1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season 19 Brief
The 1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season 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. 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. 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 in Minnesota. 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. 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.
| PRESEASON | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Week/Record | Outcome | |
| Saturday Aug. 6 |
|
Cincinnati Bengals Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
PS - wk 1
1-0 |
Won 16-17 |
| Saturday Aug. 13 |
|
@ Seattle Seahawks CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA |
PS - wk 2
1-1 |
Lost 6-29 |
| Saturday Aug. 20 |
|
@ Miami Dolphins Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL |
PS - wk 3
2-1 |
Won 29-14 |
| Friday Aug. 26 |
|
New York Jets Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
PS - wk 4
2-2 |
Lost 9-10 |
1994 Season ResultsRecord: 6-10, DIV: 2-6 (5th in NFC Central) |
||||
| Date | Opponent | Week/Record | Outcome | |
| Sunday Sep. 4 |
|
@ Chicago Bears Soldier Field, Chicago, IL |
RS - wk 1
0-1 |
Lost 21-9 |
| Sunday Sep. 11 |
|
Indianapolis Colts
Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 2
1-1 |
Won 24-10 |
| Sunday Sep. 18 |
|
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 3
1-2 |
Lost 7-9 |
| Sunday Sep. 25 |
|
@ Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI |
RS - wk 4
1-3 |
Lost 3-30 |
| Sunday Oct. 2 |
|
Detroit Lions
Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 5
2-3 |
Won 24-14 |
| Sunday Oct. 9 |
|
@ Atlanta Falcons
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA |
RS - wk 6
2-4 |
Lost 13-34 |
| Sunday Oct. 16 |
BYE | RS - wk 7
2-4 |
||
| Sunday Oct. 23 |
|
@ San Francisco
Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA |
RS - wk 8
2-5 |
Lost 16-41 |
| Sunday Oct. 30 |
|
Minnesota Vikings
Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 9
2-6 |
Lost 13-36 |
| Sunday Nov. 6 |
|
Chicago Bears
Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 10
2-7 |
Lost 6-20 |
| Sunday Nov. 13 |
|
@ Detroit Lions
Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac MI |
RS - wk 11
2-8 |
Lost 9-14 |
| Sunday Nov. 20 |
|
@ Seattle Seahawks
Kingdome, Seattle, WA |
RS - wk 12
2-9 |
Lost 21-22 |
| Sunday Nov. 27 |
|
@ Minnesota Vikings
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN |
RS - wk 13
3-9 |
Won 20-17 (OT) |
| Sunday Dec. 4 |
|
Washington Redskins
Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 14
4-9 |
Won 26-21 |
| Sunday Dec. 11 |
|
Los Angeles Rams
Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 15
5-9 |
|
| Sunday Dec. 18 |
|
@ Washington Redskins
RFK Stadium, Washington, DC |
RS - wk 16
6-9 |
Won 17-14 |
| Saturday Dec. 24 |
|
Green Bay Packers
Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 17
6-10 |
Lost 19-34 |
| PLAYOFFS | ||||
| Date | Opponent | NFC/Superbowl | Outcome | |
| Season Ended |
|
@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
None
None |
00-00 |
