Awful Losses
February 4th, 2015
One of the worst losses in Bucs history led to this glorious moment.
Joe can almost sympathize with Seahawks fans. It’s easy to respect the hell out of Bill Belicheat and Tom Brady, but if that team lost every game for the next decade, Joe would offer a toast.
As sunken of a feeling Joe had watching the Patriots win, folks must be downright suicidal in Seattle.
Joe all too well remembers Don Denkinger. Nearly 30 years later, he still haunts Joe.
To that end, numbers cruncher Thomas Bassinger of the Tampa Bay Times looked at five Bucs plays that could have turned last season. Joe can’t even go there. The season is over. The Bucs won the Chase for Jameis. One pull of the correct lever the night of April 30 will render 2014 a success.
But Bassinger’s story did bring to mind what possibly was the worst Bucs loss since the 1979 NFC title game — the 1999 NFC title game.
The Bucs faced arguably the greatest offense in NFL history, the Greatest Show on Turf, the St. Louis Rams. Tampa Bay’s defense, already stout and strong, played out of its mind. To date, it was the greatest performance by a defense Joe has ever seen. It was a masterpiece.
But what doomed the Bucs was the offensive non-offense philosophy of Father Dungy. It caught up to them. It was a crying shame, but it worked out in the long run. Team Glazer got tired of playing one-way football and jettisoned Father Dungy.
The result? Chucky comes in, builds an offense and a Super Bowl champion. Joe will forever be grateful to Chucky.
But just cannot fathom a worse loss for Bucs fans than in ’99. Still, things worked out, partially because of that loss.
February 4th, 2015 at 5:11 pm
Gruden won the Superbowl with Dungy’s defense, but with his own offense
February 4th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
I have no sympathy for Seahwak fan since the team is composed of a lot of classless wannabe thugs.
From the crotch grabbing Marshawn Lynch to the defecating WR to the big mouth Richard “It’s all about me” Richard Sherman, I was glad to see these classless jerks lose.
They couldn’t even lose with class or dignity like a true champion choosing to instead start a fight at the end of the game.
I mean what are these idiots thinking of. If it wasn’t for the NFL most of these guys don’t have enough viable job skills to be a movie theater .usher.
February 4th, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Tom Shady
February 4th, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Losing to the Raiders to complete the 4 game collapse from 9-3 to 9-7 (and getting Gruden fired) in 08 was pretty brutal too. That loss didn’t work out, it set off the chain of events leading to the current disastrous situation. Not quite the effect as the NFCC, but still really brutal.
February 4th, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Joe:
Hindsight, but I think if Trent Dilfer, Paul Gruber were playing in that game we would have won. The Rams beat us with the best throw and catch I’ve seen…the coverage by Brian kelly was near perfect, and we just missed on the blitz (to knock them out of fg range). I still don’t know if Prohel caught that pass by today’s standards…did he control it all the way to the ground? Who knows, replay wasn’t available back then, but regardless it was the perfect throw. One of the greatest NFL playoff games of all time….we probably beat Tennesee as well, but who knows….and if we do, I wonder how long Dungy would have stayed and if we would of won more, but fate intervened.
February 4th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
It could be argued that Gruden won with Kiffins’ defense. Gruden was smart enough to let Kiffin ‘do his own thing’. DCs who become HCs should hire a good OC and walk away. Likewise for OCs who become HCs.
@ ddneast
Could not agree more. I would be willing to bet that well more than 50% of NFL players never finished their degree. I guess they are all hoping to either become ‘rich and famous’ as a player, or have a never ending gig on ESPN (or such).
February 4th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
It’s funny how things turn around. If the Bucs would have won even one of those close games this year, they would be picking 3rd or 4th and the Winston groupies would be thrilled as it looks like he may fall or drop a little in the draft, lol
February 4th, 2015 at 5:24 pm
maybe joebucsfan.com doesn’t happen if we don’t lose the ’99 NFCC game LOL
February 4th, 2015 at 5:25 pm
The Monday night football loss to the Colts was a pretty bad loss too considering it took a monumental collapse to give up that big of a lead so late in the game. Things began to go down hill after that loss.
