1984 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
Encyclopedia
The 1984
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
season began with the team making efforts to address the problems faced in the disastrous 1983
season. For the first time, the team renegotiated the contracts of players in their option years, which kept discontent over salaries to a minimum. An assistant coach was added to perform the functions of an offensive coordinator. A strength coach was added, which improved the players' physical conditioning in hopes of avoiding the constant injuries that occurred in 1983. A healthy, stable offensive lineup developed the maturity to sustain long drives in pressure situations, and head coach John McKay began to move away from his long-criticized conservative play-calling and open up the offense. This was the first time that the team's offense finished the season ranked higher than their defense. Their offensive output is still the third-highest in team history (as of 2010
), and was not matched by another Buccaneer team until 2003
.
James Wilder
, who Lawrence Taylor
called "the best running back I've ever played against in my life", set team and NFL records while serving as the focal point of the team's offense. Steve DeBerg
emerged as a stable, confidence-inspiring on-field leader. Kevin House
continued to perform as one of the league's best wide receivers, while Gerald Carter
emerged as a solid complement. Hugh Green, described by Mike Ditka
as "one of the best two linebackers in the game" (with Lawrence Taylor), continued to dominate until sidelined by a midseason automobile accident. Dave Logan
became the youngest of only four defensive linemen in NFL history to score four touchdowns, and began to be spoken of as a potential All-Pro
until sore knees limited his movement later in the season. Lee Roy Selmon
made the Pro Bowl
in what would turn out to be his final season. However, as the team's best defensive players began to fall to injuries, they became prone to late-game collapses. In addition, the mental errors that had characterized the team from the outset contributed to a number of close losses. McKay experienced health problems during the season, and found the constant losing too much to bear. On November 5, the only coach in Buccaneer history announced that he would resign at the end of the season.
' failure to make the playoffs resulted in the firing of coach Bart Starr
and his entire staff, the Buccaneers hired John Brunner, the offensive backfield coach of the Packers' NFC-leading offense. McKay had stated previously that he would never hire an offensive coordinator, so Brunner was given the title "Offensive Moderator", although his duties were those of a coordinator. Defensive coordinator Wayne Fontes
was promoted to assistant head coach, the first Buccaneer coach to be given such a title. This added administrative duties to his coordinator responsibilities and increased the perception that Fontes was being groomed to succeed McKay. McKay announced that all other assistants would be retained, with the exception of special teams coach Frank Emanuel
, who had left to become defensive coordinator of the USFL Jacksonville Bulls
. Emanuel's vacated position was filled by running backs coach Jim Gruden, then by former Buccaneer defensive lineman Bill Kollar
when Gruden replaced Ken Herock
as director of player personnel. Herock, who had been involved with Buccaneer scouting since 1976
and had worked with the Oakland Raiders
before that, was given much of the credit for the expansion Buccaneers' quick rise to playoff contention. Nevertheless, he was rebuffed by team owner Hugh Culverhouse
when he requested a pay raise, and accepted Howard Schnellenberger
's offer to take the same position with the ill-fated USFL Washington Federals. Joe Diange was hired as a strength and conditioning coach, in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the previous season's rash of injuries.
quarterback Warren Moon
met with the Buccaneers and was reportedly impressed with their organization, but eventually chose to sign with the Houston Oilers, where he reunited with his former Edmonton Eskimos
coach Hugh Campbell
. The team also attempted to sign Bobby Hebert
, the Michigan Panthers
quarterback who led the USFL in passing. The team was eventually able to obtain displaced Denver Broncos quarterback Steve DeBerg, who rejected a contract offer from the USFL Denver Gold
. The free agent DeBerg signed with the Broncos, and was then traded to Tampa Bay for a pair of draft choices. The previous season's opening-day starting quarterback Jerry Golsteyn
was released, then recalled and traded to the Los Angeles Raiders
for defensive back Irvin Phillips
.
Veteran fullback Scott Dierking
was acquired from the New York Jets
for a 1985
fifth-round draft choice. The team refused to honor Jimmie Giles
' request to be traded, although he had reportedly been offered as trade bait at one point in the DeBerg deal. Giles' disgruntlement dissipated when the team offered him a new contract, signing him through the 1986
season. Obed Ariri
, a former Chicago Sting
soccer player who had set an NCAA record of 63 field goals at Clemson
, was signed to compete with Bill Capece
for the placekicker spot. Neal Colzie
, the 1982
team MVP, was released before the start of training camp. McKay stated that the team did not have room for two older safeties, and felt that Colzie was being outperformed by Mark Cotney
.
which had already been stripped of talent by USFL teams. The Los Angeles Express alone had signed seven players with first-round potential. Need areas were believed to include linebacker, the secondary, running backs, and the offensive line.
in exchange for quarterback Jack Thompson. Their 4th-round pick was traded to the San Francisco 49ers
the previous year, in exchange for their 1983
6th-round pick. The first of their two 4th-round picks came from the San Diego Chargers
, as part of the David Lewis
trade. The second came from the Los Angeles Raiders
, for Charley Hannah
. A fourth 4th-round pick, obtained from San Diego for Dewey Selmon
, was traded to the Denver Broncos
in exchange for quarterback Steve DeBerg
. Their 5th-round pick was traded to the Dallas Cowboys
for linebacker Danny Spradlin.
with their first pick, the second pick of the second round. Brother of NFL players Ross
and Joey Browner
, Keith was considered to be a talented but underachieving college player who had been expected to be taken in the first round. Some observers questioned the selection of Browner, as Boomer Esiason
, the only quarterback in the draft expected to have impact potential, was still available. With the secondary aging, the Buccaneers made Texas
cornerback Fred Acorn the earliest-drafted defensive back in team history. Acorn was considered a project, as he started only one season for the Longhorns, but the Buccaneers' secondary was believed to be strong enough to afford the luxury of drafting a player who would take time to develop. Acorn was drafted for his speed, with a 40-yard dash time that had been clocked as low as 4.2 seconds. Micheal Gunter, the Tulsa
all-time rushing leader, was taken in the fourth round. He was another player who had been projected to be drafted much higher, as high as fourth overall, according to one publication. He was very productive as a college player, but was unproven as a receiver, and lacked the ability to evade tacklers or to accelerate at the line of scrimmage. Jim Gallery became the first kicker ever drafted by the team. The team approached the draft with a goal of improving overall speed, and felt that they'd achieved that with their selections of Acorn and the linebackers.
was held on June 5, giving NFL teams an opportunity to select players who had not been in the draft due to having previously signed with USFL or CFL teams. With the first overall selection, the Buccaneers acquired the NFL rights to Los Angeles Express quarterback Steve Young. They later selected Express running back Kevin Nelson, and New Orleans Breakers cornerback Alex Clark. The pick gave the Buccaneers the rights to Young beyond the expiration of his Express contract, set to expire in November, 1987. Young expressed happiness at having been selected, but stated that he was committed to the Express and had no intention of leaving the team.
as players who were in danger of losing their roster spots. Longtime tight end Jim Obradovich
, recently-acquired cornerback Irvin Phillips, and the previous season's backup quarterback Bob Hewko were cut on the first day of training camp. One-time All-Rookie guard Snell was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers
for Steve Courson
, an All-Pro
alternate two seasons earlier. The injury-plagued Steelers had lost patience with Courson over a knee injury that had limited him to nine games the previous season. Courson passed his physical, but immediately underwent arthroscopic surgery that caused him to miss the preseason. Versatile defensive end Brison Manor
was obtained from the Denver Broncos
to provide depth, as Booker Reese
failed to develop as hoped. Johnny Ray Smith was placed on injured reserve to make room for Perry Tuttle
, a former first-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills
. The preseason was relatively free of contract disputes. David Logan was the only training camp holdout, and threatened retirement when the negotiations became difficult. Logan was also targeted (along with rookie Fred Acorn) by departed personnel director Ken Herock, by then with the Miami Federals of the USFL. A contract extension was agreed to with Hugh Green, preventing any risk of his signing with the USFL Houston Gamblers
, who were owned by his agent Jerry Argovitz.
The Buccaneers opened the preseason with a 38-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks
, an AFC Championship Game
contender of the previous season
, in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
. The game was marked by miscues, and was the largest margin of defeat in the game's 22-year history. Some players later expressed hope that the team would get "tired of losing", while McKay called the team's performance "disgusting". McKay did praise the efforts of the team's rookies, particularly Keith Browner, who was thrilled to be playing purely at linebacker after having been required to play at safety part-time at USC. James Wilder suffered a thigh bruise that kept him out of action for the remainder of the preseason. The team rebounded with a 30-17 win over the Houston Oilers, in which Warren Moon made his NFL debut. The low point of the preseason was a 52-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons
in which McKay rested the first-team defense for the entire game. Roster decisions were complicated by a number of injuries, particularly along the offensive line, where Steve Wilson
and Steve Courson both missed significant time. The preseason ended with the defense playing in fine form in a 14-13 win over the Miami Dolphins
, although McKay voiced concern over the performance of the offensive line and the running backs.
was arrested for approaching a plainclothes Tampa police officer and soliciting her for prostitution. The team refused to comment on the situation, which was another embarrassment for the staff that had made such a large gamble by trading their 1983 first-round draft pick for the rights to draft him two years earlier. His lack of progress forced the team to trade for Brison Manor in the preseason, while Reese was given a brief tryout at nose tackle. Young and naive, Reese was vulnerable to ill-intentioned hangers-on, and developed a cocaine problem which escalated as the pressure on him increased. He was tall, fast, and strong, but lacked the quickness to be able to get around NFL tackles, and had trouble absorbing the mental aspects of the game. He was unable to beat out John Cannon
, selected later in the same draft. The team eventually cut their losses by trading Reese to the Los Angeles Rams
for a low-round draft pick. Reese recorded no tackles in two games with the Rams, before being sent to a rehabilitation program after failing a urine test.
While the offense was able to avoid significant injuries, the defense began to lose key players from the beginning. Mike Washington, considered by McKay to be the team's best defensive back, was forced to retire after an elbow to the head by Bears receiver Dennis McKinnon in his first play of the season required him to undergo spinal surgery. This required the team to use rookie Fred Acorn as a nickel back. Hugh Green suffered a broken wrist and a broken orbital bone beneath his left eye in an October car crash. The injuries were initially expected to cause him to miss two games, but after a month, the Buccaneers decided to place him on injured reserve rather than face liability should an aggravation of the wrist injury end Green's career. Keith Browner played poorly as Green's replacement, and was promptly replaced by Chris Washington. Cecil Johnson
suffered on and off from injuries and was eventually forced to undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery, forcing the team to start two rookies (Browner and Washington) at outside linebacker. The pair struggled, with the speedy Washington overwhelmed by opposing tight ends, and the stronger Browner having trouble lining up in the right place. The loss of Green enabled opponents to play a more diverse offense, rather than avoid run plays to the left side, where Green and Lee Roy Selmon would line up. This affected the secondary, because the loss of Green's play against the run required that the team play the slower Mark Cotney
for run support at safety. Making matters worse, Cedric Brown
suffered a season-ending knee injury in week 9. McKay admitted that, with the absence of Brown, Green, Johnson, and Mike Washington, the Buccaneers were "not a very good defensive team".
Wayne Fontes' effort to create a more aggressive defense through increased reliance on man-to-man coverage and blitzes backfired, with the result that the defense became much more vulnerable to touchdown passes and long pass plays. At the same time, their interception total decreased. Cedric Brown observed that it was largely a problem of execution, as many blitzes were failing due to player errors, and that the team was making more mistakes than he had seen in any of his eight years there. The pass rush was weakened by the absence of Hugh Green, which was noticeable to opposing teams. The effectiveness of the defensive line was reduced: Booker Reese failed to develop, John Cannon
regressed from his previous season's performance, and Dave Logan began to experience knee problems that sometimes required his replacement in the lineup.
(the Cleveland Browns
coach who had been fired the previous week) led to speculation of his imminent firing, which McKay shot down at the postgame press conference. The next week, the Buccaneers lost to the Minnesota Vikings on a last-minute field goal by Jan Stenerud
, a kicker who McKay had pleaded with frugal owner Hugh Culverhouse
to sign before the season. The loss effectively ended their chances at catching the Bears for the division lead. Frustrated over the team's record and concerned over his health, McKay held a press conference announcing his resignation effective at the end of the year. The players, who learned of the news from reporters rather than directly from McKay, were saddened by the announcement. Area fans, who had long been calling for McKay's resignation, were generally pleased by the decision. Howard Schnellenberger was the coach most popular among fans as a possible replacement, while Wayne Fontes was the popular choice among players and coaches, although Fontes was considered to be hampered by the perception that he would not be enough of a change, due to his 13 years of assistantship to McKay. Persistent rumors placed Ray Perkins as a candidate, even claiming that a press conference had been scheduled to announce the hiring, but Perkins dismissed the rumors and denied having met with Culverhouse.
