2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the 20th overall pick in the college draft, the Bucs took Kansas defensive back Aqib Talib. The second round saw Appalachian State wide receiver Dexter Jackson added to the roster.

The Bucs opened with a back-and-forth game at New Orleans. Jeff Garcia (24 of 41 for 221 yards with an INT) tossed a TD pass to Ike Hillard. Saints QB Drew Brees (23 of 32 for 343 yards) threw three scoring passes and had an interception returned by Phillip Buchanon for a score. In the end, the Bucs could answer a late Reggie Bush (8 receptions for 112 yards) touchdown catch and fell 24-20. Jon Gruden commented, "We battled back a couple of times. I like our football team a lot. I like our guys a lot. We've got to get ready for the Falcons."

Whether it was a lack of practice time, nagging injuries, or as Jon Gruden said, "It's just my opinion that Jeff right now is not himself," Brain Griese was pegged to start the home opener. The Bucs put the pressure on Atlanta rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan (13 of 33 for 158 yards) was sacked four times, twice by Gaines Adams, and intercepted twice. Griese (18 of 31 for 160 yards) tossed a TD pass to tight end John Gilmore, but it was the running game that made the difference. Warrick Dunn ran for a score and Ernest Graham rushed for 116 yards, including a 68 yard touchdown run that sealed the victory. Even with 11 penalties for 94 yards, the Bucs won 24-9. Gruden remarked, "It was a hard-fought game. Our defense played a great game."

Midway through the fourth quarter the Buccaneers fell behind 24-14 at Chicago. One Tampa Bay touchdown came on the first career interception for Gaines Adams, which he returned 45 yards for his first career TD. While Brian Griese was picked off three times, he hit Jerramy Stevens on a short scoring pass with seven seconds remaining to tie the game. The Bucs defense sacked Bears QB Kyle Orton (22 of 34 for 268 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs) three times, Antonio Bryant caught ten passes for 138 yards and a Matt Bryant field goal gave the Bucs an overtime victory. Griese would finish with some huge numbers. He completed 38 passes out of a team record 67 attempts for 407 yards with two TDs and the team set a Bucs record with 22 first downs via the pass. Jon Gruden said of the 27-24 victory, "We did some good things, but we're a work in progress."

Jermaine Phillips returned a fumble 38 yards for a score and the Bucs lead Green Bay 20-7 midway through the third quarter. The Packers came back with a second Aaron Rodgers to Greg Jennings (6 receptions for 109 yards) TD pass and Charles Woodson returned one Brian Griese's (15 of 30 for 149 yards with 1 TD) interceptions 62 yards and the visitors were on top early in fourth. The Bucs also intercepted Rodgers (14 of 27 for 165 yards) three and sacked him three other times. Matt Bryant, carrying the burden of the tragic loss of his three- month old son earlier in the week, kicked his third field goal of the game with just over two minutes left. Earnest Graham rushed for 111 yards and added a late TD to make the final 30-21. Jon Gruden remarked, "We beat a team that was in the final four last year and we finished the first quarter of the season 3- 1. We're excited."

It started out as a battle of field goals in Denver and the game was tied 6-6 at the half. A Jay Cutler (23 of 34 for 227 yards) touchdown pass, and a third Matt Prater field goal, gave the Broncos a 16-6 lead. Brian Griese (13 of 19 for 88 yards) was sacked three times and knocked out of the game with a bruised shoulder late in the third quarter. Jeff Garcia (13 of 17 for 93 yards) came in and was intercepted, then tossed a short TD pass to Ike Hillard with 2:02 left and that was the way it ended. Despite the 16-13 loss, Jeff Garcia said, "I want to be out there helping my teammates. I want to compete."

Jeff Garcia would start the next game against Carolina. Buccaneers rookie linebacker Geno Hayes set the tone by blocking a punt on the Panthers first possession and scooping up the ball and returning it 22 yards for a score just 2:35 into the game. Garcia (15 of 20 for 173 yards) tossed a TD pass to Alex Smith and the home team was up 14-0 after the first quarter. While Steve Smith did catch six passes for 112 yards, the defense intercepted Jake Delhomme (20 of 39 for 242 yards) three times. Earnest Graham ran for a score, and Warrick Dunn rushed for 115 yards, as the Bucs rolled 27-3. Jon Gruden said afterwards, "Our players played their hearts out."

Antonio Bryant (6 receptions for 115 yards) caught a touchdown pass and Ernest Graham ran for a score, as the Buccaneers took a 17-0 half time lead over Seattle in a Sunday night home game. Jeff Garcia completed 27 of 36 passes for 310 yards and Matt Bryant would add a fourth quarter field goal. Aqib Talib intercepted Seahawks QB Seneca Wallace (12 of 23 for 73 yards with a TD) in a 20-10 victory.

