Division Champion Bucs Earn Bye
(December 30, 2002)

The 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 12-4, won the division title and earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Before the season everyone wondered how all the off season changes would effect the team. We can now say it was a change for the better. Of course, if the season ends in another playoff loss at Philadelphia, we might be singing a different tune.

The Bucs finished a franchise best 12-4 and tied for the best record in the league. This year's team won the first ever NFC South Division championship and the division proved to be tougher than most expected. The NFC South had the best record in the NFL and a winning percentage of .579. The Bucs went 6-2 at home and a team record 6-2 on the road. The team was consistent, never losing two in a row, never losing by more than ten points and one defeat came in overtime.

The Bucs, Philadelphia and Green Bay finished with the league's top record at 12-4. Philadelphia went 11-1 in conference play and defeated the Bucs, so they have home field throughout the playoffs. The Bucs defeated Green Bay, so they have the number two seed and a first round bye. If the Bucs win their home playoff game, they will need some help to avoid a third straight post-season trip to Philadelphia.

The second half of the season, just like the first, had more ups than downs. The Bucs posted wins over Minnesota and Carolina, then posted a huge victory over the Packers. The Bucs had the best record in football at 9-2, but lost at New Orleans on a Sunday night. Wins over Atlanta and Detroit again put the Bucs in the drivers seat. A Monday night loss to Pittsburgh ruined any hope of securing home field advantage through the playoffs, but the Bucs won the regular season finale at Chicago. In a game actually played in Champaign due to renovations at Soldier Field, the Bucs broke the cold weather jinx and earned a first round bye.

Perhaps, the most significant occurrences over the last few weeks was the injury to starting quarterback Brad Johnson. Johnson set just about every team passing record this season and sustained a back injury in the waning moments at Detroit. Shaun King started the Pittsburgh game and to put it nicely looked rusty. Rob Johnson came on in relief that night at RJS and earned the start against Chicago. While the Bucs did defeat the Bears, the whole playoff run could fall apart if Brad Johnson does not start in two weeks.

The 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers put on quite a show. A team best record, a division title and plenty of big plays from great players. This year's team lead the league in defense, allowing just 196 points, and that unit will be relied upon during the playoffs. It has said that defense wins championships. If Brad Johnson does not return to action, even the Bucs defense may not be enough.