The 0-26 franchise start had a dramatic impact on his career record. McKay finished his NFL career, spent entirely with the Buccaneers, with a record of 42-88-1. This was fourth-worst among the 60 NFL coaches with at least five years of experience, and worst among the 34 coaches who had coached at least 100 regular-season games. He also had the fourth-longest tenure among coaches with losing records. It had long been arranged that he would move into the front office on his resignation from coaching. As team president, he expressed a desire to help the team by "finding players who can compete in the National Football League", a shot at departed personnel director Ken Herock.
McKay's last weeks with the team were marked by controversy. Some players expressed support for McKay, and a team meeting was held on the day following the announcement in which players resolved to play together as a team, and finish the season on a winning note. The immediate result was a victory that ended their four-game losing streak, but more losses followed. The team was criticized for their decision to bench Hugh Green for the remainder of the season, despite his having been given clearance to play by doctors. The decision had to do with liability and the risk of a career-ending reinjury, but was perceived by fans as a lack of commitment to putting the best possible team on the field. Green eventually rejoined the lineup after signing a waiver absolving the team of liability. Team disunity arose after a collapse against the Packers, with much media attention being given to several players' complaints that McKay did not bother to address the team before, during, or after the game. McKay returned from Ricky Bell's funeral to find a storm of controversy over the incident, which was blamed on a lack of time due to equipment problems related to the muddy Green Bay field.
, was notable for its series of onside kicks in an effort to secure the NFL record in (combined rushing and receiving) yards from scrimmage for running back James Wilder
. With 2,229 yards, Wilder was 16 short of the all-time NFL record, set by Eric Dickerson earlier during the weekend. McKay ordered an onside kick to try to get the ball back. When it was called back due to a penalty, he called another. The second attempt was also penalized, and he called a third. When the Jets recovered it, the defense (with the approval of McKay and Wayne Fontes) allowed Johnny Hector
to score, so that the Buccaneers would get the ball back. On one play, Mark Cotney could be seen grabbing his helmet with both hands after tackling Hector, as instinct had prevented him from letting Hector score. This angered the Jets, who attempted an onside kick of their own to try to prevent the Buccaneers from getting the ball back. Tampa Bay did recover the kick, but the Jets focused on Wilder and prevented him from gaining any yards. New York players heaped profanities on McKay as the teams left the field, although Mark Gastineau
apologized to Wilder for tackling him on the game's final play. Enraged Jets coach Joe Walton
said that McKay's actions "set football back 20 years". Unapologetic for his decisions, McKay instead pointed to an earlier Jets onside kick attempt, and accused them of trying to slow down the game in an effort to thwart Wilder's pursuit of the record. He dismissed the Jets' argument that their only hope of winning was to recover the onside kick, saying that they had not seemed concerned about winning when they had been calling running plays while behind by 27 points. Wilder finished the season in third place, behind Dickerson and O. J. Simpson
, in combined yardage. The NFL later fined McKay a record $10,000 for his actions.
, Chicago, Illinois
Tampa Bay put on a mistake-filled performance reminiscent of the 1983
season, with a team-record eight turnovers. Dave Logan was called offsides twice on the Bears' first possession, which ended in a punt that Theo Bell
fumbled. The team controlled the ball for less than three minutes of the first quarter. A potential touchdown pass was dropped by Jimmie Giles, and intercepted by Gary Fencik
in what McKay felt was the turning point of the game. Jack Thompson completed only 4 of 17 passes and threw two interceptions. He was replaced by Steve DeBerg in the fourth quarter, as he was beginning to show signs of nervousness due to the receivers dropping so many of his passes. DeBerg threw four more interceptions, including one on the final play of the game. Thompson did find Gerald Carter
for a 74-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter, causing McKay to comment that it was a good thing that Carter's contract had not been renegotiated, as the recently re-signed and highly-paid Giles and Kevin House
were dropping so many passes.
Original Buccaneer Mike Washington
was knocked out by Dennis McKinnon on his first play of the game, and held at a hospital for observation with what was later described as a "significant" neck injury. He was placed in a cervical collar, and went on injured reserve. Washington suffered two ruptured discs that later required career-ending surgery. The Buccaneers maintained that McKinnon's play was illegal, as film appeared to show him jumping off the ground for extra leverage while delivering a forearm strike to Washington's head.
, New Orleans, Louisiana
The New Orleans Saints
defense, ranked first in the league the previous year, sacked Jack Thompson seven times and held James Wilder to 75 yards rushing, 37 of which came on a single carry. Thompson nevertheless completed 15 of 22 passes for 175 yards, and led a 10-minute opening drive that ended in an 8-yard pass to Adger Armstrong
. He also completed four consecutive passes at the end of the fourth quarter, leading the team downfield for a comeback attempt that failed when the Saints' defense rallied. The Buccaneers led for most of the game, but the Saints came back following a 51-yard Hokie Gajan
sideline run in the final two minutes. Several Buccaneer defenders missed opportunities to tackle him, as they expected him to try to run out of bounds to stop the clock. Gajan rushed the remaining 13 yards to the goal line in the next two plays to score the go-ahead touchdown. Obed Ariri was successful on his first two NFL field goal attempts. Tampa Bay committed no turnovers, after the previous week's total of eight.
Promised lineup changes after the previous week's loss to the Saints included Steve Courson and Ron Heller moving into the starting lineup at left guard and right tackle, respectively. Steve DeBerg entered the game in the second quarter, with Jack Thompson struggling and the Buccaneers behind 14-0. DeBerg led a 67-yard scoring drive on his first series, and went on to complete 18 of 27 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns, a performance for which he was named NFC Player of the Week. He threw a 5-yard touchdown to Jimmie Giles to score the winning points with 3:11 remaining.
, East Rutherford, New Jersey
The Buccaneers failed to account for Lawrence Taylor, who got three of the Giants' four first-half sacks. Steve DeBerg completed 18 of 31 passes for 229 yards in his first Buccaneer start. The Buccaneers scored on runs by James Wilder and Adger Armstrong, while Phil Simms
threw touchdown passes to Bobby Johnson and Zeke Mowatt
for the Giants. James Owens was placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury on a kick return. Cecil Johnson suffered a back injury. Keith Browner got his first career start as Johnson's replacement the following week.
James Wilder rushed 43 times for 172 yards, tying Butch Woolfolk
's year-old NFL record for single-game carries, and breaking Wilder's own team mark of 42. He became the only running back in NFL history to have at least forty single-game carries on more than one occasion. His four receptions for 44 yards put him in first place in the league for total yards from scrimmage. The Buccaneers appeared to have the game put away until Lynn Dickey
hit James Lofton
at the Packer 16-yard line. Although Lofton was in the grasp of Jeremiah Castille
, he was able to lateral the ball to Gerry Ellis
, who scored the tying touchdown with 21 seconds left. The game was marked by big plays from the Buccaneer defense. Castille intercepted a pass that bounced off of Cecil Johnson
's helmet, one of several Buccaneer takeaways. Dave Logan broke up a fourth-quarter tie by intercepting a Lynn Dickey
pass and returning it for a touchdown. Logan later assisted Jeff Davis
on a tackle of Ray Crouse
for a loss on fourth-and-one. This in turn influenced Packers coach Forrest Gregg
's decision to punt on fourth-and-one in overtime, with Gregg admitting to feeling intimidated by the Tampa Bay defense. The decision seemed justified when Bucky Scribner
punted the ball to the Tampa Bay 2-yard line, but neither team was able to advance the ball on their ensuing possessions. The Buccaneers eventually drove to the Packer 17-yard line, where McKay elected to try to gain more yardage instead of attempting an immediate field goal. This decision almost backfired due to consecutive 10-yard penalties on Jimmie Giles and Gerald Carter, but Obed Ariri was successful on a 48-yard game-winning field goal attempt. Ariri became the first Buccaneer kicker to make three field goals of over 40 yards in a single game. As all other NFC Central teams lost that weekend, the victory moved Tampa Bay into a second-place tie with the Minnesota Vikings
. Wilder was later named NFL Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
The Buccaneers gave up record amounts of yardage to the Vikings, but stayed in the game by capitalizing on Viking turnovers. The Vikings' 543 yards and Tommy Kramer
's 386 passing yards were the most ever gained against Tampa Bay in a regulation game. Leading 21-7, Kramer gave up an interception and a fumble in quick succession, each time giving the Buccaneers the ball inside the Viking 15-yard line and allowing them to easily tie the score. The Vikings committed 13 penalties for 101 yards. A Viking penalty for having 12 men on the field during a punt attempt gave Tampa Bay fourth-and-2 at the Viking 31, which led to the Buccaneers' first touchdown. Viking guard Ron Sams
, filling in at center, was overwhelmed by Dave Logan and was called for holding five times. Logan got past him for sacks two other times. Kevin House had his ninth 100-yard game, with seven catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. Scot Brantley suffered a knee injury, while Sammy White
and Darrin Nelson
both pulled hamstrings.
, Pontiac, Michigan
Gary Danielson
, who had taken no snaps in practice during the week, came off the bench to lead the Lions to a come-from-behind victory. Danielson had been infuriated earlier in the week when coach Monte Clark
started Eric Hipple
ahead of him, saying that Danielson had a calf injury. Danielson was healthy and had one of the league's best passer ratings, but it was believed that the Lions expected the Buccaneers' banged-up linebacker corps to be vulnerable to Hipple's scrambling. When Hipple suffered a second-quarter knee injury, Danielson tied the game with an 18-yard run. He then threw a 37-yard overtime pass to Leonard Thompson
to win the game. The Lions' 1-5 record, combined with the Detroit Tigers
' pennant contention, contributed to the Silverdome attendance of 44,308 that was over 10,000 fewer than the stadium's previous record low. Steve DeBerg completed 25 of 29 passes for 272 yards, including a team-record streak of 12 consecutive completions. He threw a 25-yard first-quarter touchdown to Kevin House, and threw no interceptions. Numerous mistakes limited Tampa Bay to a single touchdown, despite their 349 yards of total offense. On one occasion, pulling guard Noah Jackson knocked the ball out of DeBerg's hand before he could hand it off to James Wilder, with the Lions recovering the fumble. The game went into overtime when Obed Ariri missed a potential game-winning 42-yard field goal on the last play of the fourth quarter. An overtime scoring opportunity ended with a Wilder fumble at the Lions 39-yard line.
A season-high crowd of 60,003 showed up to watch what turned out to be the Buccaneers' worst defeat in Tampa Stadium history. Walter Payton
was held short of his seventh consecutive 100-yard-rushing game, but scored two touchdowns. Jim McMahon
threw touchdowns to Dennis McKinnon
, Willie Gault
, and Brad Anderson
. Dennis Gentry
contributed a five-yard touchdown run, and Bob Thomas kicked a field goal. Gerald Carter had his first 100-yard receiving game for the Buccaneers, catching 10 passes for 109 yards. The Buccaneers were called for 11 penalties in the first half alone, including a pass-interference call on Jeremiah Castille that set up Payton's second touchdown. The play-calling was criticized, particularly a failed handoff to Wilder on fourth-and-1 in the first quarter, at the Buccaneer 45-yard line. The early deficit forced the Buccaneers into a passing game, which negated Wilder, their best offensive threat. Several Bears attributed Tampa Bay's penalty-prone play to overagressiveness, possibly motivated by revenge due to McKinnon's career-ending hit on Mike Washington in the season opener. They also noted that the Buccaneer defense played very differently without Hugh Green.
, Kansas City, Missouri
The Buccaneers lost a chance to pull out a last-minute win, as Steve DeBerg's last-second pass to a triple-covered Gerald Carter was tipped in the end zone. DeBerg had led the team on a 3-minute, 82-yard drive to the Chiefs' 10-yard line, only to be sacked for a 10-yard loss when he fell after an offensive lineman stepped on his foot. DeBerg completed 29 of 54 passes for 280 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. The two teams' quarterbacks combined for 100 pass attempts, the most ever in an NFL game. DeBerg also set a club record, with his sixth-straight 200-yard passing game. James Wilder finished the game just two yards shy of the club record in yards from scrimmage. McKay was critical of Red Cashion
's officiating crew after three questionable calls. On one, Stephone Paige
apparently fumbled after being hit by Cedric Brown
and Jeremiah Castille at the 2-yard line, but the play was ruled an incomplete pass by the official. On the next play, Brown suffered a season-ending knee injury while blitzing Bill Kenney
. This play resulted in a touchdown pass to Henry Marshall
.
, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Buccaneers could not defeat a struggling Vikings team, despite James Wilder's 146 rushing and 46 receiving yards, and a Steve DeBerg touchdown pass to Kevin House that tied the score with 1:03 remaining in the game. The Vikings were held to an incompletion on fourth-and-nine on their ensuing possession, but a pass-interference penalty on Chris Washington allowed the Vikings to retain possession, and set up Jan Stenerud's game-winning field goal with 2 seconds left.
The Buccaneers shocked a Giants team that had taken a share of the NFC East lead by beating the Cowboys and Redskins in the two previous weeks. Inspired by a team meeting in which the players resolved to fight to maintain their respectability as a team, the Buccaneers shut down the Giants' deep passing game and held Lawrence Taylor in check, producing a win that only appeared close because of a last-minute Giants touchdown. James Wilder's 99 yards on 34 carries gave him 1,062 for the season, making him only the second 1,000-yard rusher in Buccaneer history. Steve DeBerg threw for 238 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Kevin House. Giants players refused to admit to having suffered a letdown, instead crediting the Buccaneers with having played a better game.
The 49ers scored on runs by Roger Craig, Wendell Tyler
, and Freddie Solomon
. The Buccaneers kept pace behind Steve DeBerg's 316 yards passing. Gerald Carter caught nine of DeBerg's passes, for 166 yards. A last-minute chance to tie the score ended when San Francisco's Gary Johnson recovered a fumbled center snap. The 49ers became the first NFC playoff qualifiers with the win, while the loss eliminated Tampa Bay from playoff contention. James Wilder broke the team record for total yardage in a season.
Gary Jeter
blocked an extra-point attempt in the first quarter, which became the Rams' margin of victory when they staged a fourth-quarter rally. Eric Dickerson
was held to 67 yards rushing through the first three periods, but rushed for 124 yards in the final quarter, leading his team to a comeback from a 26-17 deficit. The game left Dickerson just 372 yards short of O. J. Simpson
's NFL single-season rushing record of 2,003 yards. The Buccaneers had to settle for a field goal on their opening drive, when officials ruled a bobbled Gerald Carter end-zone reception to be incomplete. Game films later indicated that Carter did indeed catch the pass. A last-minute Buccaneer drive ended when LeRoy Irvin
intercepted a pass intended for Theo Bell. While the Buccaneer offense produced 406 yards and a team-record 28 first downs, the defense allowed 299 rushing yards.
This was the 200th consecutive game that Rams linebacker Jack Youngblood
, an eventual inductee into the Professional Football Hall of Fame, played in. He suffered an injury to his sciatic nerve
during the second quarter that ended his season, and ultimately his career. His Rams-record consecutive-game streak of 201 games, which included two playoff games played with a broken leg (including the 1979
playoff game against Tampa Bay) ended after a brief appearance the following week, and he would never again play in an NFL game.
, Green Bay, Wisconsin
The Packers were held scoreless for the first half, but scored 27 unanswered points after a 17-yard Paul Coffman
pass reception inspired the team. It took eight Buccaneers to bring Coffman down, and the reception set up a 4-yard Eddie Lee Ivery
touchdown run. Coffman was awarded a game ball for the effort. Before that, the Packers dropped numerous passes and allowed the Buccaneers to take a 14-0 lead. The Buccaneers also missed scoring opportunities, with a fumble on the 6-yard line, and a field goal attempt in which Obed Ariri slipped twice before missing the kick. James Wilder rushed for 84 first-half yards, and threw his first career pass, a touchdown to Adger Armstrong. The Green Bay crowd spent the game taunting McKay, who during the week had expressed his distaste for the city, saying that a trip to Green Bay would be the 98th prize in a contest that had 97 prizes, and that nobody should have to go there in July, let alone December.
A small black No. 42 was worn on the Buccaneer helmets for the game in tribute to former running back Ricky Bell
, who had passed away earlier in the week.
James Wilder rushed for 125 yards and caught passes for 22 yards, in so doing becoming only the seventh player in NFL history to gain 2,000 yards in a season. His total of 2,066 yards was only 177 short of O. J. Simpson's NFL record of 2,243, with one game remaining. McKay later stated that he would incorporate new plays into the following week's game plan, in an effort to help Wilder break Simpson's record.
The Falcons used a deep zone to neutralize receivers Gerald Carter and Kevin House, allowing Theo Bell
to catch four passes for 80 yards. Three of Bell's receptions came on third downs, extending Buccaneer drives. Several other Buccaneers reached milestones: Obed Ariri set the team's season scoring record, Steve DeBerg reached 15,000 career passing yards, and Fred Acorn caught his first interception. Atlanta's Gerald Riggs
, the third-leading rusher in the NFL, was held to 53 yards on 15 carries. Mike Moroski started at quarterback for the Falcons in place of the injured Steve Bartkowski
. The Buccaneer defense played well enough to stifle any comeback attempts by the Falcons, who had not won a game since a season-ending injury to Billy "White Shoes" Johnson eight weeks earlier. The game was played in front of a record-low Tampa Stadium crowd of 33,808.
In Tampa Bay's final game with John McKay as coach, the team broke numerous team and individual offensive records en route to a victory over the New York Jets. The victory was considered tainted, due to a controversial decision to permit the Jets to score a fourth-quarter touchdown in order that the Buccaneers could get the ball back in an attempt to help James Wilder break the NFL record in yards from scrimmage. The team's 41 points were their most ever, while they broke season records for points, yards, passing yards, passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns. Kevin House became the only Buccaneer with two 1,000-yard receiving seasons, while four different receivers broke the team record of 57 receptions. Steve DeBerg set several quarterback records, and Obed Ariri set a team mark with his 19th field goal. House and Gerald Carter's combined 176 catches was the most by any NFL receiving duo, although Mark Clayton and Mark Duper
had an opportunity to pass them, with one game yet to play.
Lee Roy Selmon, Pro Bowl selection
Dave Logan, Pro Bowl first alternate
Sean Farrell, Pro Bowl second alternate
Kevin House, Pro Bowl second alternate
Hugh Green, Pro Bowl second alternate
Gerald Carter, Pro Bowl third alternate
James Wilder, team MVP
Ron Heller, UPI All-Rookie Team
Keith Browner, UPI All-Rookie Team
James Wilder, most NFL season rushing attempts (407, surpassed Eric Dickerson
's NFL-record 390 set in 1983
)
James Wilder, most NFL single-game rushing attempts (43, tied Butch Woolfolk
's NFL record set in 1983)
James Wilder, most team season rushing yards (1,544)
James Wilder, most team total yards, rushing and receiving (2,229; 1,544 rushing, 685 receiving)
James Wilder, most team season rushing touchdowns (13)
James Wilder, most team 100-yard rushing games (5, broken by Carnell Williams
in 2005
). This was a regular-season record, as it had previously been achieved by Ricky Bell in the 1979
playoffs.
Steve DeBerg, most team passes completed (308, broken by Brad Johnson
in 2001
)
Steve DeBerg, highest team season passer rating (79.3, since broken by several others)
Steve DeBerg, highest team single-game completion percentage (86.2% vs. Detroit on 10/14, broken by Vinny Testaverde
on 9/13/92)
Steve DeBerg, highest team season completion percentage (60.5%, since broken several times)
James Wilder, most team pass receptions (85, broken by Mark Carrier
in 1989
)
James Wilder, most receptions, running back (85)
James Wilder, most receiving yards, running back (685)
Team, most season points scored (335, broken in 2000
)
Team, most single-game points scored (41 vs. N. Y. Jets on 12/16, broken on 9/13/87 vs. Atlanta)
Team, most touchdowns (40, broken in 2000)
Team, most season passing touchdowns (22, broken in 1989)
Team, most total yards, offense (5,321, broken in 2003)
Team, most offensive plays (1,091)
Team, most single-game offensive plays (91 vs. Green Bay on 9/30. 79 of these were in regulation)
Team, most single-game offensive plays during regulation (87 vs. Kansas City on 10/28)
Team, most first downs (344)
Team, most season rushing first downs (114)
Team, most single-game rushing first downs (16, vs. Detroit on 9/16, since matched twice)
Team, most passing first downs (209)
Team, best third down efficiency (42.9%)
Team, most passes attempted (563, broken in 1989)
Team, best single-game passing completion percentage (86.2% at Detroit on 10/14)
Team, most net yards passing (3,545, broken in 2003)
Team, most single-game yards passing in a regulation game (374 vs. Minnesota on 10/7, broken vs. N.Y. Jets on 11/17/85)
Team, most single-game penalties (16, vs. Chicago on 10/21)
Both teams, most single-game pass attempts (100, with Kansas City on 10/28 at the time an NFL record; broken vs. Chicago on 9/21/08)
Most opponent penalties (136)
Most single-game opponent penalties (16, vs. Chicago on 10/21)
Most opponent penalty yards (1,078)
Fewest punts (68)
Best opponent passing completion percentage (82.6% by Joe Montana of San Francisco on 11/18, broken by Randall Cunningham
of Minnesota on 11/1/98)
Most opponent rushing yards (299 by L.A. Rams on 11/25, broken by Atlanta on 9/17/06)
Longest game (4:02 vs. Green Bay on 9/30)
Longest touchdown drive (19 plays in 10:26 at New Orleans on 9/9)
Steve DeBerg's 3,554 yards passing and James Wilder's 85 receptions are currently the third-highest in team history. Kevin House's 76 receptions are ninth-most in team history. Obed Ariri's 95 points and Steve DeBerg's passer rating of 79.3 rank tenth.
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
season began with the team making efforts to address the problems faced in the disastrous 1983
1983 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 1983 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with high expectations, as it was considered by some to be the Buccaneers' best squad yet. They were predicted by some to be Super Bowl contenders,, but disappointment quickly set in as personnel changes and a rash of injuries contributed to a league-worst...
season. For the first time, the team renegotiated the contracts of players in their option years, which kept discontent over salaries to a minimum. An assistant coach was added to perform the functions of an offensive coordinator. A strength coach was added, which improved the players' physical conditioning in hopes of avoiding the constant injuries that occurred in 1983. A healthy, stable offensive lineup developed the maturity to sustain long drives in pressure situations, and head coach John McKay began to move away from his long-criticized conservative play-calling and open up the offense. This was the first time that the team's offense finished the season ranked higher than their defense. Their offensive output is still the third-highest in team history (as of 2010
2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the club's 35th season as a franchise in the NFL. The Buccaneers entered the season attempting to improve on their 3–13 record and last place finish in the NFC South in 2009, a feat they accomplished after only six games...
), and was not matched by another Buccaneer team until 2003
2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to defend its Super Bowl XXXVII title of 2002. Despite high expectations, several last-minute losses led to locker room tension and front-office struggles. The Buccaneers finished 7-9, and missed the playoffs for the first time since...
.
James Wilder
James Wilder
James Curtis Wilder is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, and the Detroit Lions.-High school career:...
, who Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
called "the best running back I've ever played against in my life", set team and NFL records while serving as the focal point of the team's offense. Steve DeBerg
Steve DeBerg
Steven Leroy DeBerg had a long career as an American Football quarterback. His career spanned 21 years over 3 decades. Despite the fact that large portions of his career were spent as a backup, DeBerg ultimately accumulated some impressive NFL statistics, particularly during the early 1990s, when...
emerged as a stable, confidence-inspiring on-field leader. Kevin House
Kevin House
Kevin Nathaniel House is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 175 lbs. wide receiver from Southern Illinois University, House played in eight NFL seasons from 1980-1987 for the Buccaneers...
continued to perform as one of the league's best wide receivers, while Gerald Carter
Gerald Carter
Gerald Louis Carter , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 9th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 190-lb. wide receiver from Texas A&M, Carter played in 8 NFL seasons from 1980 to 1987...
emerged as a solid complement. Hugh Green, described by Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka
Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for three years. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head...
as "one of the best two linebackers in the game" (with Lawrence Taylor), continued to dominate until sidelined by a midseason automobile accident. Dave Logan
David Logan (American football)
David Logan was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 12th round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pittsburgh....
became the youngest of only four defensive linemen in NFL history to score four touchdowns, and began to be spoken of as a potential All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
until sore knees limited his movement later in the season. Lee Roy Selmon
Lee Roy Selmon
Lee Roy Selmon was a Hall of Fame NFL football defensive lineman.-Early life:Selmon was the youngest of nine children of Lucious and Jessie Selmon, raised on a farm near Eufaula, Oklahoma...
made the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
in what would turn out to be his final season. However, as the team's best defensive players began to fall to injuries, they became prone to late-game collapses. In addition, the mental errors that had characterized the team from the outset contributed to a number of close losses. McKay experienced health problems during the season, and found the constant losing too much to bear. On November 5, the only coach in Buccaneer history announced that he would resign at the end of the season.
