1998 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
Encyclopedia
The 1998
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
season was seen as a disappointment following their breakthrough 1997
season. It was their first season in Raymond James Stadium
. They were the only team to beat the Minnesota Vikings
during the regular season. In week 16 they recorded the biggest road win in their history against the Cincinnati Bengals
. However, it was not enough to secure a playoff place. The season was marked by close losses in which touchdowns had been called back due to referee error.
saw the Buccaneers face the Bears
. After falling behind 15-0 at halftime, Tampa Bay scored 27 unanswered points to win 27-15. Dave Moore caught a one-handed pass for a 44-yard touchdown in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Warrick Dunn ran for a 44-yard touchdown. Raymond James Stadium was opened with a victory, and the Buccaneers improved to 1-2.
at the Silvedome. Despite clinging to a 6-3 deficit at halftime, Tampa Bay's sputtering offense and defensive miscues cost any chance at victory. Barry Sanders
rushed for 131 yards, Bryant Westbrook
returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown, and Terry Fair
returned a Lions record 105-yard kickoff return touchdown. Two apparent touchdown passes by Trent Dilfer
were called back for penalty, and Tampa Bay fell 27-6.
The Buccaneers improved to 3-0 at Raymond James Stadium.
lost a fumble at the Saints 3 yard line, and Trent Dilfer
threw an interception, as offensive futility again plagued the Buccaneers, resulting in a 9-3 loss at New Orleans
. Three times the Buccaneers had the ball inside the Saints 25 yard line, but came up with zero points. At one point, Bert Emanuel
caught a touchdown pass, but the officials ruled it incomplete, saying he "trapped" the ball against the turf.
Tampa Bay defeated Minnesota 27-24, the Vikings' first (and only) loss of the regular season. The Bucs remained at 0.500, improving to 4-4, and were now 4-0 at Raymond James Stadium.
broke out for a 71-yard touchdown run, and the Tennessee Oilers won 31-22.
won 29-24.
drove the Buccaneers to the Detroit 11 yard line. He was intercepted in the endzone, and Detroit held on to win 28-25. It was Tampa Bay's third straight loss.
Tampa Bay's record was now 5-7, still alive for the wild card hunt.
Tampa Bay improved to 6-7 on the season.
Tampa Bay won 16-3 and evened their record at 7-7. They were now back in the hunt for the wild card.
The Buccaneers fell to 7-8 on the season, and would need to win in week 17 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Tampa Bay finished 8-8 on the season, winning four out of their last five games, and the end of the game, were still alive for an NFC wild card spot. Tampa Bay needed the Giants to beat the Eagles and the Chargers to beat the Cardinals . The Giants won, helping Tampa Bay, but the Cardinals beat the Chargers 16-13 with a 52-yard field goal as time expired. By the time the Buccaneers' plane had landed back in Tampa, they were ousted from the playoffs.
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
season was seen as a disappointment following their breakthrough 1997
1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 6-10 season from 1996. The 1997 season was notable for several reasons...
season. It was their first season in Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events...
. They were the only team to beat the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
during the regular season. In week 16 they recorded the biggest road win in their history against the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
. However, it was not enough to secure a playoff place. The season was marked by close losses in which touchdowns had been called back due to referee error.
Staff
| 1998 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 6, 1998 | at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
L 31-7 | |
| 2 | September 13, 1998 | at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
L 23-15 | |
| 3 | September 20, 1998 | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27-15 | |
| 4 | September 28, 1998 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 27-6 | |
| 5 | October 4, 1998 | New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20-3 | |
| 6 | Bye | |||
| 7 | October 18, 1998 | Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
W 16-13 | |
| 8 | October 25, 1998 | at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
L 9-3 | |
| 9 | November 1, 1998 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 27-24 | |
| 10 | November 8, 1998 | Tennessee Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 31-22 | |
| 11 | November 15, 1998 | at Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 29-24 | |
| 12 | November 22, 1998 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 28-25 | |
| 13 | November 29, 1998 | at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 31-17 | |
| 14 | December 7, 1998 | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
W 24-22 | |
| 15 | December 13, 1998 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 16-3 | |
| 16 | December 19, 1998 | at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
L 20-16 | |
| 17 | December 27, 1998 | at Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 35-0 | |
Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
Coming off their playoff season from 1997, the Buccaneers opened 1998 on the road with high expectations. Receiver Bert Emanuel went out with a sprained ankle, and Tampa Bay lost 31-7.Week 2: at Green Bay Packers
Jacques Green returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown (only his second-career return attempt) to set a franchise record for longest punt return. However, Green Bay won 23-15.Week 3: Chicago Bears
The highly-anticipated first game at brand new Raymond James StadiumRaymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events...
