1999 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1999 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers defense had an outstanding effort for the season opener against the Giants at Raymond James Stadium. New York was held to 27 yards rushing and the second lowest total yards allowed in Bucs history (107 yards). They equaled the team record by allowing four first downs and set the record for third down efficiency with the visitors converting just one of fourteen third downs (7 percent). A dozen times, the Giants had to punt the ball away. The Buccaneers offense had its own troubles with the Giants defense. Trent Dilfer (15 of 31 for 174 yards with a TD) was intercepted three times, one was returned for a touchdown, and he had a fumble returned for another score. Eric Zeier (3 of 11 for 14 yards and an INT) would come into the game at quarterback, but did not fare much better in a 17-13 loss. Dilfer talked about his performance, "It's difficult to look those guys in the eye, knowing I let not only the defense down, but all of my teammates." Tony Dungy ended his post game press conference by saying, "I'm not answering anymore questions about the quarterback situation."
The Bucs got sack happy in Philadelphia. They got to the Eagles quarterbacks
nine times, one shy of the team record and the second most sacks in franchise
history. Warren Sapp and Chidi Ahanotu lead the charge with three sacks each.
On offense, Trent Dilfer (7 of 14 for 89 yards) threw for two touchdowns, but
he had an equal number of interceptions. Philadelphia got two points when
center Tony Mayberry snapped the ball over Dilfer's head and out of the end
zone for a safety. New Eagles head coach Andy Reid watched his team fall 19-5.
Sapp said of recording three QB sacks, "I'm out to prove I'm the best rusher in
the league. I want the sack title bad." On rookie quarterback Donovan McNabb
(4 of 11 for 26 yards) starting the second half Sapp added, "It's always
special when you get a new quarterback. It's fresh meat."
Even though it was Brian Griese, not John Elway, at quarterback. Even though the two time defending champs had lost their first two games. The Buccaneers 13-10 victory over Denver was the first time the team defeated a defending Super Bowl champion. Mike Alstott ran for a career high 131 yards and scored a touchdown on the Bucs first possession. While Trent Dilfer (15 of 18 for 135 yards) was sacked seven times, he also completed a career best 83.3 percent of his passes. It was a controlled passing attack with the longest completion being sixteen yards and nine of the passes caught by running back Warrick Dunn. Tony Dungy said after the win at Raymond James, "I think I said last week we'd be satisfied with fifteen ugly wins in a row and we've got a steak going now."
It seemed like the Vikings would blow the Bucs out of the MetroDome. Randall Cunningham (26 of 34 for 296 yards with an interception) threw three touchdown passes, twice hitting Randy Moss (120 yards receiving), and the home team lead 21-0 after the first quarter. The Buccaneers did not fold their tents. Trent Dilfer (25 of 39 for 301 yards with an INT) tossed two 26 yard touchdown passes and Tampa Bay had a couple of chances to win it at the end. Ten Bucs penalties, and a late interception, helped Minnesota hold on for 21-14 victory. Warrick Dunn said of the game, "We made a lot of plays and a lot of bonehead plays."
A Sunday night game at Green Bay saw the Packers jump out to a 10-0 first
quarter lead. Even with three interceptions and a lost fumble, Trent Dilfer
(16 of 26 for 110 yards and 1 TD) made some big plays and key runs to bring the
Buccaneers back. On his thirtieth birthday, Brett Favre (22 of 40) passed for
390 yards. The Green Bay wide receivers, Antonio Freeman (7 catches for 152
yards) and Bill Schroeder (7 receptions for 158 yards) posted big numbers. The
Buccaneers did pressure the Packers quarterback with Warren Sapp and Marcus
Jones each recording two of the team's five sacks. When Mike Alstott exploded
for a 22 yard touchdown run to give the Bucs a 23-19 lead with 1:45 left in the
game, it looked like Tampa Bay would leave Lambeau Field with a win. Just 40
seconds later, under an all-out blitz, the second Favre to Freeman touchdown
pass gave the home team a 26-23 victory.
Over the bye week, the Bucs traded defensive lineman Regan Upshaw to Jacksonville for an undisclosed draft pick. Upshaw, Tampa Bay's number one selection and the twelfth pick overall pick in the 1996 draft, was to become a free agent at the end of the season.