Coaching Changes
When the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
' failure to make the playoffs resulted in the firing of coach Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
and his entire staff, the Buccaneers hired John Brunner, the offensive backfield coach of the Packers' NFC-leading offense. McKay had stated previously that he would never hire an offensive coordinator, so Brunner was given the title "Offensive Moderator", although his duties were those of a coordinator. Defensive coordinator Wayne Fontes
Wayne Fontes
Wayne Fontes is a former American football coach and college and professional football player who was the head coach of the NFL's Detroit Lions from 1988 to 1996. His 67 wins and 71 losses are each the most for a head coach in team history.-Background and early career:Fontes was born in the...
was promoted to assistant head coach, the first Buccaneer coach to be given such a title. This added administrative duties to his coordinator responsibilities and increased the perception that Fontes was being groomed to succeed McKay. McKay announced that all other assistants would be retained, with the exception of special teams coach Frank Emanuel
Frank Emanuel
Thomas Frank Emanuel is a former American football linebacker. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He played professionally for the American Football League's Miami Dolphins and the National Football League's New Orleans Saints...
, who had left to become defensive coordinator of the USFL Jacksonville Bulls
Jacksonville Bulls
The Jacksonville Bulls were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League during its final two seasons, 1984 and 1985...
. Emanuel's vacated position was filled by running backs coach Jim Gruden, then by former Buccaneer defensive lineman Bill Kollar
Bill Kollar
William Wallace "Bill" Kollar was a National Football League defensive lineman from 1974 through 1981. He has been an NFL assistant coach for 17 years. He has coached the Defensive Line of the Rams, Falcons and Bills...
when Gruden replaced Ken Herock
Ken Herock
Ken Herock was an American college and professional football player who played tight end. He played collegiately at West Virginia and professionally in the American Football League, where he played for the AFL Champion Oakland Raiders in the second AFL-NFL World Championship Game, held after the...
as director of player personnel. Herock, who had been involved with Buccaneer scouting since 1976
1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers played their debut season in 1976, making league history as the first team to play an entire 14-game season without winning or tying a single game. They did not score until their third game and did not score a touchdown until their fourth. They lost by a touchdown or...
and had worked with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
before that, was given much of the credit for the expansion Buccaneers' quick rise to playoff contention. Nevertheless, he was rebuffed by team owner Hugh Culverhouse
Hugh Culverhouse
Hugh Franklin Culverhouse, Sr. was the longtime owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League . He was a successful tax lawyer, and his real estate investments made him one of the nation's wealthiest men...
when he requested a pay raise, and accepted Howard Schnellenberger
Howard Schnellenberger
Howard Schnellenberger is an American football coach at both the professional and college level. He is currently in his final season as head coach of Florida Atlantic University, having announced his retirement on August 11, 2011, effective at the end of the 2011 season...
's offer to take the same position with the ill-fated USFL Washington Federals. Joe Diange was hired as a strength and conditioning coach, in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the previous season's rash of injuries.
Personnel Changes
Star Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
quarterback Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
met with the Buccaneers and was reportedly impressed with their organization, but eventually chose to sign with the Houston Oilers, where he reunited with his former Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
coach Hugh Campbell
Hugh Campbell
Hugh Campbell is a former American football and Canadian football player, coach, and executive. He served as a head coach in three different professional gridiron football leagues: the Canadian Football League, the United States Football League and the National Football League. Campbell retired...
. The team also attempted to sign Bobby Hebert
Bobby Hebert
Bobby Joseph Hebert Jr., is an American sportscaster who is best known as a retired Pro bowl American football quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. He played professionally in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1996 for the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons...
, the Michigan Panthers
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982....
quarterback who led the USFL in passing. The team was eventually able to obtain displaced Denver Broncos quarterback Steve DeBerg, who rejected a contract offer from the USFL Denver Gold
Denver Gold
The Denver Gold was a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second major professional football league in the United States, playing a springtime season, from 1983 to 1985...
. The free agent DeBerg signed with the Broncos, and was then traded to Tampa Bay for a pair of draft choices. The previous season's opening-day starting quarterback Jerry Golsteyn
Jerry Golsteyn
Jerry Mark Golsteyn was a former professional American football player. A 12th round drafted quarterback from Northern Illinois University, Golsteyn played in 8 NFL seasons from 1977-1984 for 5 different teams...
was released, then recalled and traded to the Los Angeles Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for defensive back Irvin Phillips
Irvin Phillips
Irvin Jerome Phillips is a former American football defensive back. Phillips was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the third round out of Arkansas Tech University in the 1981 NFL Draft. He played 15 games for the Chargers in 1981. In 1983, he played 5 games for the Los Angeles...
.
Veteran fullback Scott Dierking
Scott Dierking
Scott Dierking was a running back in the NFL. He played for the New York Jets from 1977-1983. Before his NFL career, he played for Purdue University....
was acquired from the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for a 1985
1985 NFL Draft
The 1985 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 30 and May 1, 1985...
fifth-round draft choice. The team refused to honor Jimmie Giles
Jimmie Giles
Jimmie Giles, Jr. ; , was a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the third round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 6'3", 238 lbs. tight end from Alcorn State University, Giles played in 13 NFL seasons from 1977-1989...
' request to be traded, although he had reportedly been offered as trade bait at one point in the DeBerg deal. Giles' disgruntlement dissipated when the team offered him a new contract, signing him through the 1986
1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on an 2-14 season. This was one of the worst seasons in franchise history. There is some sentiment that the 1986 team was even worse than the winless team of 1976. The Buccaneers selected Bo Jackson with the top pick in the...
season. Obed Ariri
Obed Ariri
Obed Chukwuma Ariri is a Nigerian former placekicker of American football in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins. He also played in the United States Football League for the Washington Federals and in the Arena Football League for the Miami Hooters...
, a former Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
soccer player who had set an NCAA record of 63 field goals at Clemson
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, was signed to compete with Bill Capece
Bill Capece
William George Capece is a former professional American football player who played placekicker for three seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
for the placekicker spot. Neal Colzie
Neal Colzie
Cornelius Connie Colzie, better known as Neal Colzie, was an American football defensive back for the Oakland Raiders , Miami Dolphins , and Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
, the 1982
1982 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 1982 Tampa Bay Buccaneers were regarded for the first time as a regular playoff contender. They were considered by some to be the best Buccaneer team yet, despite a mediocre offensive line and the lack of a feature running back. The team played only two games before the players' union called a...
team MVP, was released before the start of training camp. McKay stated that the team did not have room for two older safeties, and felt that Colzie was being outperformed by Mark Cotney
Mark Cotney
Mark Cotney , is a former professional American football player who played in 10 NFL seasons from 1975-1984 for the Houston Oilers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Selected by the Buccaneers in the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft, he was a member of the original winless 1976 team and the 1979 team that played in...
.
NFL Draft
The previous season's trade for Jack Thompson left the team without a first-round pick, in a draft1984 NFL Draft
The 1984 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 1-2, 1984. No teams elected to claim any players in the regular supplemental draft that...
which had already been stripped of talent by USFL teams. The Los Angeles Express alone had signed seven players with first-round potential. Need areas were believed to include linebacker, the secondary, running backs, and the offensive line.
| Pick | Round | Player | Position | School |
| 30 | 2 | |Keith Browner Keith Browner Keith Browner is a former American Football defensive end and outside linebacker. He is also the father of Keith Browner jr who is a standout LB for the Cal Golden Bears.-College career:... |
|Linebacker | USC |
| 57 | 3 | Fred Acorn | Defensive Back | Texas Texas Longhorns football The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National... |
| 107 | 4 (from San Diego) | Micheal Gunter | Running Back | Tulsa Tulsa Golden Hurricane football The University of Tulsa's Golden Hurricane football team represents Tulsa in Conference USA. Tulsa is currently coached by first-year head coach Bill Blankenship. The football team was coached by Todd Graham until he accepted the head coaching job at Pittsburgh.... |
| 112 | 4 (from the Raiders) | Ron Heller Ron Heller (offensive tackle) Ronald Ramon Heller is an American football coach and former offensive tackle, who played twelve seasons in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins... |
Offensive Tackle | Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions football The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the... |
| 142 | 6 | Chris Washington Chris Washington Chris Washington is a former linebacker in the NFL. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Phoenix Cardinals. He played seven seasons in the league, and has suffered from debilitating injuries brought on by his NFL career since his retirement.... |
Linebacker | Iowa State Iowa State Cyclones football The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894... |
| 169 | 7 | Jay Carroll | Tight End | Minnesota Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as... |
| 198 | 8 | Fred Robinson Fred Robinson (American football) Fred Lee Robinson is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for three seasons for the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins.... |
Defensive End | Miami (FL) Miami Hurricanes football The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships... |
| 225 | 9 | Rick Mallory | Guard | Washington Washington Huskies football College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by... |
| 254 | 10 | Jim Gallery | Kicker | Minnesota |
| 281 | 11 | Blair Kiel Blair Kiel Blair Armstrong Kiel is a former four-year starting quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, from 1980-1983. He played professionally for several teams in the National Football League, the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League, and was inducted into the... |
Quarterback | Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an... |
| 310 | 12 | Thad Jemison | Wide Receiver | Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes football The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state... |
Draft Trades
The Buccaneers' 1st-round pick had been traded to the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
in exchange for quarterback Jack Thompson. Their 4th-round pick was traded to the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
the previous year, in exchange for their 1983
1983 NFL Draft
The 1983 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983...
6th-round pick. The first of their two 4th-round picks came from the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, as part of the David Lewis
Dave Lewis (American football player)
David Rodney Lewis is a retired National Football League linebacker.-High school career:Prior to that he played at San Diego City College and Abraham Lincoln High School where Marcus Allen, Akili Smith and Terrell Davis have since played.-College career:Lewis played college football at the...
trade. The second came from the Los Angeles Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, for Charley Hannah
Charley Hannah
Charley Hannah is a former American football offensive guard and defensive end who played in the National Football League from 1977 to 1988. Charley played six years for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and six years for the Los Angeles Raiders...
. A fourth 4th-round pick, obtained from San Diego for Dewey Selmon
Dewey Selmon
Dewey Selmon is a former football linebacker. He played collegiate football at Oklahoma . He went on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League....
, was traded to the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in exchange for quarterback Steve DeBerg
Steve DeBerg
Steven Leroy DeBerg had a long career as an American Football quarterback. His career spanned 21 years over 3 decades. Despite the fact that large portions of his career were spent as a backup, DeBerg ultimately accumulated some impressive NFL statistics, particularly during the early 1990s, when...
. Their 5th-round pick was traded to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
for linebacker Danny Spradlin.
Draft Selections
The Buccaneers drafted USC linebacker Keith BrownerKeith Browner
Keith Browner is a former American Football defensive end and outside linebacker. He is also the father of Keith Browner jr who is a standout LB for the Cal Golden Bears.-College career:...
with their first pick, the second pick of the second round. Brother of NFL players Ross
Ross Browner
Ross Browner is a former American football defensive end who played ten seasons in the NFL, mainly for the Cincinnati Bengals. He is the father of current Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks, and brother of Joey Browner and Keith Browner...
and Joey Browner
Joey Browner
Joey Matthew Browner is a former American football strong safety for the Minnesota Vikings from 1983 until 1991.-Professional career:...
, Keith was considered to be a talented but underachieving college player who had been expected to be taken in the first round. Some observers questioned the selection of Browner, as Boomer Esiason
Boomer Esiason
Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason is a former American football quarterback and current network color commentator. He played for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals before working as an analyst for ABC and HBO...