saw the Buccaneers face the Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. After falling behind 15-0 at halftime, Tampa Bay scored 27 unanswered points to win 27-15. Dave Moore caught a one-handed pass for a 44-yard touchdown in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Warrick Dunn ran for a 44-yard touchdown. Raymond James Stadium was opened with a victory, and the Buccaneers improved to 1-2.
Week 4: at Detroit Lions
On Monday Night Football, Tampa Bay faced DetroitDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
at the Silvedome. Despite clinging to a 6-3 deficit at halftime, Tampa Bay's sputtering offense and defensive miscues cost any chance at victory. Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
rushed for 131 yards, Bryant Westbrook
Bryant Westbrook
Bryant Antoine Westbrook is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League.-College career:...
returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown, and Terry Fair
Terry Fair
Terrance Delon Fair is a former National Football League cornerback for the St. Louis Rams. He was drafted in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. He has been out of the league since the 2002 NFL season, with a brief comeback attempt with the Rams.Fair is the current co-host...
returned a Lions record 105-yard kickoff return touchdown. Two apparent touchdown passes by Trent Dilfer
Trent Dilfer
Trent Farris Dilfer is a former football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sixth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football...
were called back for penalty, and Tampa Bay fell 27-6.
Week 5: New York Giants
Only a minute and a half into the game, Charles Mincy intercepted Kanell for a 22-yard touchdown return. Tampa Bay would never trail in the game. The Buccaneer defense held the Giants to only 135 total yards, and picked off Kanell three times in the 20-3 victory.Week 7: Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay evened their record to 3-3 with a win over Carolina. The Panthers led 13-3 in the fourth quarter, but Trent Dilfer led the Buccaneers for a rally in the final 5 minutes. On a roll out, Dilfer ran in for a 1-yard touchdown, then on the next possession, scored the go-ahead touchdown. Karl Williams caught a 29-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the endzone with 1:39 to go to seal the victory 16-13.The Buccaneers improved to 3-0 at Raymond James Stadium.
Week 8: at New Orleans Saints
The Tampa Bay offense dropped seven passes, Patrick HapePatrick Hape
Patrick Hape is a former American football fullback and tight end for the Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Houston Texans of the NFL.Patrick Hape played 4 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a tight end, and 5 seasons with the Denver Broncos, although he did not play in 2005...
lost a fumble at the Saints 3 yard line, and Trent Dilfer
Trent Dilfer
Trent Farris Dilfer is a former football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sixth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football...
threw an interception, as offensive futility again plagued the Buccaneers, resulting in a 9-3 loss at New Orleans
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. Three times the Buccaneers had the ball inside the Saints 25 yard line, but came up with zero points. At one point, Bert Emanuel
Bert Emanuel
Bert Tyrone Emanuel is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft...
caught a touchdown pass, but the officials ruled it incomplete, saying he "trapped" the ball against the turf.
Week 9: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings entered week 9 at Tampa Bay undefeated at 8-0. Derrick Brooks intercepted Randal Cunningham, setting up Warrick Dunn's first touchdown run. A back and forth game saw the score tied 17-17 at halftime. Minnesota took a 24-17 lead in the third quarter, but Tampa Bay came back in the fourth. A field goal followed by a Mike Alstott touchdown run with just under six minutes remaining gave the Bucs a 27-24 lead. The Buccaneers had two rushers over 100 yards: Alstott (128) and Dunn (115), with Alstott sealing the game late with a rush of 38 yards.Tampa Bay defeated Minnesota 27-24, the Vikings' first (and only) loss of the regular season. The Bucs remained at 0.500, improving to 4-4, and were now 4-0 at Raymond James Stadium.