Matt Bryant kicked two field goals and the Buccaneers lead 6-0 after the first quarter at Dallas. Former Buc Brad Johnson (19 of 33 for 122 yards) threw a TD pass one second before half time to put the Cowboys in front 10-6. The teams each added a field goal in the third quarter and the Bucs fell 13-9. Jeff Garcia went 28 of 44 for 228 yards and Gaines Adams recorded two sacks that afternoon. Jon Gruden commented, "It was a hard fought football game by two good teams. We move the ball pretty good but we have to score touchdowns to win in this league."

Kansas City was having their way with the visiting Buccaneers. Tyler Thigpen (14 of 25 for 164 yards) tossed a touchdown pass and caught another on the option play, rookie Jamaal Charles rushed for 106 yards and the Chiefs were cruising 24-3 in the second quarter. Clifton Smith got the Bucs going with a 97 yard kickoff return and it was 24-13 at the half. Tampa Bay had four turnovers, before Jeff Garcia (31 of 43 for 339 yards with an INT) hooked up with Antonio Bryant (8 receptions for 115 yards) on a 24 yard scoring pass with 19 seconds left. When Garcia hit Alex Smith on the two-point conversion, the game headed to overtime. Matt Bryant split the uprights from 34 yards, his third field goal of the afternoon, and the Bucs had a 30-27 victory. The 21 point deficit was the largest overcome in team history. Ronde Barber stated, "You can look at this as a defining moment in our season, the game that said what kind of team we could be." Jon Gruden added, "We're going to build off this."

The Bucs sacked Gus Frerotte (14 of 20 for 138 yards with a TD) five times in a home game against Minnesota. Jeff Garcia (23 of 30 for 255 yards) did plenty of scrambling, fullback B.J. Askew scored his first NFL touchdown and Matt Byrant kicked four field goals in a 19-13 victory. Speaking to the press, Jon Gruden stated, "If you're listening out there, we do have a hell of a defense here. Hopefully, our defensive players start to get some recognition."

Cadillac Williams returned to action and his fumble returned for a touchdown contributed to the Buccaneers trailing 17-0 after the first quarter in Detroit. Warrick Dunn ran for a score and Jeff Garcia (13 of 18 for 165 yards) tossed two TD passes as the Bucs roared back to a 21-17 half time lead. In the third quarter, Clifton Smith returned a punt 70 yards for a score, Ronde Barber returned an interception 65 yards for another six and it was all she wrote. Twice Barber picked off Daunte Culpepper (8 of 20 for 121 yards with a TD) and Jimmy Wilkerson recorded two of the team’s four sacks of the Lions quarterback. The Bucs made their mistakes, including losing three fumbles and allowing six sacks, in a 38-20 victory. Jon Gruden commented, “We did not play particularly well early. It was a heck of a win for us. It is a hard place to win here.”

It was a rainy afternoon when New Orleans came to town. Cadillac Williams ran for a score, Jeff Garcia lobbed a touchdown pass to Antonio Bryant and the Buccaneers lead 20-10 after three quarters. The Saints came back, with Marques Colston (6 catches for 106 yards) the go-to receiver, and a second Drew Brees (25 of 47 for 296 yards) TD pass tied the game 20-20. Both defenses had their moments, as the Bucs intercepted Brees three times and the Saints sacked Garcia (9 of 23 for 199 yards) four times. In the end it took a third Matt Byrant field goal with 1:55 on the clock for the Bucs to put this one in the win column. After the 23-20 victory, linebacker Barrett Rudd said of the weather, "It's like when you're a little kid, you go out in the rain and play. It's always good to have a couple of those games."

First place was on the line with a Monday night game at Carolina. It looked like it was going to be a low scoring affair with the Panthers up 10-3 at the half. Then, there were seven touchdowns scored after the break, unfortunately, Carolina scored four of them. Jeff Garcia (24 of 38 for 321 yards) threw two touchdown passes to Antonio Bryant, who a huge night. Bryant caught 9 passes for 200 yards with one his scores coming on an amazing one handed grab. Jake Delhomme (14 of 20 for 173 yards with 1 TD) was intercepted twice, but also hooked up with Steve Smith 9 times for 117 yards. It was Carolina’s 299 rushing yards that broke it open. DeAngelo Williams (186 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (115 yards) each had 100-yard games and each ran for two scores in a 38-23 Panthers victory. After the Bucs self destructed with missed tackles, dropped passes, a missed field goal and blocked extra point, Barrett Ruud said, “It is embarrassing, definitely. Especially since you don’t get many opportunities to have that national audience and this was by far our worst game.”