February 4th, 2015 at 5:27 pm
Yup, that was the greatest bucs D ever.
Freaking Ricky Proehl. That damn play was all they had. Still haunts me.
February 4th, 2015 at 5:31 pm
This is of course TampBayBucFan’s favorite game…
The Shaun King game…
February 4th, 2015 at 5:32 pm
@ bucrightoff
Yep, the standards in Tampa were much higher then. 9-7 and a loss in a playoff game would get a coach fired. 9-7 looks very far away right now
February 4th, 2015 at 5:33 pm
The Colts game prove that the Bucs were indeed getting old and the window was indeed closing. That and what a big waste it was to spend two draft picks on another losing Idiotic Gator in Kenyatta Walker. Thanks Tony and McKay. What a waste.
February 4th, 2015 at 5:35 pm
Hey I was happy with Schiano’s 7-9 in his first season.
But NOOOOO Fire Schiano billboards go up in what was it the 4th week in his 2nd season?
February 4th, 2015 at 5:39 pm
ddneast: thanks for not mincing words.
February 4th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
I will never forget that loss to the Colts on Monday night over a decade ago. I was working in NYC and the only time I was able to see a Bucs game was if it was nationally televized. Since I had to get up early Tuesday morning for work I went to bed with about 7 minutes left in the 4th quarter. The next morning when I saw the final score, I thought it was a misprint. I was in shock in a bad way.
February 4th, 2015 at 5:54 pm
Bucsnation has a cool write on how we lost all our games in 2014. Not once did they conclude that it was Glennons fault. Just saying.
February 4th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
I was at that Colts game and it was horrible. Amazing how quiet everybody was leaving the stadium as everybody was in total shock
February 4th, 2015 at 6:08 pm
WS99
Imagine that……
February 4th, 2015 at 6:09 pm
But Joe…..Lovie is still here.
February 4th, 2015 at 6:15 pm
The Colts loss was bad but it really gets worse for that stupid ass leaping penalty that gave them another kick in OT (that the idiot liquored up kicker still almost missed). That’s still maybe the worst penalty call ever against the Bucs.
February 4th, 2015 at 6:18 pm
“Shaun King, one of two Buc Quarterbacks that lost a NFC Championship Game when his defense gave up 11 or fewer points.”
Need I say more?
February 4th, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Hey I was happy with Schiano’s 7-9 in his first season.
But NOOOOO Fire Schiano billboards go up in what was it the 4th week in his 2nd season?
————————————————–
Because he decided to bench his starting QB in favor of Mike Glennon in just the fourth week. lol Not many players enjoyed his micromanaging, and the team essentially quit on him.
February 4th, 2015 at 6:56 pm
Like most I did not understand the Seahawks call.
I thought the idea of passing the ball was excellent…with the RIGHT pass.
EVERYBODY in the stadium including the NE defense was looking for Lynch.
Why not make a really convincing fake and go to a play action pass with the most mobile, elusive QB rolling to the edge. A receiver waiting for a pass in the back of the end zone. Wilson either jogs into the end zone, hits the open receiver in the back of the end zone or THROWS THE BALL AWAY.
That was a brain dead route right into the teeth of the Pats defense with little play action to freeze them,
IF Wilson didn’t score they still stop the clock and have a timeout to try beast mode twice in a row, 2nd down was the ONLY down they had a chance for deception. Just a horrible route to try and hit.
February 4th, 2015 at 6:57 pm
@FTP
I remember right after Schiano benched Freeman for Glennon hearing an interview with Vincent Jackson and he was saying how all of the recievers were really enjoying now being hit with the ball in stride for a change
February 4th, 2015 at 6:58 pm
@FTP
I remember right after Schiano benched Freeman for Glennon hearing an interview with Vincent Jackson and he was saying how all of the recievers were really enjoying now being hit with the ball in stride for a change
————————
Hit in stride..you’re talking about Glennon getting sack, right? lol
February 4th, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Mr. Patrick… Correction – Chucky won that Super Bowl with Monte Kiffins Defense.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
I think it’s sad that Patriots probably don’t make it to Super Bowl if they don’t have Darrelle Revis. They only got Revis because he fell right into their lap.