When first year head coach Dick Jauron brought the Chicago Bears to RJS, the Buccaneers scored the fewest points in victory since the 3-0 playoff clinching regular season finale against Kansas City in 1979. Martin Gramatica lead the offense with two field goals and linebacker Derrick Brooks lead the defense with two interceptions. UCLA rookie Cade McNown (9 of 23 for 82 yards and an interception) was ineffective in his second start at quarterback for the Bears and was pulled in favor of Jim Miller (10 of 22 for 117 yards and an INT) in the second half. Tony Dungy said of Trent Dilfer (16 of 27 for 121 yards) missing some wide open receivers, "I'm really not one to change quarterbacks in the middle of the game and I guess we'll just let it go at that." The day after the 6-3 victory, Dungy did make a quarterback change. After seventy straight starts, Dilfer would be replaced by Eric Zeier. The head coach indicated this was not a temporary situation, "I'm not going into this with the idea of anticipating another change."
On a Sunday night at Detroit, Eric Zeier made his first start. Zeier (29
of 44 for 256 yards) was sacked five times and Lions linebacker Allen Aldridge
returned his fumble 21 yards for a touchdown. Detroit running back Greg Hill
rushed for 123 yards and the Bucs record stood at 3-4 after the 20-3 defeat.
A rib injury to Eric Zeier would return Trent Dilfer to the starting lineup against the Saints. The Buccaneers had lost nine consecutive games in New Orleans and had not won there since 1982. Dilfer (15 of 20 for 227 yards) responded with a three touchdown, no interception performance. One of his passes went to Kansas State rookie Darrnell McDonald for his first pro touchdown and another went 62 yards to Jacquez Green for a score. Mike Alstott ground it out for 117 yards with a TD and the defense forced four turnovers. Dilfer said of the 31-16 victory, "We really needed this."
Back home in Tampa, the Buccaneers tried to give the game to Kansas City. Mike Alstott coughed the ball up three times and the Bucs lost five fumbles. The defense keep the home team in the game and allowed a team record low 5 yards passing in the first half. Trent Dilfer (17 of 27 for 270 yards) did fumble the ball away once and was intercepted, but did toss two touchdown passes. Jacquez Green was on the receiving end of a career high 164 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs turned the ball over three times and the Bucs prevailed 17-10. Warren Sapp said of winning despite six turnovers, "Conventional wisdom doesn't work with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."
Atlanta took a 10-0 lead after the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium, then two field goals by Martin Gramatica made it 10-6 at the break. In the first half Karl Williams reached 75 punt returns, the NFL minimum to be listed among the all-time leaders, and his 13.6 career average is the best in league history. Gramatica added fourth quarter field goals of 50 and 53 yards and the Buccaneers took the lead with 58 seconds left. On the Falcon's next possession, cornerback Donnie Abraham sealed the win with his second interception of day. He returned the ball 47 yards for his first pro touchdown and the Bucs won 19-10. Tony Dungy said of Gramatica making four out of four field goal tries, "Martin came up big and that's why we spent a third round draft pick on him last April." The Bucs were now in a three-way tie for first place and John Lynch realized "It's now a six game season."
Trent Dilfer broke his collar bone in the third quarter against first place Seattle at the Kingdome. The shoulder injury ended his season and, with Eric Zeier still nursing a rib injury, brought rookie Shaun King in for his first NFL action. King (3 of 7 for 32 yards) hooked with tight end Patrick Hape for 2 yards and his first pro touchdown pass. It was the defense that won the game with another stellar performance. Five different Buccaneers intercepted Jon Kitna (19 of 44 for 197 yards) and the Seahawks quarterback also lost a fumble. Three different Bucs got to the QB, including rookie Anthony "Booger" McFarland recording his first pro sack. While forcing six turnovers, the Bucs did not turn it over themselves. New head coach Mike Holmgren did see his team record six sacks, but the 16-3 victory gave Tampa Bay its first win over Seattle.
For Shaun King, who grew up as a Buccaneers fan in St. Petersburg, it was a
dream come true. His first NFL start came on Monday Night Football, before a
Raymond James Stadium record crowd of 65,741 with a share of first place on the
line. It was also a big night for Bucs cornerback Donnie Abraham who twice
intercepted Minnesota quarterback Jeff George (26 of 45 for 271 yards with 1 TD
and 2 INTs). On the game's third play, Abraham returned his first pick for 55
yards and a 7-0 Tampa Bay lead. Other defensive highlights included Brad
Culpepper recording two of the Bucs three sacks and Chris Doleman recording the
Vikings two sacks. King lost a fumble and was intercepted in the first half,
as the Vikings took a 14-10 lead at the break. King came back to throw two
second half touchdown passes, and finished the night 11 of 19 for 93 yards, in
a 24-17 victory.
