2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
| 2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Tony Dungy |
| General manager | Rich McKay |
| Owner | Malcolm Glazer |
| Home field | Raymond James Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 10–6 |
| Division place | 2nd NFC Central |
| Playoff finish | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Eagles) 3–21 |
| Pro Bowlers |
9
|
| AP All-Pros |
4
|
| Team MVP | LB Derrick Brooks |
The 2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 26th season in the National Football League.
The season began with the team trying to improve on an 11–5 season from 1999. Shaun King, who took over the quarterback position as a rookie midway through the 1999 season, became the full-time starter for 2000. In April, the Buccaneers acquired wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson via a trade from the Jets. It was a highly publicized transaction, which made Johnson the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, and increased expectations for the club.
In Week 16, the Buccaneers won one of the more notable games in the history of Monday Night Football against the St. Louis Rams. It was a rematch of the previous season's NFC Championship Game.
In the final week of the regular season, the Buccaneers faced Green Bay, with the NFC Central title on the line. With a victory at Lambeau Field, the Buccaneers were poised to win the division, and secure a first round bye for the playoffs. After a rally to tie the game in the fourth quarter, kicker Martin Gramatica missed a game-winning field attempt at the end of regulation. The Buccaneers lost the game in overtime, and failed to win the division. The dejected club fell to the #5 seed, and was routed by Philadelphia in the Wild Card Game, 21-3.
With time running out before halftime, Shaun King drove the Buccaneers to the New England 8-yard line. Faking a spike play (the Dan Marino "Clock Play"), King lofted a pass to Reidel Anthony scoring a surprise 8-yard touchdown pass. The Tampa Bay defense sacked Drew Bledsoe six times, and recovered a fumble to hold a 21–16 lead late in the game. With 14 seconds remaining, at their own 22-yard line, the defense forced four straight incompletions, and held on for the victory.
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