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Buccaneers: Five Best Teams Since 2003

By Michael Horan

Dec 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (87) shoes standing next to his helmet before the start of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (87) shoes standing next to his helmet before the start of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 25, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers pirate ship in the end zone against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers pirate ship in the end zone against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Year: 2007

Record: 9-7

Pro Bowlers: Jeff Garcia 

The fourth and fifth teams on this list have a lot in common. Along with sharing the same record, both were within a year of one another and shared many of the same players on offense, defense and special teams. On top of that, both teams struggled in the latter portion of the season. The key difference? Playoffs.

While the 2008 team blew a chance at the playoffs down the stretch, the 2007 squad played well enough at different points of the season to win the NFC South and secure a home playoff game against the Wild Card Giants. Helmed by veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia the Buccaneer offense was a tough group that focused on winning third down and moving the chains slowly but surely. Behind an extremely talented offensive line, Cadillac Williams was expected to carry the load at running back, but a devastating knee injury in week four thrust journeyman Earnest Graham into the spotlight.

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Graham had made a name for himself on the practice squad and in preseason and when he finally got his opportunity he delivered to the tune of 898 rushing yards, ten touchdowns, and 49 catches. At receiver, Joey Galloway put together his third consecutive thousand yard season as a Buccaneer, though he was famously held back by Jeff Garcia’s questionable arm strength.

The defense meanwhile was on fire this season, and the absolute strength of the team. They gave up the fewest passing yards per game, the third fewest total yards per game, and the third fewest total points on the season. Largely the same group that would collapse down the stretch of 2008 was a ball-hawking headache for offenses the year prior.

The offense and defense provided plenty of noteworthy highlights, but the most significant play of the season came on special teams. Entering their week fifteen home game against Atlanta, the Buccaneers franchise had yet to record a single kickoff return touchdown in their entire 32 year existence. That suddenly changed when reserve wide receiver Michael Spurlock blurred down the right side line and into the end zone. Gene Deckerhoff’s call of “run Michael, run!” was forever seared into the memory of Buccaneer fans forever.

As most will remember, the Bucs’ playoff appearance was a brief one, as the team fell 24-14 to the New York Giants. The Giants would go on to eventually win the Super Bowl, while the Bucs would go on to play out the total collapse illustrated in the first slide.

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