Week 10: Tennessee Oilers
Trailing 24-22 at the two-minute warning, Tennessee was facing 3rd down & 8 at their own 29 yard line. A defensive stop by Tampa Bay would have given them the ball back, and an opportunity to drive for a game-winning field goal. However, quarterback Steve McNairSteve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
broke out for a 71-yard touchdown run, and the Tennessee Oilers won 31-22.
Week 11: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Tampa Bay was leading 24-23 with three minutes remaining. Fred Taylor broke out for a 70-yard touchdown run with 2:40 left, and JacksonvilleJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
won 29-24.
Week 12: Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay trailed 21-7, but rallied late. With just over two minutes remaining, Trent DilferTrent Dilfer
Trent Farris Dilfer is a former football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sixth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football...
drove the Buccaneers to the Detroit 11 yard line. He was intercepted in the endzone, and Detroit held on to win 28-25. It was Tampa Bay's third straight loss.
Week 13: at Chicago Bears
Tampa Bay got back to their winning ways, winning their first road game of the season at Chicago. Late in the second quarter, the Buccaneers blocked a Bears punt, and Ronde Barber scooped it up. He returned the ball 21 yards for a touchdown. As time expired in the first half, Trent Dilfer threw up a Hail Mary touchdown, which was caught by Brice Hunter, his first career NFL touchdown. The Bucs took a 21-14 lead into halftime, and won the game 31-17.Tampa Bay's record was now 5-7, still alive for the wild card hunt.
Week 14: Green Bay Packers
Tampa Bay hosted Green Bay in their first Monday Night Football home game since 1982. Tampa bay forced 8 fumbles, and sacked Brett Favre 8 times. Late in the first quarter, Trent Dilfer connected to Jacquez Green for a 64-yard touchdown pass. Minutes later, at the beginning of the second quarter, Dilfer passed to Bert Emanuel in a nearly identical 62-yard touchdown pass. Leading 17-15 in the fourth quarter, Dilfer scrambled through the middle of the Packers defensive line to score a 6-yard touchdown, and a 24-15 lead. Green bay would trim the deficit to 24-22, but the Buccaneers held on to win.Tampa Bay improved to 6-7 on the season.
Week 15: Pittsburgh Steelers
Tampa Bay won their third game in a row, shutting down the Steelers to just 168 yard of offense. The Tampa Bay defense intercepted Kordell Stewart three times, and Mike Tomczak once. Mike Alstott ran for 78 yards on a wet and rainy day. The Steelers only points came early in the fourth quarter.Tampa Bay won 16-3 and evened their record at 7-7. They were now back in the hunt for the wild card.
Week 16: at Washington Redskins
Tampa Bay's playoff chances were dealt a big blow in week 16 at Washington. Tampa Bay led the Redskins 16-7 early in the fourth quarter, but blew the lead at the end. Leading 16-13 with six minutes to go, Jacquez Green fumbled a kickoff, turning the ball over. On the next play, Stephen Alexander caught the game-winning touchdown for Washington. Tampa Bay had two last chances to come back, but both times, Trent Dilfer threw interceptions.The Buccaneers fell to 7-8 on the season, and would need to win in week 17 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals
Tampa Bay clobered Cincinnati 35-0, a franchise best for a road shutout. Mike Alstott scored three rushing touchdowns, and the Bucs defense intercepted the Bengals twice (including a 56-yard return by Ronde Barber)Tampa Bay finished 8-8 on the season, winning four out of their last five games, and the end of the game, were still alive for an NFC wild card spot. Tampa Bay needed the Giants to beat the Eagles and the Chargers to beat the Cardinals . The Giants won, helping Tampa Bay, but the Cardinals beat the Chargers 16-13 with a 52-yard field goal as time expired. By the time the Buccaneers' plane had landed back in Tampa, they were ousted from the playoffs.