When Detroit came to town, the tie for first in the division between the Buccaneers and Lions would be broken. Shaun King (23 of 37 for 297 yards with an interception) again threw a pair of touchdown passes and Warrick Dunn finished with 115 receiving yards, including a career long 68 yard reception. The Bucs sacked Detroit quarterback Gus Frerotte (23 of 44 for 241 yards with 1 INT) four times, once by Brad Culpepper for a safety. Mike Alstott scored two fourth quarter touchdowns, one on a run, the other by the pass. The 23-16 final gave the Bucs their second come from behind victory in six days. Of his 9-4 team, head coach Tony Dungy stated, "It's a great feeling to be in first place." Safety John Lynch added, "Twenty years from now, I'll remember afternoons like this."
At Oakland, the team record six game winning streak would come to an end with
the worst defeat in Buccaneers history. Raiders running backs Napoleon Kaufman
(122 yards) and Tyrone Wheatley (111 yards) each rushed for over 100 yards and
two touchdowns, as Oakland out gained the Bucs 262 yards to 34 yards on the
ground. Shaun King (17 of 29 for 142 yards) was sacked four times, intercepted
once and his fumble was returned for a touchdown. John Lynch said after the
45-0 loss, "We embarrassed ourselves."
On three Martin Gramatica field goals, which gave him a team record tying 25 for the season, the Buccaneers lead Green Bay 9-0 in second quarter. The Packers would come back on the strength of a Brett Favre (25 of 48 for 234 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions) touchdown pass to take a 10-9 halftime lead at RJS. The defense held the visitors to 12 yards rushing and forced four turnovers. Bucs safety Damien Robinson had a big day with two interceptions, a fumble recovery and pass reception on a fake punt. Shaun King (17 of 30 for 133 yards with 1 INT) threw a TD pass and two fourth quarter touchdowns by Mike Alstott sealed a 29-10 victory. A team record tying tenth regular season victory guaranteed the Bucs a home playoff game. The next Sunday, the regular season would close with a shot at the division crown in Chicago. Bucs guard Frank Middleton, speaking of the team's history of losing in cold weather, stated "I don't care about the weather next week. If we win, I'll get a nice NFC Central shirt and hat and I'll be warm all the way home."
The weather would not be a factor on an unseasonably warm mid-fifty degree day
at Soldier Field. A Donnie Abraham interception set up the first of two Martin
Gramatica field goals, a fumble recovery set up a Mike Alstott touchdown, and
the Bucs took a 10-0 halftime lead. Shaun King (18 of 24 for 178 yards) tossed
a fourth quarter touchdown pass to tight end Dave Moore, Jacquez Green gathered
in a career high ten catches for 113 yards and the Bucs did not turn the ball
over. A 20-6 victory gave the Bucs the division title and first round bye in
the playoffs. Warren Sapp said of being on top, "When I got here, I likened
this place to a third world country. Right now, we're first class citizens."
Defensive back Ronde Barber added, "We're just getting started." About 5,000
exuberant fans welcomed the team back home to Tampa.
A record crowd of 65,835 came out for the first playoff game at Raymond James Stadium. When Brian Mitchell returned the second half kickoff an NFL postseason record 100 yards for a touchdown, the Washington Redskins had a 10-0 lead. Midway through the third quarter, a field goal put the visitors up 13-0. The momentum swung on a John Lynch interception, which set up an exciting Mike Alstott 2 yard touchdown run. Alstott ran to the right, could not get in the end zone, shook off a couple of defenders and ran across the field in the opposite direction for the score. A fumble by Washington QB Brad Johnson (20 of 32 for 149 yards) would set the Bucs up again. Shaun King (15 of 32 for 157 yards with an interception) hit backup tight end John Davis on a 1 yard TD pass and the Buccaneers lead. While the defense saved the day, they recorded four sacks and both Bucs scores came off turnovers, the offensive had to punt a team postseason record ten times. The Bucs caught some breaks, such as, Warrick Dunn running for a key first down after a King fumble and the Redskins muffing the snap on a potential winning field goal. Shaun King became the first rookie quarterback since 1976, and only the second in history, to win an NFL playoff game. Tony Dungy talked of the 14-13 victory. "It wasn't artistic, it wasn't pretty, but it certainly was one of the best wins I've been involved with. It looks painful, but that's our style."
| Mike Shula was a twelfth round draft pick of the Bucs in 1987, but he saw little action and went in coaching. He began as an offensive assistant with Tampa Bay in 1988 and was promoted to quarterbacks coach in 1990. He spent two seasons with Miami and three at Chicago before returning to the Bucs as offensive coordinator in 1996. Following the 1999 NFC Championship Game, Shula was fired after the team finished no higher than 22nd in total offense during his tenure.
