The Buccaneers’ History When 6-6
December 6th, 2024
After Danny Gorrer dropped an interception in his gut 12 years ago.
So five times in Tampa Bay lore have the Buccaneers found themselves with a 6-6 record.
That’s not couting the current team’s 6-6 record.
The last time was with Tom Brady in 2022. The Bucs got to 6-6 and then lost their next two games and finished 8-9, which was good enough to win the NFC South. (Remember, the Bucs clinched the division a week early and rested starters in the finale.)
Before that, the Bucs were 6-6 with Lovie Smith in 2015.
Lovie then got out a shovel and buried himself with four straight losses to end the ’15 season. Two brutal Doug Martin fumbles in Week 16 were devastating and then the Bucs had their doors blown off by the eventual NFC champion Panthers to close the year.
In 2012, new head coach Greg Schiano got to 6-6 after a 6-4 start with a revived Josh Freeman at quarterback. At 6-6, Tampa Bay choked at home against the Eagles before a soldout crowd when the Bucs honored the 10-year anniversary of their first Super Bowl. Nick Foles threw the game-winning touchdown with no time left on the clock.
A 6-6 record was never a thing during the Father Dungy-Jon Gruden years, but the Bucs were 6-6 in 1995 with Sam Wyche.
That team then hit the road for Minnesota and got smoked. The Bucs trailed 28-7 at halftime and starting Bucs QB Trent Dilfer didn’t finish the game. Wyche was fired after the season.
Joe had to go back to 1981 to find another Bucs record of 6-6. The Bucs and starting QB Doug Williams won their next game and three out of four to close the season at 9-7. They won the NFC Central (yes, “Central) but got blown out 38-0 by Dallas in the playoffs.
So the Bucs are 1-4 when they have a 6-6 record.
If Todd Bowles can’t chalk up a “W” at this critical juncture, he might find himself under a tremendous microscope.
December 6th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
There are two home games against the Raiders that stand out from all the rest. In fact, these two games against them are the bookends for the beginning of Dungy’s success and the firing of Jon Gruden that ended the era.
The first was in 1996 in Dungy’s first season. It was the very first game of the turnaround from a 1-8 team to the contender. The Raiders kicker somehow missed a 28 yard FG attempt at the end of regulation and the Bucs won in OT. It was the spark that started it all.
The other game was the last of Gruden’s. The final game of 2008 that knocked the Bucs out of the playoffs and began the streak of 13 seasons out of the playoffs. Somehow, some way they lost to Jemarcus Russell and Co 30-24.
It’s funny. Two games against one team that opened and closed the longest period of generally good outcomes in Bucs history.
December 6th, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Dude you really nitpicking now
You are like these fans or worse lmao
December 6th, 2024 at 2:42 pm
And a Superbowl against them in the middle Louis.
December 6th, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Past is prologue.
Bowels might just figure out a way to get himself fired.
If history is our guide, it’s a 50/50 toss up.
My money is on the Bucs. Raiders are just too moribund.
After that I could see us going 2-2. A 9-8 season is enough to fire Todd.
December 6th, 2024 at 3:04 pm
The past is no indication of future success (or failure)…
December 6th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Joe, the odds are in favor of the Bucs taking care of business against the Raiders !
Our high powered offense will continue scoring a lot of points (heck even iwhen we have a bad day we score 26)
I’m confident the Bucs will win !!!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Raiders!!
December 6th, 2024 at 4:05 pm
Mike, what you’re saying is only true in certain ways. The past usually tells us what to look for the next time something like it occurs. Notre Dame against Navy, for instance. Or the Globetrotters against the Generals. The Bucs pass defense against a good QB, etc etc
December 6th, 2024 at 4:39 pm
Just win baby ,,, wait that’s the wrong team slogan
December 6th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
I flew from Vancouver to Tampa for that 10 year anniversary game, I remember being surrounded by Eagles fans even though I was sitting on the “home” side of the stadium
December 6th, 2024 at 5:28 pm
The immortal Cole Ford.
December 6th, 2024 at 8:37 pm
Another non-story. Few players on this team were part of that history, so it is about as irrelevant as it gets.
Reaching for a story!
December 6th, 2024 at 9:33 pm
@LouisFriend: Well done!
Post of the Day!!!
December 6th, 2024 at 10:16 pm
So the Bucs have a bad record when they are 6-6, kind of llike how they only have one win when the are wearing the cursed creamsicles. Bucs should win but 6.5 points is a number to cover. I will take the over as Bowles D will make Brock Bowers look like a hall of famer. Bucs 34, Raiders 32.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:54 pm
Good offense, struggling defense (injuries/poor draft picks not showing up) – no surprise that we’re 6-6. The reality is we have t had a dawg like Baker since we Brad “The Bull” Johnson…and you have to go back LONGER to find a o-line & running game close to what we have right now. This offense CAN protect the defense. We’ll get there this year, we know how to fight & win.
December 7th, 2024 at 6:11 am
A tie for a perfect. BOWLES ZONE .500