, the only quarterback in the draft expected to have impact potential, was still available. With the secondary aging, the Buccaneers made Texas
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
cornerback Fred Acorn the earliest-drafted defensive back in team history. Acorn was considered a project, as he started only one season for the Longhorns, but the Buccaneers' secondary was believed to be strong enough to afford the luxury of drafting a player who would take time to develop. Acorn was drafted for his speed, with a 40-yard dash time that had been clocked as low as 4.2 seconds. Micheal Gunter, the Tulsa
Tulsa Golden Hurricane football
The University of Tulsa's Golden Hurricane football team represents Tulsa in Conference USA. Tulsa is currently coached by first-year head coach Bill Blankenship. The football team was coached by Todd Graham until he accepted the head coaching job at Pittsburgh....
all-time rushing leader, was taken in the fourth round. He was another player who had been projected to be drafted much higher, as high as fourth overall, according to one publication. He was very productive as a college player, but was unproven as a receiver, and lacked the ability to evade tacklers or to accelerate at the line of scrimmage. Jim Gallery became the first kicker ever drafted by the team. The team approached the draft with a goal of improving overall speed, and felt that they'd achieved that with their selections of Acorn and the linebackers.
Supplemental Draft
A special three-round draft1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players
The National Football League held a draft of United States Football League and Canadian Football League players on June 5, 1984. In an attempt to head off a bidding war in its own ranks for USFL and CFL players. NFL teams chose 84 players from 224 available during the three-round selection meeting...
was held on June 5, giving NFL teams an opportunity to select players who had not been in the draft due to having previously signed with USFL or CFL teams. With the first overall selection, the Buccaneers acquired the NFL rights to Los Angeles Express quarterback Steve Young. They later selected Express running back Kevin Nelson, and New Orleans Breakers cornerback Alex Clark. The pick gave the Buccaneers the rights to Young beyond the expiration of his Express contract, set to expire in November, 1987. Young expressed happiness at having been selected, but stated that he was committed to the Express and had no intention of leaving the team.
Preseason
A number of offseason personnel moves were taken as evidence that McKay was hoping to retire on a winning note, and so had lost tolerance for talented players who did not live up to their potential. He declared potential "dead on this team", and singled out Gene Branton and Ray SnellRay Snell
Ray Snell is a former guard in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, most notably, along with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tampa Bay, using their 4th ever first round draft pick, acquired Snell with the 22nd in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft...
as players who were in danger of losing their roster spots. Longtime tight end Jim Obradovich
Jim Obradovich
For the MLB player, see Jim Obradovich.----James Robert Obradovich is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
, recently-acquired cornerback Irvin Phillips, and the previous season's backup quarterback Bob Hewko were cut on the first day of training camp. One-time All-Rookie guard Snell was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
for Steve Courson
Steve Courson
Stephen Paul "Steve" Courson was an American football guard for the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers.- Early years :...
, an All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
alternate two seasons earlier. The injury-plagued Steelers had lost patience with Courson over a knee injury that had limited him to nine games the previous season. Courson passed his physical, but immediately underwent arthroscopic surgery that caused him to miss the preseason. Versatile defensive end Brison Manor
Brison Manor
Brison Manor was an American football defensive end who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the Denver Broncos, from 1977–1984, before appearing in six games with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also in 1984. He played college football at the University of Arkansas.Manor played high...
was obtained from the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to provide depth, as Booker Reese
Booker Reese
Booker Reese is a former American Football defensive end who played four seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams from 1982 to 1985 in the National Football League...
failed to develop as hoped. Johnny Ray Smith was placed on injured reserve to make room for Perry Tuttle
Perry Tuttle
Perry Tuttle is a former Clemson football standout in the early 1980s. His career continued into the National Football League and Canadian Football League...
, a former first-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The preseason was relatively free of contract disputes. David Logan was the only training camp holdout, and threatened retirement when the negotiations became difficult. Logan was also targeted (along with rookie Fred Acorn) by departed personnel director Ken Herock, by then with the Miami Federals of the USFL. A contract extension was agreed to with Hugh Green, preventing any risk of his signing with the USFL Houston Gamblers
Houston Gamblers
The Houston Gamblers were an American football team that competed in the United States Football League in 1984 and 1985. The Gamblers were coached by veteran NFL head coach Jack Pardee in both their seasons...
, who were owned by his agent Jerry Argovitz.
The Buccaneers opened the preseason with a 38-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, an AFC Championship Game
AFC Championship Game
The American Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the American...
contender of the previous season
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
, in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
The Pro Football Hall of Game is an annual National Football League exhibition game that is held the weekend of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies. The game is played at Fawcett Stadium, which is located next door to the Hall of Fame building in Canton, Ohio...
. The game was marked by miscues, and was the largest margin of defeat in the game's 22-year history. Some players later expressed hope that the team would get "tired of losing", while McKay called the team's performance "disgusting". McKay did praise the efforts of the team's rookies, particularly Keith Browner, who was thrilled to be playing purely at linebacker after having been required to play at safety part-time at USC. James Wilder suffered a thigh bruise that kept him out of action for the remainder of the preseason. The team rebounded with a 30-17 win over the Houston Oilers, in which Warren Moon made his NFL debut. The low point of the preseason was a 52-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in which McKay rested the first-team defense for the entire game. Roster decisions were complicated by a number of injuries, particularly along the offensive line, where Steve Wilson
Steve Wilson (offensive lineman)
Steve Wilson is a former American football center in the National Football League who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1976 to 1985. He was the last original Buccaneer to retire and the only original Buc player to be a starter in each of the first 10 seasons of the franchise...
and Steve Courson both missed significant time. The preseason ended with the defense playing in fine form in a 14-13 win over the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, although McKay voiced concern over the performance of the offensive line and the running backs.
The end of the Booker Reese experiment
On May 30, underachieving defensive end Booker ReeseBooker Reese
Booker Reese is a former American Football defensive end who played four seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams from 1982 to 1985 in the National Football League...
was arrested for approaching a plainclothes Tampa police officer and soliciting her for prostitution. The team refused to comment on the situation, which was another embarrassment for the staff that had made such a large gamble by trading their 1983 first-round draft pick for the rights to draft him two years earlier. His lack of progress forced the team to trade for Brison Manor in the preseason, while Reese was given a brief tryout at nose tackle. Young and naive, Reese was vulnerable to ill-intentioned hangers-on, and developed a cocaine problem which escalated as the pressure on him increased. He was tall, fast, and strong, but lacked the quickness to be able to get around NFL tackles, and had trouble absorbing the mental aspects of the game. He was unable to beat out John Cannon
John Cannon (American football)
John Cannon is a former professional American football player who attended Holmdel High School in Holmdel, New Jersey and played defensive end for nine seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers....
, selected later in the same draft. The team eventually cut their losses by trading Reese to the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
for a low-round draft pick. Reese recorded no tackles in two games with the Rams, before being sent to a rehabilitation program after failing a urine test.
Regular season
McKay continued to express confidence in the team, despite an 0-2 start that left the team 2-16 over their last 18 games. He however expressed concern over the performance of the defense, who had failed to hold a lead the previous week, and failed to tackle Saints running back Hokie Gajan several times during a 51-yard run that set up a game-winning Saints touchdown. McKay pointed out that, despite the reputation of the Tampa Bay defense, this type of letdown had been seen in the past. The team then beat division opponents in three of their next four games, leading observers to consider them as contenders for the NFC Central title. With a healthy offensive line able to maintain a stable lineup, and DeBerg becoming better-acquainted with the receivers, the offense developed confidence and the ability to sustain long drives.While the offense was able to avoid significant injuries, the defense began to lose key players from the beginning. Mike Washington, considered by McKay to be the team's best defensive back, was forced to retire after an elbow to the head by Bears receiver Dennis McKinnon in his first play of the season required him to undergo spinal surgery. This required the team to use rookie Fred Acorn as a nickel back. Hugh Green suffered a broken wrist and a broken orbital bone beneath his left eye in an October car crash. The injuries were initially expected to cause him to miss two games, but after a month, the Buccaneers decided to place him on injured reserve rather than face liability should an aggravation of the wrist injury end Green's career. Keith Browner played poorly as Green's replacement, and was promptly replaced by Chris Washington. Cecil Johnson
Cecil Johnson
Cecil Johnson is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for nine seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
suffered on and off from injuries and was eventually forced to undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery, forcing the team to start two rookies (Browner and Washington) at outside linebacker. The pair struggled, with the speedy Washington overwhelmed by opposing tight ends, and the stronger Browner having trouble lining up in the right place. The loss of Green enabled opponents to play a more diverse offense, rather than avoid run plays to the left side, where Green and Lee Roy Selmon would line up. This affected the secondary, because the loss of Green's play against the run required that the team play the slower Mark Cotney
Mark Cotney
Mark Cotney , is a former professional American football player who played in 10 NFL seasons from 1975-1984 for the Houston Oilers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Selected by the Buccaneers in the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft, he was a member of the original winless 1976 team and the 1979 team that played in...
for run support at safety. Making matters worse, Cedric Brown
Cedric Brown
Cedric Brown , is a former American professional football player who played in 9 NFL seasons from 1976-1984 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Brown was a very solid and underrated free safety for the Bucs, seldom making errors but capable of big plays also....
suffered a season-ending knee injury in week 9. McKay admitted that, with the absence of Brown, Green, Johnson, and Mike Washington, the Buccaneers were "not a very good defensive team".
Wayne Fontes' effort to create a more aggressive defense through increased reliance on man-to-man coverage and blitzes backfired, with the result that the defense became much more vulnerable to touchdown passes and long pass plays. At the same time, their interception total decreased. Cedric Brown observed that it was largely a problem of execution, as many blitzes were failing due to player errors, and that the team was making more mistakes than he had seen in any of his eight years there. The pass rush was weakened by the absence of Hugh Green, which was noticeable to opposing teams. The effectiveness of the defensive line was reduced: Booker Reese failed to develop, John Cannon
John Cannon (American football)
John Cannon is a former professional American football player who attended Holmdel High School in Holmdel, New Jersey and played defensive end for nine seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers....
regressed from his previous season's performance, and Dave Logan began to experience knee problems that sometimes required his replacement in the lineup.
The resignation of John McKay
McKay vowed during the offseason that he would retire rather than suffer another 2-14 season. During the season, he underwent surgery for cataracts that were making it difficult for him to read the game plans. He continued to express optimism over the season, even after a slow start and an embarrassing 44-9 loss to the Chicago Bears, as he felt that there was no dominant team in the division. McKay's wisecracking remark to a Kansas City Star reporter to the effect that a loss to the Chiefs would result in another Sam RutiglianoSam Rutigliano
Sam Rutigliano is a former National Football League head coach.Rutigliano, the son of Italian immigrants, played high school football at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. He played college football at Tennessee and Tulsa. He coached at the high school level in New York...
(the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
coach who had been fired the previous week) led to speculation of his imminent firing, which McKay shot down at the postgame press conference. The next week, the Buccaneers lost to the Minnesota Vikings on a last-minute field goal by Jan Stenerud
Jan Stenerud
Jan Stenerud is a former professional football player for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs , and the NFL's Chiefs , Green Bay Packers , and Minnesota Vikings .-Background:...
, a kicker who McKay had pleaded with frugal owner Hugh Culverhouse
Hugh Culverhouse
Hugh Franklin Culverhouse, Sr. was the longtime owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League . He was a successful tax lawyer, and his real estate investments made him one of the nation's wealthiest men...
to sign before the season. The loss effectively ended their chances at catching the Bears for the division lead. Frustrated over the team's record and concerned over his health, McKay held a press conference announcing his resignation effective at the end of the year. The players, who learned of the news from reporters rather than directly from McKay, were saddened by the announcement. Area fans, who had long been calling for McKay's resignation, were generally pleased by the decision. Howard Schnellenberger was the coach most popular among fans as a possible replacement, while Wayne Fontes was the popular choice among players and coaches, although Fontes was considered to be hampered by the perception that he would not be enough of a change, due to his 13 years of assistantship to McKay. Persistent rumors placed Ray Perkins as a candidate, even claiming that a press conference had been scheduled to announce the hiring, but Perkins dismissed the rumors and denied having met with Culverhouse.
The 0-26 franchise start had a dramatic impact on his career record. McKay finished his NFL career, spent entirely with the Buccaneers, with a record of 42-88-1. This was fourth-worst among the 60 NFL coaches with at least five years of experience, and worst among the 34 coaches who had coached at least 100 regular-season games. He also had the fourth-longest tenure among coaches with losing records. It had long been arranged that he would move into the front office on his resignation from coaching. As team president, he expressed a desire to help the team by "finding players who can compete in the National Football League", a shot at departed personnel director Ken Herock.