In 2003, Mike Shula became the head coach at his alma mater. From 1984-86, Shula went 24-11-1 as the Alabama starting quarterback under coach Ray Perkins. As the Crimson Tide head coach, he went 26-23 and was fired after four seasons. |
The Trans World Dome would be the site of a rematch of the Buccaneers first
appearance in the NFC Championship Game. Tampa Bay hosted the Los Angeles Rams
for a Super Bowl berth twenty years ago. The Bucs came to St. Louis as two
touchdown underdogs against the league's number one offensive team. After just
fifteen seconds, on the game's first offensive play, Bucs defensive end Steve
White intercepted league MVP Kurt Warner and set the visitors up at the Rams 20
yard line. The Bucs could not put the ball in the end zone and settled for a
Martin Gramatica field goal and a 3-0 lead. St. Louis would kick their own
field goal and the game was tied after one quarter. In the second quarter, the
Bucs were in the shotgun formation, center Tony Mayberry snapped the ball over
the head of quarterback Shaun King. The play gave the Rams a safety and a 5-3
lead at the half. The Buccaneers offense struggled and for the most part Shaun
King looked like a rookie quarterback. King (13 of 29 for 163 yards) was
sacked five times, intercepted twice, fumbled once and a delay of game penalty
wiped out a key gain late in the game. In the third quarter, even with the
team's offensive woes, Tampa Bay would take a 6-5 lead on a second Gramatica
field goal. The Bucs defense contained Warner (26 of 46 for 258 yards with 3
interceptions) for most of the afternoon, but a 30 yard TD pass to Ricky Proehl
(6 catches for 100 yards) with 4:44 left in the game was the difference. On
the Bucs final drive, some controversy resulted when instant replay was used to
rule that a catch by Bert Emanuel was incomplete. While some blamed the
referees, Bucs receiver Kart Williams stated the obvious. "You can't win any
championships by not putting the ball in the end zone." After the game,
defensive lineman Brad Culpepper was asked what can be learned from the 11-6
loss. "You don't learn anything from losing. All you learn is how to lose."
Tony Dungy had to admit "It's a bitter pill to swallow right now." The head
coach added, "To look back over the whole year and what we accomplished, we've
got to feel good about ourselves and build toward next year."
The Buccaneers won their first division title since 1981 and for the first time had three consecutive non-losing seasons. At 11-5, it was the team's best record and most regular season victories. The dominating Bucs defense broke the twenty year old record for lowest average points allowed (14.69). The defense set new record lows in first downs allowed (228), touchdowns allowed (23), rushing attempts (361) and rushing touchdowns allowed (8). While opponents attempted a Bucs record 573 passes, they were held to a team record low 52.7 completion percentage. The offense completed a Bucs record 60.0 percent of its passes and the Buccaneers set record lows for penalties (73) and yards penalized (573). Tampa Bay was a team record 7-1 at home and averaged 65,336 fans at RJS.
Rookie Martin Gramatica set the single season scoring record with 106 points, the fourth highest total for kickers in the NFC, and booted a team record 27 field goals. With seven interceptions, cornerback Donnie Abraham had the second most picks in Bucs history and tied for best in the conference. Warren Sapp recorded 12.5 quarterback sacks, the second most in franchise history. Mark Royals tied the team record with a 43.1 yards punting average, which was third best in NFC. While Mike Alstott lead the team with 949 rushing yards, Warrick Dunn had an off year carrying the football. Dunn did not have a 100 yard game and scored zero rushing touchdowns, but he did lead the team with 64 receptions. Six Buccaneers went to the Pro Bowl. Voted as Pro Bowl starters were Mike Alstott, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, Hardy Nickerson and Warren Sapp, while Tony Mayberry went as a reverse. Warren Sapp was named Defensive Player of Year by the Associated Press and Derrick Brooks named team MVP by the local media.
Just a few days after the season ended, the Bucs released Trent Dilfer. Money, and the play of Shaun King, were the reasons for not exercising the option in his contract. Dilfer left with a 39-39 record as the starting quarterback over six seasons, which are most victories of any QB in Bucs history.
| Related Links |
| 1999 Buccaneers Results |
| 1999 NFC Central Division Standings |
| 1999 Buccaneers Draft |
| 1999 Buccaneers Statistics |
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Despite plenty of criticism, head coach Tony Dungy was loyal to Shula until the end. A week before the firing, Dungy said he had no intentions of firing Shula. While at the Pro Bowl, general manager Rich McKay convinced Dungy to let him go. Years later, Dungy called it "The biggest mistake I ever made in coaching.”