They didnt have to give up anything because of Bucs organization incompetence.
Still cannot believe the Bucs would trade a first round pick for someone they cut after one year — even though he’s still in his prime.
At least get something back for him.
Almost as bad as the Keyshawn and Gruden trades.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:37 pm
I think it’s sad that Patriots probably don’t make it to Super Bowl if they don’t have Darrelle Revis. They only got Revis because he fell right into their lap.
They didnt have to give up anything because of Bucs organization incompetence.
————————————————————–
Apparently the Buccs have a couple trade offers on the tables….but Revis agent said they weren’t going to be traded and had the leverage. I believe Joe did an article on it a while back.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:37 pm
BucFan1987,
I agree, Schiano was screwed out of a third year. It’s a shame he paid the price for Freeman/Dominick.
The question is, will Lovie get billboards the same way o’l Greg did? I think not, and I hope we don’t have to find out (after another 0-4 start).
Playoffs are light years away. I’d be happy for a season WITHOUT a 5 game losing streak in it. Ha, it’s a Sucs life.
We need to extend Lavonte David ASAP. Failure to lock him would be exponentially worse than letting Michael Bennett walk.
Lovie needs to own the 2-14 team, and make adjustments.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:40 pm
feelthepewterpower Says:
February 4th, 2015 at 7:37 pm
I think it’s sad that Patriots probably don’t make it to Super Bowl if they don’t have Darrelle Revis. They only got Revis because he fell right into their lap.
They didnt have to give up anything because of Bucs organization incompetence.
————————————————————–
Apparently the Buccs have a couple trade offers on the tables….but Revis agent said they weren’t going to be traded and had the leverage. I believe Joe did an article on it a while back.
————————-
If you can’t trade Revis, then you keep him. We GIVE away talent, those our level of suckage.
February 4th, 2015 at 7:53 pm
That loss to the Rams in the NFC title game still burns me up. That’s similar to Pittsburgh’s 11 point lead and 1st and goal on Denver’s 1 yard line in a past AFC title game. Kordell Stewart threw a pick and the Steelers ended up losing. Not a fan of Dungy or Cowher.
February 4th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
If you can’t trade Revis, then you keep him. We GIVE away talent, those our level of suckage.
————————————————-
It was the right move at the time. He was eating up a ton of cap space, and realistically, we weren’t a super bowl contender and needed to improve for the long-term. unfortunately a lot of our free agents didnt pan out, but I think it’s the move most Buccs fans agreed upon.
February 4th, 2015 at 8:36 pm
That 1999 Bucs Defense was really something. One of the greatest defenses of all time without the recognition because they couldn’t quite get over the hump and win a SB. The ’99 Bucs defense may well have been better than the 2002 Defense that won the SB.
When your starting back 7 includes Brooks, Nickerson and Quarles at LB – Lynch and Dexter Jackson at safety and Donnie Abraham, Brian Kelly and Ronde Barber as your corners – how much more talent at those positions taken as a whole could you even dream for?
The loss of Nickerson after that year was substantial – but the later gain of Simeon Rice was equally substantial. To lose that NFC championship game like we did was truly heartbreaking. That ’99 Rams Offense was one of the best ever as well and we completely shut them down until that perfect pass at the end did us in.