The Buccaneers had a chance to win a low scoring game at Atlanta. Trailing 10-7, a blocked punt gave them the ball at the Falcons 22 with 2:29 left. Brian Griese (26 of 37 for 269 yards with a TD and an INT), starting due to a Jeff Garcia calf injury, hooked up with Michael Clayton and the Bucs had first and ten at the 12 yard line. The Bucs moved backwards from there and had to settle for a tying field goal with 44 seconds left. Matt Ryan (15 of 23 for 206 yards) was intercepted twice, yet the defense and ground game propelled Atlanta. Defensive end John Abraham recorded three of the team's four sacks and Michael Turner rushed for 152 yards with a TD. While Antonio Byrant (8 receptions for 108 yards) did catch a scoring pass, eleven penalties for 76 yards for did not help Tampa Bay. Jason Elam kicked the game winner from 34 yards in overtime in a 13-10 defeat. Ronde Barber commented, "What can you say? Should've won. Had a chance to win. Didn't."

A 71 yard Jeff Garcia to Antonio Bryant (6 receptions for 127 yards) touchdown pass gave the Bucs a 24-21 lead after three quarters against San Diego. The fourth quarter would be a disaster. Tight end Antonio Gates caught his second Chargers TD pass of the day, Phillip Rivers (21 of 31 for 287 yards) tossed his fourth TD pass and Garcia (21 of 35 for 232 yards with 2 INTs) had an interception returned for a score. It was tough 41-24 home loss, as the Bucs lost control of their postseason destiny. Ronde Barber said, "To hell with the playoffs. We've got win a game."

Lions Go 0-16

The Buccaneers 1976 NFL worst ever record of 0-14 was topped by Detroit in 2008. The Lions lost every game over a sixteen game season. Head coach Rod Marinelli, a former Bucs assistant, was fired after the season. Marinelli commented, "You can't go 0-16 and expect to keep your job." Lee Roy Selmon, a member of that first Bucs team, observed, "You know what players go through, and certainly we went through it, and we wouldn't want that to happen to anyone. We're not popping champagne or anything. If anything, you just sympathize."

A shot a playoffs was on the line in the season finale, and things looked good for the home team with the Bucs leading 24-14 in the fourth quarter. Jeff Garcia (17 of 33 for 257 yards with an INT) tossed a touchdown pass to Michael Clayton and Cadillac Williams ran for two scores. JaMarcus Russell (14 of 21 for 148 yards with an INT) threw two TD passes and Michael Bush (177 yards rushing) ran for two more, as Oakland pulled put a 31-24 victory. On being 9- 3, then losing four in row to miss the playoffs, Warrick Dunn said, "It's a catastrophe. That should never happen. We're too talented of a team."

Speaking at his season ending press conference Jon Griden remarked, "Nine and seven isn't a disgrace. The way we finished was somewhat disappointing to say the least. I hate not competeing for championships and we're not, so it's not a very good season."

Rookie Clifton Smith was the first player in team history to return a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same season. He was second in the league in average yards for punt returns and fifth in kickoff returns. Matt Bryant set a team record with 131 points and Barrett Rudd was fourth in the NFL in tackles. Smith was elected to his first Pro Bowl and Derrick Brooks his team record eleventh. Ronde Barber and offensive lineman Davin Joseph were named as NFC alternates.

After thirteen seasons, the opportunity for Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin to coach with his son Lane at the University of Tennessee was too hard to pass up. The architect of Tampa Bay's defense commented, "This was a tough decision. I went back and forth. I mean, this is like my alma mater."

On January 16, the Buccaneers fired Jon Gruden as head coach. Team co- chairman Joel Glazer said, "This is never something that's easy. These are difficult decisions. We were extremely frustrated. The losses are as hard today as they were 14 years ago, and the way the season ended obviously was terribly disappointing. But, you know, it not just one thing. I think after a lot of careful consideration, we just felt that it was time for a change. Fans expect a championship and we expect a championship."

The next day, the team announced that 32 year-old Raheem Morris would be the new head coach. Promoted to the Bucs defensive coordinator on Christmas Day, Morris had never been a head coach at any level. Joel Glazer said of hiring the youngest coach in the league, "Raheem can related to today's NFL players." Morris commented, "I'm just really fired up at this opportunity and I can't wait."

Related Links

2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Results

2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft

2008 NFC South Division Standings

2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Statistics

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