McKay's last weeks with the team were marked by controversy. Some players expressed support for McKay, and a team meeting was held on the day following the announcement in which players resolved to play together as a team, and finish the season on a winning note. The immediate result was a victory that ended their four-game losing streak, but more losses followed. The team was criticized for their decision to bench Hugh Green for the remainder of the season, despite his having been given clearance to play by doctors. The decision had to do with liability and the risk of a career-ending reinjury, but was perceived by fans as a lack of commitment to putting the best possible team on the field. Green eventually rejoined the lineup after signing a waiver absolving the team of liability. Team disunity arose after a collapse against the Packers, with much media attention being given to several players' complaints that McKay did not bother to address the team before, during, or after the game. McKay returned from Ricky Bell's funeral to find a storm of controversy over the incident, which was blamed on a lack of time due to equipment problems related to the muddy Green Bay field.
Final game 'Onside Kick' incident
The final game of the season, a 41-21 victory over the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, was notable for its series of onside kicks in an effort to secure the NFL record in (combined rushing and receiving) yards from scrimmage for running back James Wilder
James Wilder
James Curtis Wilder is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, and the Detroit Lions.-High school career:...
. With 2,229 yards, Wilder was 16 short of the all-time NFL record, set by Eric Dickerson earlier during the weekend. McKay ordered an onside kick to try to get the ball back. When it was called back due to a penalty, he called another. The second attempt was also penalized, and he called a third. When the Jets recovered it, the defense (with the approval of McKay and Wayne Fontes) allowed Johnny Hector
Johnny Hector
Johnny Lyndell Hector , was a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 200 lb. running back from Texas A&M, Hector played 10 NFL seasons for the New York Jets from 1983-1992...
to score, so that the Buccaneers would get the ball back. On one play, Mark Cotney could be seen grabbing his helmet with both hands after tackling Hector, as instinct had prevented him from letting Hector score. This angered the Jets, who attempted an onside kick of their own to try to prevent the Buccaneers from getting the ball back. Tampa Bay did recover the kick, but the Jets focused on Wilder and prevented him from gaining any yards. New York players heaped profanities on McKay as the teams left the field, although Mark Gastineau
Mark Gastineau
Marcus Dell Gastineau is a former American football player who was a leading defensive end for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. A five-time Pro Bowler, his 100½ quarterback sacks in only his first 100 starts in the NFL made him one of the quickest and most feared pass rushers of his generation...
apologized to Wilder for tackling him on the game's final play. Enraged Jets coach Joe Walton
Joe Walton
Joseph Frank Walton is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach of Robert Morris University. Walton played eight seasons in the National Football League and served as head coach of the New York Jets for seven seasons...
said that McKay's actions "set football back 20 years". Unapologetic for his decisions, McKay instead pointed to an earlier Jets onside kick attempt, and accused them of trying to slow down the game in an effort to thwart Wilder's pursuit of the record. He dismissed the Jets' argument that their only hope of winning was to recover the onside kick, saying that they had not seemed concerned about winning when they had been calling running plays while behind by 27 points. Wilder finished the season in third place, behind Dickerson and O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
, in combined yardage. The NFL later fined McKay a record $10,000 for his actions.
Schedule
| Regular season | ||||||||
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Kickoff | Game site | TV | Attendance | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 2, 1984 | at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 34-14 | 1:00 | Soldier Field Soldier Field Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears... |
CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
58,789 | 0-1 |
| 2 | September 9, 1984 | at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
L 17-13 | 1:00 | Louisiana Superdome Louisiana Superdome The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA... |
CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
54,686 | 0-2 |
| 3 | September 16, 1984 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 21-17 | 1:00 | Tampa Stadium | CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
44,560 | 1-2 |
| 4 | September 23, 1984 | at New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 17-14 | 1:00 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
72,650 | 1-3 |
| 5 | September 30, 1984 | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
W 30-27 | 4:00 | Tampa Stadium | CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
44,487 | 2-3 |
| 6 | October 7, 1984 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 35-31 | 1:00 | Tampa Stadium | CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
47,405 | 3-3 |
| 7 | October 14, 1984 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 13-7 | 1:00 | Pontiac Silverdome Pontiac Silverdome The Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C... |
CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
44,308 | 3-4 |
| 8 | October 21, 1984 | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 44-9 | 1:00 | Tampa Stadium | CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
60,003 | 3-5 |
| 9 | October 28, 1984 | at Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a... |
L 24-20 | 1:00 | Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.... |
CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
41,710 | 3-6 |
| 10 | November 4, 1984 | at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
L 27-24 | 1:00 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University... |
CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
54,949 | 3-7 |
| 11 | November 11, 1984 | New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20-17 | 4:00 | Tampa Stadium | CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
46,534 | 4-7 |
| 12 | November 18, 1984 | at San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
L 24-17 | 4:00 | Candlestick Park | CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
57,704 | 4-8 |
| 13 | November 25, 1984 | Los Angeles Rams | L 34-33 | 1:00 | Tampa Stadium | CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
42,242 | 4-9 |
| 14 | December 2, 1984 | at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
L 27-14 | 1:00 | Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field... |
CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
46,800 | 4-10 |
| 15 | December 9, 1984 | Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 23-6 | 1:00 | Tampa Stadium | CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
33,808 | 5-10 |
| 16 | December 16, 1984 | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 41-21 | 1:00 | Tampa Stadium | NBC NFL on NBC NFL on NBC is the brand given to NBC Sports coverage of National Football League games until 1998, when NBC lost the NFL American Football Conference rights to CBS... |
43,817 | 6-10 |
Roster
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1984 roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Glenn Bujnoch Glenn David Bujnoch, . is a former National Football League offensive lineman from 1976 through 1984. He played college football at Texas A&M University.... G Steve Courson Stephen Paul "Steve" Courson was an American football guard for the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers.- Early years :... LG Sean Farrell Sean Farrell is a former American Football guard who played mainly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Farrell played college football for Penn State University, where he was named to two All-American teams. Sean starred at Westhampton Beach High School both on the football and track fields.... RG Randy Grimes Randy Grimes was an American football player who played center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1983 to 1992.Randy played for Baylor University during the early 1980s and was a part of the 1980 Southwest Conference Champion Bears, which also included the likes of other NFL players Mike Singletary,... LG/C Ron Heller (offensive tackle) Ronald Ramon Heller is an American football coach and former offensive tackle, who played twelve seasons in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins... RT Noah Jackson Noah Jackson was a former American Football player who played offensive lineman for ten seasons between 1975 and 1984 for the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Previously, he played three seasons for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.... G Gene Sanders Eugene Sanders is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the eighth round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas A&M and Washington.... LT Steve Wilson (offensive lineman) Steve Wilson is a former American football center in the National Football League who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1976 to 1985. He was the last original Buccaneer to retire and the only original Buc player to be a starter in each of the first 10 seasons of the franchise... C Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Scot Brantley Scot Eugene Brantley is an American radio and television sports broadcaster and former college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for eight seasons in the 1980s... LILB Keith Browner Keith Browner is a former American Football defensive end and outside linebacker. He is also the father of Keith Browner jr who is a standout LB for the Cal Golden Bears.-College career:... LOLB Jeff Davis (American football) Jeff Davis is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.-College career:Davis... LILB Cecil Johnson Cecil Johnson is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for nine seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers... LOLB Chris Washington Chris Washington is a former linebacker in the NFL. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Phoenix Cardinals. He played seven seasons in the league, and has suffered from debilitating injuries brought on by his NFL career since his retirement.... ROLB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Reserve Lists
Practice Squad Rookies in italics Starters in boldface |
|||||
Coaching Staff
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1984 coaching staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
|
|||||
Week 1: at Chicago Bears
Sep 2, 1984 at Soldier FieldSoldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
, Chicago, Illinois
Tampa Bay put on a mistake-filled performance reminiscent of the 1983
1983 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 1983 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with high expectations, as it was considered by some to be the Buccaneers' best squad yet. They were predicted by some to be Super Bowl contenders,, but disappointment quickly set in as personnel changes and a rash of injuries contributed to a league-worst...
season, with a team-record eight turnovers. Dave Logan was called offsides twice on the Bears' first possession, which ended in a punt that Theo Bell
Theo Bell
Theopolis Bell, Jr. was an American football wide receiver who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers....
fumbled. The team controlled the ball for less than three minutes of the first quarter. A potential touchdown pass was dropped by Jimmie Giles, and intercepted by Gary Fencik
Gary Fencik
John Gary Fencik is a former professional American-football free safety and currently an executive with Adams Street Partners. Fencik played twelve seasons with the Chicago Bears and is their all-time leader in interceptions and total tackles. He was the team's defensive captain through the 1980s...
in what McKay felt was the turning point of the game. Jack Thompson completed only 4 of 17 passes and threw two interceptions. He was replaced by Steve DeBerg in the fourth quarter, as he was beginning to show signs of nervousness due to the receivers dropping so many of his passes. DeBerg threw four more interceptions, including one on the final play of the game. Thompson did find Gerald Carter
Gerald Carter
Gerald Louis Carter , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 9th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 190-lb. wide receiver from Texas A&M, Carter played in 8 NFL seasons from 1980 to 1987...
for a 74-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter, causing McKay to comment that it was a good thing that Carter's contract had not been renegotiated, as the recently re-signed and highly-paid Giles and Kevin House
Kevin House
Kevin Nathaniel House is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 175 lbs. wide receiver from Southern Illinois University, House played in eight NFL seasons from 1980-1987 for the Buccaneers...
were dropping so many passes.
Original Buccaneer Mike Washington
Mike Washington
Mike Washington , is a former American professional football player who played in 9 NFL seasons from 1976-1984 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mike was selected in the in 3rd round of 1975 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts....
was knocked out by Dennis McKinnon on his first play of the game, and held at a hospital for observation with what was later described as a "significant" neck injury. He was placed in a cervical collar, and went on injured reserve. Washington suffered two ruptured discs that later required career-ending surgery. The Buccaneers maintained that McKinnon's play was illegal, as film appeared to show him jumping off the ground for extra leverage while delivering a forearm strike to Washington's head.
Week 2: at New Orleans Saints
Sep 9, 1984 at Louisiana SuperdomeLouisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
, New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
The New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
defense, ranked first in the league the previous year, sacked Jack Thompson seven times and held James Wilder to 75 yards rushing, 37 of which came on a single carry. Thompson nevertheless completed 15 of 22 passes for 175 yards, and led a 10-minute opening drive that ended in an 8-yard pass to Adger Armstrong
Adger Armstrong
Adger Armstrong Jr. is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He was signed by the Houston Oilers as an undrafted free agent in 1980. He played college football at Texas A&M....
. He also completed four consecutive passes at the end of the fourth quarter, leading the team downfield for a comeback attempt that failed when the Saints' defense rallied. The Buccaneers led for most of the game, but the Saints came back following a 51-yard Hokie Gajan
Hokie Gajan
Howard Lee "Hokie" Gajan is a former American football running back who played five seasons in the National Football League. He was drafted out of Louisiana State University by the New Orleans Saints in the 1981 NFL Draft...
sideline run in the final two minutes. Several Buccaneer defenders missed opportunities to tackle him, as they expected him to try to run out of bounds to stop the clock. Gajan rushed the remaining 13 yards to the goal line in the next two plays to score the go-ahead touchdown. Obed Ariri was successful on his first two NFL field goal attempts. Tampa Bay committed no turnovers, after the previous week's total of eight.
Week 3: vs Detroit Lions
Sep 16, 1984 at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
Promised lineup changes after the previous week's loss to the Saints included Steve Courson and Ron Heller moving into the starting lineup at left guard and right tackle, respectively. Steve DeBerg entered the game in the second quarter, with Jack Thompson struggling and the Buccaneers behind 14-0. DeBerg led a 67-yard scoring drive on his first series, and went on to complete 18 of 27 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns, a performance for which he was named NFC Player of the Week. He threw a 5-yard touchdown to Jimmie Giles to score the winning points with 3:11 remaining.
Week 4: at New York Giants
Sep 23, 1984 at Giants StadiumGiants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
, East Rutherford, New Jersey
East Rutherford, New Jersey
East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,913. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
The Buccaneers failed to account for Lawrence Taylor, who got three of the Giants' four first-half sacks. Steve DeBerg completed 18 of 31 passes for 229 yards in his first Buccaneer start. The Buccaneers scored on runs by James Wilder and Adger Armstrong, while Phil Simms
Phil Simms
Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number...
threw touchdown passes to Bobby Johnson and Zeke Mowatt
Zeke Mowatt
Ezekiel Mowatt is a former American football tight end in the National Football League who played for the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. He played college football at Florida State University...
for the Giants. James Owens was placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury on a kick return. Cecil Johnson suffered a back injury. Keith Browner got his first career start as Johnson's replacement the following week.
