1998
Result: Green Bay 21, Tampa Bay 7
Site: Lambeau Field
Attendance: 60,327

It was 29 degrees, with a single-digit wind chill factor, when the Bucs took to Lambeau Field for the NFC Divisional Playoff game. In the first half, Tampa Bay had a field goal attempt blocked, came up short on a fake field goal and saw the snap sail over the holder's head on a third field goal try. NFL co-MVP Brett Favre (15 of 28 for 190 yards) tossed a first quarter TD pass and Green Bay lead 13-0 at the half. The Buc defense keep them in the game. Warren Sapp had three of the Bucs four quarterback sacks and recovered one of his two forced fumbles, while cornerback Donnie Abraham intercepted Favre twice. In the third quarter, Mike Alstott scored on a 6 yard run to pull the Bucs within 13-7. Trent Dilfer (11 of 36 for 200 yards with 2 interceptions) set Buc postseason records for passing yardage and attempts, but the team produced just one score on five trips inside the Packer 30 yard line. Running back Dorsey Levens, who rushed for a Green Bay playoff record 112 yards, scored on a fourth quarter run to provide the final margin of 21-7. The victory gave Green Bay 27 straight at home and a perfect 10-0 postseason record at Lambeau Field. When it was over, Trent Dilfer said "It's not the end of the season, it's the beginning of some really special stuff that's going to happen in Tampa."

Date: January 15, 2000
Site: Raymond James Stadium

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