Buccaneers Gameday Facts.

Houston Oilers

Tampa Bay opened its regular-season history at the Astrodome on September 12, 1976, losing 20–0 to the Houston Oilers. The expansion Buccaneers had already played six preseason games, so this was their first regular-season contest rather than their first appearance on a football field. The distinction matters when tracing the franchise’s earliest games.

New Orleans Saints

The Buccaneers beat New Orleans 33–14 in the Superdome on December 11, 1977, ending a run of 26 consecutive regular-season defeats. Tampa Bay’s defense returned three interceptions for touchdowns. The breakthrough arrived late in the team’s second season, making this a defining game for fans who had followed every difficult step of the expansion years.

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals were the visitors when Tampa Bay won its first regular-season home game, 17–7, on December 18, 1977. The victory came one week after the franchise finally entered the win column on the road. Those two December wins gave the Buccaneers a 2–12 finish and their home crowd a long-awaited celebration.

3–0

Tampa Bay won 3–0 in a downpour at Tampa Stadium, securing the NFC Central title and its first playoff berth. Neil O’Donoghue’s 19-yard field goal in the fourth quarter supplied all the scoring. The December 16, 1979 game is a reminder that a season-changing victory can come from one kick rather than a pile of touchdowns.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Buccaneers defeated Philadelphia 24–17 at Tampa Stadium in the franchise’s first postseason game. Ricky Bell carried 38 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns, while Tampa Bay’s defense held the Eagles to 227 total yards. The December 29, 1979 divisional victory advanced the fourth-year franchise to its first NFC Championship Game.

A mishandled punt snap

Philadelphia led 13–0 before a botched punt snap opened the door. Jeff Feagles could not get his kick away, and Broderick Thomas brought him down. Tampa Bay then scored two late touchdowns on Chris Chandler passes, the second to Bruce Hill with about a minute left, turning the October 6, 1991 game into a 14–13 Buccaneers win.

Detroit Lions

Tampa Bay beat Detroit 20–10 in the Wild Card round on December 28, 1997, after building a 20–0 lead. The Buccaneers’ first playoff appearance following a 14-season drought ended their home schedule at the old stadium, then called Houlihan’s Stadium. It was also Tampa Bay’s first postseason victory since the 1979 season.

15 points

Chicago led 15–0 at halftime on September 20, 1998, the opening day of Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay answered with touchdowns on four straight possessions and won 27–15. The 27 unanswered points transformed a difficult first half into a successful housewarming, giving the Buccaneers and their fans a dramatic first game in their new home.

St. Louis Rams

The Buccaneers beat the St. Louis Rams 38–35 on Monday Night Football. A desperate pitch back from Warrick Dunn to Shaun King helped keep Tampa Bay’s final touchdown drive alive. Dunn scored with 48 seconds remaining, and John Lynch’s interception sealed the December 18, 2000 victory, which also clinched a playoff berth.

Champaign

The game was played at Memorial Stadium in Champaign while Soldier Field was under renovation. It was 38°F at kickoff, and Tampa Bay won 15–0 on five Martin Gramatica field goals. The windy victory secured a first-round playoff bye and ended the franchise’s winless record in games that began with temperatures below 40°F.

Veterans Stadium

The Buccaneers beat Philadelphia 27–10 at Veterans Stadium on January 19, 2003, claiming their first Super Bowl berth. That NFC Championship was the final NFL game played at the Vet. It belongs to the 2002 NFL season, even though the game took place in the following calendar year—a useful distinction when following the playoff archives.

Three

Tampa Bay’s defense returned three of its five interceptions for touchdowns in Super Bowl XXXVII. The 48–21 win over Oakland took place at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on January 26, 2003. Those defensive points helped turn the 2002 season’s championship game into a decisive victory and delivered the Buccaneers’ first Lombardi Trophy.

21 points

At Arrowhead on November 2, 2008, Tampa Bay overcame a 21-point gap after falling behind 24–3. A late touchdown and successful two-point conversion brought the score to 27–27 with 25 seconds left in regulation. The Bucs then won 30–27 in overtime on a 34-yard field goal, turning a seemingly one-sided road game into an unforgettable finish.

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle’s visit to Raymond James Stadium on November 27, 2016, ended 14–5 in favor of Tampa Bay. The Bucs scored two early touchdowns, then protected their lead with six sacks and three takeaways. Seattle managed only a field goal and a safety. Neither team scored after halftime, making this a particularly unusual final scoreboard.

Los Angeles Rams

On September 29, 2019, Tampa Bay beat Los Angeles 55–40 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It was the franchise’s first game reaching 50 points. The Bucs led throughout, but the Rams pulled within one score before a late fumble return for a touchdown settled matters. The teams combined for 95 points on an afternoon with little room to relax.

Three

Tampa Bay won three consecutive away playoff games: at Washington, in the Divisional Round at New Orleans, and in the NFC Championship at Green Bay. The Buccaneers entered the postseason as the NFC’s fifth seed and had to travel through all three rounds. That route carried the 2020 team from a wild-card berth into Super Bowl LV.

31–9

The Buccaneers beat Kansas City 31–9 on February 7, 2021, winning the championship for the 2020 season. At Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay became the first team to play and win a Super Bowl in its own home stadium. Kansas City was held without a touchdown, with its nine points coming from field goals.

Munich

Munich’s Allianz Arena hosted Tampa Bay’s 21–16 victory over Seattle on November 13, 2022, the first NFL regular-season game played in Germany. The Buccaneers built a 21–3 lead before Seattle closed the gap in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay’s running game helped finish the job, with a 161–39 advantage in rushing yards and late first downs that drained the clock.

None

Philadelphia failed to convert any of its nine third-down attempts in Tampa Bay’s 32–9 wild-card victory on January 15, 2024. The Buccaneers also limited the Eagles to 42 rushing yards and 276 total yards at Raymond James Stadium. This was the playoff opener following the 2023 season, and the win sent Tampa Bay to Detroit for the Divisional Round.

Fourth

The win secured Tampa Bay’s fourth consecutive NFC South title, following crowns for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons. The Buccaneers beat New Orleans 27–19 on January 5, 2025, to close the 2024 regular season. Although the calendar had already turned, that division championship belongs in the 2024 season column.