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1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

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1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
Ownerthe Hugh Culverhouse estate
General managerRich McKay
Head coachSam Wyche
Home fieldTampa Stadium
Results
Record6–10
Division place5th NFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Team MVPLT Paul Gruber

The 1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 19th season in the National Football League (NFL). The year began with the death of owner Hugh Culverhouse. Ownership was transferred to a three-man board of trustees. Season ticket sales dwindled, and rumors of the team's location were a persistent distraction all year. At mid-season, the new ownership removed all personnel responsibilities from coach Sam Wyche, and gave them to Vice President Rich McKay, who they named general manager. They also put the team up for sale.[1] On the field, Errict Rhett became the first rookie in the team's history to rush for 1,000 yards, despite not starting until the ninth game of the season.

The Buccaneers had one of the weakest offenses in the league, even while led by a coach who had consistently produced top offenses while with the Cincinnati Bengals.[2] At 2–9, most people in the Bay area were ready to hang Wyche and pack his bags, but the defensive line improved as Eric Curry finally matured in the second half of the season, and the Bucs began their first 4-game winning streak in 15 years. It started with an overtime win against the Minnesota Vikings. Two wins over the Washington Redskins and one over the Los Angeles Rams set up a big game in Tampa against the Green Bay Packers, who were trying to secure a playoff spot. "We've arrived", Wyche announced prematurely.[3] The final game was called "Orange Pride Day", and was attended by 65,000 fans (although many were rooting for the visitors), most of whom expected it to be the last football game in Tampa. The Packers won, 34–19.[1]

Offseason

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NFL Draft

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Pick Round Player Position School
6 1 Trent Dilfer Quarterback Fresno State
34 2 Errict Rhett Running back Florida
69 3 Harold Bishop Tight end LSU
136 5 Pete Pierson Offensive tackle Washington
165 6 Bernard Carter Linebacker East Carolina
200 7 Jim Pyne Center Virginia Tech

Preseason

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 2–2 in the pre-season, winning their first game against the Bengals at home. After a loss to Seattle Seahawks on the road, the Bucs beat cross state rival Miami Dolphins in game three. The last game of the preseason was lost to the New York Jets by one point. Expectations were for a break even season in 1994.

Personnel

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Staff

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1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff

Front office

Head coaches

  • Head coach/director of football operations – Sam Wyche

Offensive coaches

 

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams/tight ends – George Stewart

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Brad Roll

[4]

Roster

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1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Rookies in italics

Regular season

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Schedule

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Regular season
Week Date Opponent Result Game site Attendance Record
1 September 4 at Chicago Bears L 21–9 Soldier Field 61,844 0–1
2 September 11 Indianapolis Colts W 24–10 Tampa Stadium 36,631[a] 1–1
3 September 18 New Orleans Saints L 9–7 Tampa Stadium 45,522[a] 1–2
4 September 25 at Green Bay Packers L 30–3 Lambeau Field 58,551 1–3
5 October 2 Detroit Lions W 24–14 Tampa Stadium 38,012[a] 2–3
6 October 9 at Atlanta Falcons L 34–13 Georgia Dome 52,633 2–4
7 Bye
8 October 23 at San Francisco 49ers L 41–16 Candlestick Park 62,741 2–5
9 October 30 Minnesota Vikings L 36–13 Tampa Stadium 42,110[a] 2–6
10 November 6 Chicago Bears L 20–6 Tampa Stadium 60,821[a] 2–7
11 November 13 at Detroit Lions L 14–9 Pontiac Silverdome 50,814 2–8
12 November 20 at Seattle Seahawks L 22–21 Kingdome 37,466 2–9
13 November 27 at Minnesota Vikings W 20–17 (OT) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 47,259 3–9
14 December 4 Washington Redskins W 26–21 Tampa Stadium 45,121[a] 4–9
15 December 11 Los Angeles Rams W 24–14 Tampa Stadium 34,150[a] 5–9
16 December 18 at Washington Redskins W 17–14 RFK Stadium 47,315 6–9
17 December 24 Green Bay Packers L 34–19 Tampa Stadium 65,076[a] 6–10
Note: Division opponents in bold text

Standings

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NFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(3) Minnesota Vikings 10 6 0 .625 356 314 W1
(4) Green Bay Packers 9 7 0 .563 382 287 W3
(5) Detroit Lions 9 7 0 .563 357 342 L1
(6) Chicago Bears 9 7 0 .563 271 307 L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 10 0 .375 251 351 L1

Season summary

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Week 13 at Vikings

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Week Thirteen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2–9) at Minnesota Vikings (7–4)
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Buccaneers 7 7 03320
Vikings 0 9 08017

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: November 27, 1994
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 47,250
  • TV: FOX
  • Box Score, Box Score
Team Category Player Statistics
Buccaneers Passing Craig Erickson 20/38, 254 Yds, TD, INT
Rushing Errict Rhett 24 Rush, 55 Yds, TD
Receiving Courtney Hawkins 6 Rec, 80 Yds, TD
Vikings Passing Warren Moon 24/46, 286 Yds, TD, INT
Rushing Terry Allen 16 Rush, 54 Yds
Receiving Qadry Ismail 6 Rec, 101 Yds, TD

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h blacked out locally

References

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  1. ^ a b Stroud, Rick (September 11, 2005). "30 Seasons: 1976–2005. From Sinking Ship to World-Class Cruise". St. Petersburg Times.
  2. ^ Lieber, Jill (December 5, 1994). "The NFC Central". Sports Illustrated.
  3. ^ Lieber, Jill (December 26, 1994). "The NFC Central". Sports Illustrated.
  4. ^ 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Media Guide. pp. 44–46. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2010.


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