Week 5: vs Green Bay Packers
Sep 30, 1984 at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
James Wilder rushed 43 times for 172 yards, tying Butch Woolfolk
Butch Woolfolk
Harold E. "Butch" Woolfolk is a former American football running back and kick returner who played in college for the University of Michigan and in the National Football League for the New York Giants , Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions . Woolfolk attended Westfield Senior High School in...
's year-old NFL record for single-game carries, and breaking Wilder's own team mark of 42. He became the only running back in NFL history to have at least forty single-game carries on more than one occasion. His four receptions for 44 yards put him in first place in the league for total yards from scrimmage. The Buccaneers appeared to have the game put away until Lynn Dickey
Lynn Dickey
Clifford Lynn Dickey is a retired National Football League quarterback, who played for the Houston Oilers and the Green Bay Packers in the 1970s and 1980s.-High school:...
hit James Lofton
James Lofton
James David Lofton is a former American football player and coach. He is a former American football coach for the San Diego Chargers but is best known for his years in the National Football League as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers , Los Angeles Raiders , the Buffalo Bills...
at the Packer 16-yard line. Although Lofton was in the grasp of Jeremiah Castille
Jeremiah Castille
Jeremiah Castille is an American professional football player. A 5'10", 175-lb. defensive back from the University of Alabama, Castille was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He played in six seasons in the NFL from 1983–1988 for the Buccaneers and...
, he was able to lateral the ball to Gerry Ellis
Gerry Ellis
Gerry Ellis is a former professional American football player who played running back for seven seasons for the Green Bay Packers....
, who scored the tying touchdown with 21 seconds left. The game was marked by big plays from the Buccaneer defense. Castille intercepted a pass that bounced off of Cecil Johnson
Cecil Johnson
Cecil Johnson is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for nine seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
's helmet, one of several Buccaneer takeaways. Dave Logan broke up a fourth-quarter tie by intercepting a Lynn Dickey
Lynn Dickey
Clifford Lynn Dickey is a retired National Football League quarterback, who played for the Houston Oilers and the Green Bay Packers in the 1970s and 1980s.-High school:...
pass and returning it for a touchdown. Logan later assisted Jeff Davis
Jeff Davis (American football)
Jeff Davis is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.-College career:Davis...
on a tackle of Ray Crouse
Ray Crouse
-Career:Crouse's first professional experience was in two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. From there he would play in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. After his time with the Packers, he returned to the CFL and played two seasons with the BC Lions.He played...
for a loss on fourth-and-one. This in turn influenced Packers coach Forrest Gregg
Forrest Gregg
Alvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
's decision to punt on fourth-and-one in overtime, with Gregg admitting to feeling intimidated by the Tampa Bay defense. The decision seemed justified when Bucky Scribner
Bucky Scribner
William Charles "Bucky" Scribner is a former professional American football Punter in the National Football League. He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks. He played five seasons for the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings .-References:...
punted the ball to the Tampa Bay 2-yard line, but neither team was able to advance the ball on their ensuing possessions. The Buccaneers eventually drove to the Packer 17-yard line, where McKay elected to try to gain more yardage instead of attempting an immediate field goal. This decision almost backfired due to consecutive 10-yard penalties on Jimmie Giles and Gerald Carter, but Obed Ariri was successful on a 48-yard game-winning field goal attempt. Ariri became the first Buccaneer kicker to make three field goals of over 40 yards in a single game. As all other NFC Central teams lost that weekend, the victory moved Tampa Bay into a second-place tie with the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. Wilder was later named NFL Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
Week 6: vs Minnesota Vikings
Oct 7, 1984 at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
The Buccaneers gave up record amounts of yardage to the Vikings, but stayed in the game by capitalizing on Viking turnovers. The Vikings' 543 yards and Tommy Kramer
Tommy Kramer
Thomas Francis Kramer is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the NFL from 1977 to 1990...
's 386 passing yards were the most ever gained against Tampa Bay in a regulation game. Leading 21-7, Kramer gave up an interception and a fumble in quick succession, each time giving the Buccaneers the ball inside the Viking 15-yard line and allowing them to easily tie the score. The Vikings committed 13 penalties for 101 yards. A Viking penalty for having 12 men on the field during a punt attempt gave Tampa Bay fourth-and-2 at the Viking 31, which led to the Buccaneers' first touchdown. Viking guard Ron Sams
Ron Sams
Ron Sams is a former center and guard in the National Football League.-Career:Sams was drafted in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and played that season with the team. The following season he would play with the Minnesota Vikings.He played at the collegiate level at...
, filling in at center, was overwhelmed by Dave Logan and was called for holding five times. Logan got past him for sacks two other times. Kevin House had his ninth 100-yard game, with seven catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. Scot Brantley suffered a knee injury, while Sammy White
Sammy White (American football)
Sammy White is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL.After attending Grambling State University, White played all ten seasons of his professional career as a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings, winning the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year and UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of...
and Darrin Nelson
Darrin Nelson
Darren Milo Nelson is a former professional American football player in the National Football League....
both pulled hamstrings.
Week 7: at Detroit Lions
Oct 14, 1984 at Pontiac SilverdomePontiac Silverdome
The Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C...
, Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
Gary Danielson
Gary Danielson
Gary Danielson is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the National Football League . He played for the Detroit Lions from 1976 to 1984 and for the Cleveland Browns in 1985, 1987, and 1988...
, who had taken no snaps in practice during the week, came off the bench to lead the Lions to a come-from-behind victory. Danielson had been infuriated earlier in the week when coach Monte Clark
Monte Clark
Monte Dale Clark was an American football player who served as head coach for two National Football League teams: the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions.-College career:...
started Eric Hipple
Eric Hipple
Eric Ellsworth Hipple is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. A 6'2", 198 lbs. quarterback from Utah State, Hipple played in 9 NFL seasons for the Lions from 1980–1986 and 1988-1989...
ahead of him, saying that Danielson had a calf injury. Danielson was healthy and had one of the league's best passer ratings, but it was believed that the Lions expected the Buccaneers' banged-up linebacker corps to be vulnerable to Hipple's scrambling. When Hipple suffered a second-quarter knee injury, Danielson tied the game with an 18-yard run. He then threw a 37-yard overtime pass to Leonard Thompson
Leonard Thompson (American football)
Leonard Irwin Thompson is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League who spent his entire NFL career with the Detroit Lions ....
to win the game. The Lions' 1-5 record, combined with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
' pennant contention, contributed to the Silverdome attendance of 44,308 that was over 10,000 fewer than the stadium's previous record low. Steve DeBerg completed 25 of 29 passes for 272 yards, including a team-record streak of 12 consecutive completions. He threw a 25-yard first-quarter touchdown to Kevin House, and threw no interceptions. Numerous mistakes limited Tampa Bay to a single touchdown, despite their 349 yards of total offense. On one occasion, pulling guard Noah Jackson knocked the ball out of DeBerg's hand before he could hand it off to James Wilder, with the Lions recovering the fumble. The game went into overtime when Obed Ariri missed a potential game-winning 42-yard field goal on the last play of the fourth quarter. An overtime scoring opportunity ended with a Wilder fumble at the Lions 39-yard line.
Week 8: vs Chicago Bears
Oct 21, 1984 at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
A season-high crowd of 60,003 showed up to watch what turned out to be the Buccaneers' worst defeat in Tampa Stadium history. Walter Payton
Walter Payton
Walter Jerry Payton was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League for thirteen seasons. Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". He is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of American football...
was held short of his seventh consecutive 100-yard-rushing game, but scored two touchdowns. Jim McMahon
Jim McMahon
James Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
threw touchdowns to Dennis McKinnon
Dennis McKinnon
Dennis Lewis McKinnon is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys....
, Willie Gault
Willie Gault
Willie James Gault is a former American football wide receiver and Olympic athlete. Gault played in the National Football League for 11 seasons for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Raiders. He was a member of the Bears team that won Super Bowl XX, and was also a member of the U.S. Olympic team...
, and Brad Anderson
Brad Anderson (American football)
Bradley Stewart Anderson is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. Anderson was an 8th round selection in the 1984 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears....
. Dennis Gentry
Dennis Gentry
Dennis Louis Gentry is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 4th round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Bears from 1982 to 1992, and was a part of the Bears team that was victorious in Super Bowl XX versus...
contributed a five-yard touchdown run, and Bob Thomas kicked a field goal. Gerald Carter had his first 100-yard receiving game for the Buccaneers, catching 10 passes for 109 yards. The Buccaneers were called for 11 penalties in the first half alone, including a pass-interference call on Jeremiah Castille that set up Payton's second touchdown. The play-calling was criticized, particularly a failed handoff to Wilder on fourth-and-1 in the first quarter, at the Buccaneer 45-yard line. The early deficit forced the Buccaneers into a passing game, which negated Wilder, their best offensive threat. Several Bears attributed Tampa Bay's penalty-prone play to overagressiveness, possibly motivated by revenge due to McKinnon's career-ending hit on Mike Washington in the season opener. They also noted that the Buccaneer defense played very differently without Hugh Green.
Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs
Oct 28, 1984 at Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
The Buccaneers lost a chance to pull out a last-minute win, as Steve DeBerg's last-second pass to a triple-covered Gerald Carter was tipped in the end zone. DeBerg had led the team on a 3-minute, 82-yard drive to the Chiefs' 10-yard line, only to be sacked for a 10-yard loss when he fell after an offensive lineman stepped on his foot. DeBerg completed 29 of 54 passes for 280 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. The two teams' quarterbacks combined for 100 pass attempts, the most ever in an NFL game. DeBerg also set a club record, with his sixth-straight 200-yard passing game. James Wilder finished the game just two yards shy of the club record in yards from scrimmage. McKay was critical of Red Cashion
Red Cashion
Mason L. "Red" Cashion is a former American football official. He started officiating in 1952 while attending Texas A&M University, and then worked for various high school and college football conferences, most notably the Southwest Conference. From 1972 to 1997, he officiated in the National...
's officiating crew after three questionable calls. On one, Stephone Paige
Stephone Paige
Stephone Paige , is a former professional American football player who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1983 to 1992 and the Minnesota Vikings in 1993. A 6'2" 185 lb. wide receiver undrafted free agent from Fresno State University, Paige played 9 years for the Chiefs and his final year...
apparently fumbled after being hit by Cedric Brown
Cedric Brown
Cedric Brown , is a former American professional football player who played in 9 NFL seasons from 1976-1984 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Brown was a very solid and underrated free safety for the Bucs, seldom making errors but capable of big plays also....
and Jeremiah Castille at the 2-yard line, but the play was ruled an incomplete pass by the official. On the next play, Brown suffered a season-ending knee injury while blitzing Bill Kenney
Bill Kenney
William Patrick Kenney is a retired quarterback who spent 9 years in the National Football League with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1980 to 1988 and a former politician who spent 8 years as a Missouri State Senator...
. This play resulted in a touchdown pass to Henry Marshall
Henry Marshall
Henry H. Marshall , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 3rd round of the 1976 NFL Draft. A 6'2", 212-lb...
.
Week 10: at Minnesota Vikings
Nov 4, 1984 at Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...
, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
The Buccaneers could not defeat a struggling Vikings team, despite James Wilder's 146 rushing and 46 receiving yards, and a Steve DeBerg touchdown pass to Kevin House that tied the score with 1:03 remaining in the game. The Vikings were held to an incompletion on fourth-and-nine on their ensuing possession, but a pass-interference penalty on Chris Washington allowed the Vikings to retain possession, and set up Jan Stenerud's game-winning field goal with 2 seconds left.
Week 11: vs New York Giants
Nov 11, 1984 at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
The Buccaneers shocked a Giants team that had taken a share of the NFC East lead by beating the Cowboys and Redskins in the two previous weeks. Inspired by a team meeting in which the players resolved to fight to maintain their respectability as a team, the Buccaneers shut down the Giants' deep passing game and held Lawrence Taylor in check, producing a win that only appeared close because of a last-minute Giants touchdown. James Wilder's 99 yards on 34 carries gave him 1,062 for the season, making him only the second 1,000-yard rusher in Buccaneer history. Steve DeBerg threw for 238 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Kevin House. Giants players refused to admit to having suffered a letdown, instead crediting the Buccaneers with having played a better game.
Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers
Nov 18, 1984 at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
The 49ers scored on runs by Roger Craig, Wendell Tyler
Wendell Tyler
Wendell Avery Tyler , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs...
, and Freddie Solomon
Freddie Solomon
.Freddie Solomon , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2nd round of the 1975 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 184-lb. wide receiver from the University of Tampa, Solomon played in 11 NFL seasons for the Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers from 1975 to 1985...
. The Buccaneers kept pace behind Steve DeBerg's 316 yards passing. Gerald Carter caught nine of DeBerg's passes, for 166 yards. A last-minute chance to tie the score ended when San Francisco's Gary Johnson recovered a fumbled center snap. The 49ers became the first NFC playoff qualifiers with the win, while the loss eliminated Tampa Bay from playoff contention. James Wilder broke the team record for total yardage in a season.
Week 13: vs Los Angeles Rams
Nov 25, 1984 at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
Gary Jeter
Gary Jeter
Gary Michael Jeter is a former professional American football defensive end in the National Football League...
blocked an extra-point attempt in the first quarter, which became the Rams' margin of victory when they staged a fourth-quarter rally. Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...
was held to 67 yards rushing through the first three periods, but rushed for 124 yards in the final quarter, leading his team to a comeback from a 26-17 deficit. The game left Dickerson just 372 yards short of O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
's NFL single-season rushing record of 2,003 yards. The Buccaneers had to settle for a field goal on their opening drive, when officials ruled a bobbled Gerald Carter end-zone reception to be incomplete. Game films later indicated that Carter did indeed catch the pass. A last-minute Buccaneer drive ended when LeRoy Irvin
Leroy Irvin
Leroy Irvin was a member of the Los Angeles Rams from 1980 to 1989. He played cornerback. He played in the Pro Bowl in 1985 and 1986. He currently holds the record for most punt return yards in a single game against the Atlanta Falcons in 1981. Irvin is one of only a few players in NFL history...
intercepted a pass intended for Theo Bell. While the Buccaneer offense produced 406 yards and a team-record 28 first downs, the defense allowed 299 rushing yards.
This was the 200th consecutive game that Rams linebacker Jack Youngblood
Jack Youngblood
Herbert Jackson "Jack" Youngblood, III is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League for fourteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He was a five-time consensus All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl...
, an eventual inductee into the Professional Football Hall of Fame, played in. He suffered an injury to his sciatic nerve
Sciatic nerve
The sciatic nerve is a large nerve fiber in humans and other animals. It begins in the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the lower limb...
during the second quarter that ended his season, and ultimately his career. His Rams-record consecutive-game streak of 201 games, which included two playoff games played with a broken leg (including the 1979
1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season saw the team make a dramatic leap from being a winless expansion franchise, perceived as mistake-prone and ridiculed by the rest of the league, to becoming a serious contender for the National Football League championship...
playoff game against Tampa Bay) ended after a brief appearance the following week, and he would never again play in an NFL game.
Week 14: at Green Bay Packers
Dec 2, 1984 at Lambeau FieldLambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
The Packers were held scoreless for the first half, but scored 27 unanswered points after a 17-yard Paul Coffman
Paul Coffman
Paul Randolph Coffman is a former professional American football player who played tight end for ten seasons for the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League.-Personal:...
pass reception inspired the team. It took eight Buccaneers to bring Coffman down, and the reception set up a 4-yard Eddie Lee Ivery
Eddie Lee Ivery
Eddie Lee Ivery is a former professional American football player.-Early years through college:Ivery was born in McDuffie County, Georgia. He played high school football at Thomson High School in Thomson, Georgia...
touchdown run. Coffman was awarded a game ball for the effort. Before that, the Packers dropped numerous passes and allowed the Buccaneers to take a 14-0 lead. The Buccaneers also missed scoring opportunities, with a fumble on the 6-yard line, and a field goal attempt in which Obed Ariri slipped twice before missing the kick. James Wilder rushed for 84 first-half yards, and threw his first career pass, a touchdown to Adger Armstrong. The Green Bay crowd spent the game taunting McKay, who during the week had expressed his distaste for the city, saying that a trip to Green Bay would be the 98th prize in a contest that had 97 prizes, and that nobody should have to go there in July, let alone December.
A small black No. 42 was worn on the Buccaneer helmets for the game in tribute to former running back Ricky Bell
Ricky Bell (running back)
Ricky Lynn Bell younger brother of recording artist Archie Bell, was an American professional football player who played running back in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers from 1977 to 1982...
, who had passed away earlier in the week.
Week 15: vs Atlanta Falcons
Dec 9, 1984 at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
James Wilder rushed for 125 yards and caught passes for 22 yards, in so doing becoming only the seventh player in NFL history to gain 2,000 yards in a season. His total of 2,066 yards was only 177 short of O. J. Simpson's NFL record of 2,243, with one game remaining. McKay later stated that he would incorporate new plays into the following week's game plan, in an effort to help Wilder break Simpson's record.
The Falcons used a deep zone to neutralize receivers Gerald Carter and Kevin House, allowing Theo Bell
Theo Bell
Theopolis Bell, Jr. was an American football wide receiver who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers....
to catch four passes for 80 yards. Three of Bell's receptions came on third downs, extending Buccaneer drives. Several other Buccaneers reached milestones: Obed Ariri set the team's season scoring record, Steve DeBerg reached 15,000 career passing yards, and Fred Acorn caught his first interception. Atlanta's Gerald Riggs
Gerald Riggs
Gerald Antonio Riggs is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons from 1982-1988 and the Washington Redskins from 1989-1991....
, the third-leading rusher in the NFL, was held to 53 yards on 15 carries. Mike Moroski started at quarterback for the Falcons in place of the injured Steve Bartkowski
Steve Bartkowski
Steven Joseph "Steve" Bartkowski is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Rams...
. The Buccaneer defense played well enough to stifle any comeback attempts by the Falcons, who had not won a game since a season-ending injury to Billy "White Shoes" Johnson eight weeks earlier. The game was played in front of a record-low Tampa Stadium crowd of 33,808.
Week 16: vs New York Jets
Dec 16, 1984 at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
In Tampa Bay's final game with John McKay as coach, the team broke numerous team and individual offensive records en route to a victory over the New York Jets. The victory was considered tainted, due to a controversial decision to permit the Jets to score a fourth-quarter touchdown in order that the Buccaneers could get the ball back in an attempt to help James Wilder break the NFL record in yards from scrimmage. The team's 41 points were their most ever, while they broke season records for points, yards, passing yards, passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns. Kevin House became the only Buccaneer with two 1,000-yard receiving seasons, while four different receivers broke the team record of 57 receptions. Steve DeBerg set several quarterback records, and Obed Ariri set a team mark with his 19th field goal. House and Gerald Carter's combined 176 catches was the most by any NFL receiving duo, although Mark Clayton and Mark Duper
Mark Duper
Mark Super Duper is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League from 1982 to 1992. He played collegiately at Northwestern State University and was selected by the Dolphins in the 2nd round of the 1982 NFL Draft...
had an opportunity to pass them, with one game yet to play.
Postseason Honors
James Wilder, Pro Bowl selectionLee Roy Selmon, Pro Bowl selection
Dave Logan, Pro Bowl first alternate
Sean Farrell, Pro Bowl second alternate
Kevin House, Pro Bowl second alternate
Hugh Green, Pro Bowl second alternate
Gerald Carter, Pro Bowl third alternate
James Wilder, team MVP
Ron Heller, UPI All-Rookie Team
Keith Browner, UPI All-Rookie Team
Team and Individual Records
The 1984 offense was one of the highest-performing in franchise history, and set numerous team records, many of which still (as of 2010) stand:James Wilder, most NFL season rushing attempts (407, surpassed Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...
's NFL-record 390 set in 1983
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
)
James Wilder, most NFL single-game rushing attempts (43, tied Butch Woolfolk
Butch Woolfolk
Harold E. "Butch" Woolfolk is a former American football running back and kick returner who played in college for the University of Michigan and in the National Football League for the New York Giants , Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions . Woolfolk attended Westfield Senior High School in...
's NFL record set in 1983)
James Wilder, most team season rushing yards (1,544)
James Wilder, most team total yards, rushing and receiving (2,229; 1,544 rushing, 685 receiving)
James Wilder, most team season rushing touchdowns (13)
James Wilder, most team 100-yard rushing games (5, broken by Carnell Williams
Carnell Williams
Carnell Lamar "Cadillac" Williams is an American football running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
in 2005
2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on their 5-11 record in 2004. Carnell Williams won rookie of the year....
). This was a regular-season record, as it had previously been achieved by Ricky Bell in the 1979
1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season saw the team make a dramatic leap from being a winless expansion franchise, perceived as mistake-prone and ridiculed by the rest of the league, to becoming a serious contender for the National Football League championship...
playoffs.
Steve DeBerg, most team passes completed (308, broken by Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson (American football)
James Bradley Johnson is a former National Football League Super Bowl-winning quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Brad went to Charles D...
in 2001
2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 10-6 season. It was Tony Dungy's final season as the Buccaneers head coach. He was fired after losing in the playoffs to Philadelphia for the second straight season.-Staff:...
)
Steve DeBerg, highest team season passer rating (79.3, since broken by several others)
Steve DeBerg, highest team single-game completion percentage (86.2% vs. Detroit on 10/14, broken by Vinny Testaverde
Vinny Testaverde
Vincent Frank Testaverde is a former NFL quarterback. Testaverde last played for the Carolina Panthers and had previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Testaverde holds the NFL record for having...
on 9/13/92)
Steve DeBerg, highest team season completion percentage (60.5%, since broken several times)
James Wilder, most team pass receptions (85, broken by Mark Carrier
Mark Carrier (wide receiver)
John Mark Carrier is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1987 NFL Draft 57th overall. A 6'0", 198-lb. wide receiver from Nicholls State University, Carrier played in 12 National Football League seasons from 1987 to...
in 1989
1989 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 1989 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on an 5-11 season which finished winning 2 of the last 3 games including an upset of AFC East Champions....
)
James Wilder, most receptions, running back (85)
James Wilder, most receiving yards, running back (685)
Team, most season points scored (335, broken in 2000
2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 11-5 season. In week 15 they won one of the greatest games in the history of Monday Night Football against the St. Louis Rams...
)
Team, most single-game points scored (41 vs. N. Y. Jets on 12/16, broken on 9/13/87 vs. Atlanta)
Team, most touchdowns (40, broken in 2000)
Team, most season passing touchdowns (22, broken in 1989)
Team, most total yards, offense (5,321, broken in 2003)
Team, most offensive plays (1,091)
Team, most single-game offensive plays (91 vs. Green Bay on 9/30. 79 of these were in regulation)
Team, most single-game offensive plays during regulation (87 vs. Kansas City on 10/28)
Team, most first downs (344)
Team, most season rushing first downs (114)
Team, most single-game rushing first downs (16, vs. Detroit on 9/16, since matched twice)
Team, most passing first downs (209)
Team, best third down efficiency (42.9%)
Team, most passes attempted (563, broken in 1989)
Team, best single-game passing completion percentage (86.2% at Detroit on 10/14)
Team, most net yards passing (3,545, broken in 2003)
Team, most single-game yards passing in a regulation game (374 vs. Minnesota on 10/7, broken vs. N.Y. Jets on 11/17/85)
Team, most single-game penalties (16, vs. Chicago on 10/21)
Both teams, most single-game pass attempts (100, with Kansas City on 10/28 at the time an NFL record; broken vs. Chicago on 9/21/08)
Most opponent penalties (136)
Most single-game opponent penalties (16, vs. Chicago on 10/21)
Most opponent penalty yards (1,078)
Fewest punts (68)
Best opponent passing completion percentage (82.6% by Joe Montana of San Francisco on 11/18, broken by Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
of Minnesota on 11/1/98)
Most opponent rushing yards (299 by L.A. Rams on 11/25, broken by Atlanta on 9/17/06)
Longest game (4:02 vs. Green Bay on 9/30)
Longest touchdown drive (19 plays in 10:26 at New Orleans on 9/9)
Steve DeBerg's 3,554 yards passing and James Wilder's 85 receptions are currently the third-highest in team history. Kevin House's 76 receptions are ninth-most in team history. Obed Ariri's 95 points and Steve DeBerg's passer rating of 79.3 rank tenth.