Tampa Bay Buccaneers Playoff Clinchers
(December 27, 1999)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 10-5 and going to the playoffs for the fifth time in the franchise's twenty-four year history. A week after the worst loss in team history, 45-0 at Oakland, the Bucs came back to defeat Green Bay. They had actually clinched a playoff spot before the game, due to results earlier in the day, but the 29-10 victory over the Packers guaranteed a home playoff game. A win next Sunday at Chicago, or a Minnesota loss to Detroit, will give the Bucs their first Central Division title since 1981.

Here is a look at the four other playoff clinchers in the history of the Buccaneers.

December 16, 1979 - The regular season finale was between the 9-6 Bucs, who had lost three in a row, and the Kansas City Chiefs. In the pouring rain at Tampa Stadium, 63,624 fans watched both offenses struggle. Tampa Bay's best weapon was Ricky Bell, who sloshed for 137 yards on 39 carries. The game's only score came with 8:50 remaining in the fourth quarter, as Neil O'Donoghue hit a 19 yard field goal to put the Bucs up 3-0. The defense allowed a team record low of 80 total yards to the Chiefs and recorded the first shutout in franchise history. The Bucs and Chicago had finished the season with identical 10-6 records, but the Bucs won the division title on the basis of a better division record. John McKay exclaimed, "We is the champions of the Central Division."

December 21, 1981 - The regular season ended at Detroit and the Lions had not lost in the Silverdome all season. The winner of the game would take the NFC Central Division title. In the second quarter, Doug Williams hit Kevin House with an 84 yard touchdown pass to give Tampa Bay the lead. In the fourth quarter, Lee Roy Selmon tackled Lion quarterback Eric Hipple. When Hipple fumbled, David Logan picked it up and ran 11 yards for a touchdown. The play gave the Bucs a ten point fourth quarter lead and they held on for a 20-17 win. Tampa Bay clinched their second division crown in three years with a 9-7 record. It was a close race for the title, but the Bucs prevailed primarily because of a 6-2 record within the division.

January 2, 1983 - The Chicago Bears, first year head coach Mike Ditka and 68,112 fans came to Tampa Stadium for the final game of a strike shortened season. Walter Payton finished with 109 yards rushing and things looked grim when the visitors built a 17 point halftime lead. Then Doug Williams (25 of 49 for 367 yards) hit Jimmie Giles on two second half TD passes, Bill Capece kicked a 40 yard field goal with 26 seconds left, and the game headed to overtime. James Wilder's 47 yard run set up a 33 yard field goal attempt, which Capece hit at the 3:14 mark. It was the franchise's first overtime victory, but more importantly, the 26-23 win secured Tampa Bay's spot in the playoff tournament with a 5-4 record. The Bucs scored 17 points in the final 22 minutes to make the playoffs for the third time in four years. It was an exciting run, as they won five of their last six games, with each victory coming in the final minute.

December 14, 1997 - On a blustery 42 degree day at Giants Stadium, the Buccaneers clinched a playoff spot despite a 31-0 loss. Jets defensive back Otis Smith returned two Trent Dilfer (2 of 15 for 38 yards) interceptions for second quarter touchdowns and a 17-0 lead at the half. Any thought of a comeback died, when Leon Johnson returned the second half kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. The Bucs could manage just 21 net yards on three pass completions and punted ten times. Now 9-6, Tampa Bay had lost three of their last four, but backed into the playoffs. After the blowout loss, Tony Dungy talked of making the playoffs. "We'll take it, but that is certainly not the way you want to get in."