Actually it was a complete lack of talent at QB and WR on Offense that did us in…
February 4th, 2015 at 8:50 pm
Yeah Joe, that ’99 Championship game hurt; it hurt bad for us Buc fans…. The big reason was simply because the Bucs D was so darn good, probably better than the 2002 Bucs or the 2000 Ravens. With the exception of that Ricky Proell (one of those guys like the ATL’s harry Douglas; never does anything except the Bucs) catch against Brian Kelly; the Bucs were virtually shutting down the Greatest Show on Turf. Buc hater Joe ATheismann predicted a huge blowout; I sincerely hope the blowhard lost huge coin betting on the Lambs; he must’ve still been bitter over the Bucs defeating his Skins the week before; a great game which I attended and was only decided after the Skins botched a late 51 yard FG attempt. That ****ing overturn by the refs on the Emmanuel catch ranks right up there with the refs burning the Lions in the Cowboy game; just a utter BS call that smacked of refs taking the game into their own hand; perhaps a Vegas Inquiry should have been done in ’99 with that ref’s family to see if some serious coin was placed on the Rams via the money line as the Bucs did handily cover the spread…. But what was forgotten in the ’99 game because of the Emmanuel NON catch and Brian Kelly getting burned by Proell is the simple fact that Shaun King could not play any worse; dude had a fumble in the rewd zone, threw a pick before halftime in the red zone, and threw the pick in the 4th at midfield that set up the Proell TD burn over Kelly…. feelthepewterpower is right in that even Trent Dilfer could have won that game…. Man thanks for reminding me about that game Joe, I can still recall that empty kicked in the gut and package feeling I had after that loss; that was the worst one in Buc history; even worse than the 9-0 loss in ’79 to the Rams or the OT loss to Dungy and Indy on MNF where big mouth Sapp and the boys simply could not finish the deal…..
February 4th, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Simeon Rice was the difference maker that got the D over the hump imo.
Yes I too believe that 99 defense was the best D the Bucs ever played…and then I think about Simeon.
February 4th, 2015 at 10:30 pm
I’d have to agree with Joe. That loss was the most painful loss I have ever endured. I was so pissed and such a raving lunatic during that game that I almost lost friends from my behavior during the end of that one. Ricky Effing Proehl. I’ll never forget Kurt’s prayer that somehow landed in his arms. The biggest B.S. TD ever.
February 4th, 2015 at 11:07 pm
The 99 NFC Champ game was the loss that hurt the most. the game ws a nail biter the whole way. Then you lose the way we did, they changed the rule after that play, it just hurt knowing how good that D was and they could not go to the Superbowl. The Indy loss was the begining of the end of the run. I remember how gassed Sapp and crew were in the 4th qtr. I think that loss broke our defense’s swagger. They lost the hunger after winning it all and it showed in that loss on National TV. On the flip side, the best win had to be the NFc Champ game against philly. I will never forget how good it felt being in the local philly bar up N. dale Mabry and watching Ronde run that pick back. Shaking that philly monkey off our back, nothing felt better than that. Philly sux
February 4th, 2015 at 11:17 pm
The ’99 NFCC game was indeed the most painful. I saw Dungy say in an interview a couple of years ago that, at that time, he had not watch film of that game. Fairly safe to say that he still hasn’t to this day!
The Colts game was almost as brutal, as I remember Bucs CB Nathan Wonsley single-handedly guided Colt receivers to the end zone 3 or 4 times. Payton found him and wouldn’t throw at anyone else. Game over!
February 5th, 2015 at 1:42 am
It wasn’t a horrible play call. Just an amazing independent defensive effort by Butler. If you watch the replay that WR was going right into an open area. And as soon as Wilson cocked back to throw it his man appeared wide open for the for go ahead TD. Butler broke on the pass quickly and got there just in the nic of time.
February 5th, 2015 at 6:11 am
Losing gruden is what sunk the ship!!
February 5th, 2015 at 9:29 am
Had they won that game and went onto the SB to lose that, we might never have gotten Gruden. So in hindsight it’s not as painful as what could have been and that’s never winning a SB.
February 5th, 2015 at 10:25 am
@tampabaybucfan no. You don’t need to say more. Just say that every time! Priceless and true.
February 5th, 2015 at 2:08 pm
99 is horrible. King couldn’t even score 1 TD on a average defense. How is he a credible analyst?
The 4 games collapse once Kiffin quit on the team has killed this once great franchise.