2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season 40 Brief
The 2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 40th season in the National Football League and the second under head coach Lovie Smith. The offseason was marked by the draft selection of All-American Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston first overall in the 2015 NFL Draft.
The team wore a patch to commemorate the clubs's 40th season.
By week eight, the team had already improved on their record from 2014 (2-14) by winning their third game against the Atlanta Falcons. Entering the month of December, the team found themselves mathematically in the hunt for a playoff berth with a 6-6 record. The Buccaneers lost their final four games of the season to finish 6-10 and last in the NFC South for the fifth straight year. Despite missing the playoffs, Doug Martin finished second in the league in rushing yards (just 82 yards shy of Adrian Peterson), and the franchise had their first ever season finishing in the top five in total offense.
On January 6, 2016, head coach Lovie Smith was fired after two seasons as head coach.
| PRESEASON | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Week/Record | Outcome | |
| Saturday Aug. 15 |
|
@ Minnesota Vikings
U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN |
PS - wk 1
0-1 |
Lost 16-26 |
| Monday Aug. 24 |
|
Cincinnati Bengals
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
PS - wk 2
1-1 |
Won 25-11 |
| Saturday Aug. 29 |
 |
Cleveland Browns
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
PS - wk 3
1-2 |
Lost 7-31 |
| Thursday Sep. 3 |
|
@ Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins, Miami Gardens, FL |
PS - wk 4
2-2 |
Won 22-17 |
2015 Season ResultsRecord: 6-10, 3-3 (4th in NFC South) |
||||
| Date | Opponent | Week/Record | Outcome | |
| Sunday Sep. 13 |
|
Tennessee Titans
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 1
0-1 |
Lost 42-14 |
| Sunday Sep. 20 |
|
@New Orleans Saints
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA |
RS - wk 2
1-1 |
Won 26-19 |
| Sunday Sep. 27 |
|
@Houston Texans
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX |
RS - wk 3
1-2 |
Lost 19-9 |
| Sunday Oct. 4 |
|
Carolina Panthers
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 4
1-3 |
Lost 37-23 |
| Sunday Oct. 11 |
|
Jacksonville Jaguars Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 5
2-3 |
Won 38-31 |
| Sunday Oct. 18 |
BYE | RS - wk 6
2-3 |
||
| Sunday Oct. 25 |
|
@ Washington Redskins
FedEx Field, Landover, MD |
RS - wk 7
2-4 |
Lost 31-30 |
| Sunday Nov. 1 |
|
@ Atlanta Falcons
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA |
RS - wk 8
3-4 |
Won 23-20 (OT) |
| Sunday Nov. 8 |
|
New York Giants
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 9
3-5 |
Lost 32-18 |
| Sunday Nov. 15 |
|
Dallas Cowboys
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 10
4-5 |
Won 10-6 |
| Sunday Nov. 22 |
|
@ Philadelphia Eagles
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA |
RS - wk 11
5-5 |
Won 45-17 |
| Sunday Nov. 29 |
|
@ Indianapolis Colts
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN |
RS - wk 12
5-6 |
Lost 25-12 |
| Sunday Dec. 6 |
|
Atlanta Falcons
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 13
6-6 |
Won 23-19 |
| Sunday Dec. 13 |
|
New Orleans Saints
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 14
6-7 |
Lost 24-17 |
| Thursday Dec. 17 |
|
@ St. Louis Rams
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO |
RS - wk 15
6-8 |
Lost 31-23 |
| Sunday Dec. 27 |
|
Chicago Bears
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - wk 16
6-9 |
Lost 26-21 |
| Sunday Jan. 3 |
|
@ Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC |
RS - wk 17
6-10 |
Lost 38-10 |
| PLAYOFFS | ||||
| Date | Opponent | NFC/Superbowl | Outcome | |
| Season Ended |
|
@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
None
None |
00-00 |
