2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season 45 Brief
Our 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season is the franchise's 45th in the National Football League, the 23rd season playing home games at Raymond James Stadium and second under head coach Bruce Arians. As the team plans to improve upon their 7–9 record from the previous season and make the playoffs for the first time since 2007. They will also attempt to become the first team to play in the Super Bowl on our home field.
WITH GREAT FAN ENCOURGEMENT On March 20, 2020, the BUCS agreed to terms with former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The Buccaneers also traded for Brady's former Patriots teammate, tight end Rob Gronkowski (aka GRONK).
The Buccaneers unveiled new uniforms on April 7, 2020, it was the first uniform change since 2014. The new uniforms are similar in design to the ones they wore from 1997 to 2013.
On October 23rd, 2020, the Buccaneers signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown, his first time in the NFL since September 15, 2019.
2020 Draft Notes
After a disappointing 7-9 2019 season, the BUCS played a statigic chess game opportunity to make some of the most talked about moves in the NFL offseason, turning the execution into a Buccaneer Super Bowl favorite on paper. The BUCS biggest move, of course, was moving on from last season’s league leader in passing yards and touchdowns (and yes, interceptions) in Jameis Winston, and replacing him for a quarterback who threw for 1,052 less yards and 9 fewer touchdowns and is 17 years older, in Tom Brady. The majority of BuccaneersFans consider it an “upgrade”. Now Tampa boasts a QB who threw a back-breaking, tenure-ending pick-six in his final pass for his only team. Well, that being said, he should fit right in with Tampa’s QB culture.
Not to be outdone, Tampa traded for a retired tight end turned WrestleMania host and current WWE 24/7 Champion, as well Tide Pods enthusiast, in Rob Gronkowski. Despite already being well above average at TE, Tampa clearly felt compelled to bring “Gronk” out of the ring and back to the field in order to get Brady one of “his guys” to feel comfortable in his new, unfamiliar setting. Tampa has weapons, no doubt, but needed to look to the draft to protect the ones they invested in and fortify the rest.
- Round 1: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa (The Buccaneers traded the San Francisco 49ers their remaining 2020 fourth-round pick to switch spots between #13 and #14. Tampa Bay also received an additional seventh-round pick)
- Round 2: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
- Round 3: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
- Round 5: Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
- Round 6: Khalil Davis, IDL, Nebraska
- Round 7: Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
- Round 7: Raymond Calias, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
2020 SEASON Gameday Notes
Week 1: Away vs.New Orleans Saints
Tom Brady made his debut at quarterback for the Buccaneers against our division rival New Orleans Saints on opening day. Due to COVID-19, the game was played at the Superdome without FANS (Boooooooo). Brady faced Drew Brees, the first game in NFL history where both starting quarterbacks were over the age of 40. Brady led the Buccaneers on a 9-play, 85-yard opening drive, which was capped off by a 2-yard QB sneak for Bradys first BUCS touchdown, and an early 7–0 lead. Turnovers and miscues by the Buccaneers, however, were the prevailing story of the day. Brady threw two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and the Saints won 34–23.
Week 2: Home vs. Carolina Panthers
Bradys first home game with the Buccaneers as he threw for 217 yards and one touchdown pass, as Tampa Bay defeated Carolina, for our first win of the 2020 season. Due to COVID-19, the game was played at Raymond James Stadium without FANS (Boooooooo). Leonard Fournette rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns, while Mike Evans, who saw limited play in week 1 due to a hamstring injury, rebounded with 104 yards receiving and one touchdown. The Buccaneers jumped out to a 21–0 lead at halftime and held on for a 31–17 victory. The Buccaneers defense forced four turnovers, and stuffed one fake punt attempt by the Panthers. This win marked Brady's first victory over Carolina since 2009, and the first win for Brady and Rob Gronkowski as Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Week 3: Away vs. Denver Broncos
Tom Brady threw for 297 yards and three touchdown passes, and the Buccaneers defense recorded six sacks and two interceptions in a blowout win over the Broncos. It was Tampa Bay's first win over the Broncos since 1999, and first win in Denver since 1993.
Week 4: Home vs. Lois Angeles Chargers
The Chargers jumped out to a 24–7 lead in the second quarter, but Tampa Bay dominated in the second half to win by the score of 38–31. QB Tom Brady, who threw a Pick 6 in the first quarter, rebounded to pass for 369 yards, and 5 touchdown passes (connecting with five different BUCS receivers). The Chargers were up by 17 with less than one minute left in the first half. Ndamukong Suh forced a fumble on Joshua Kelley, and the Buccaneers recovered at the Chargers 6 yard line. Brady's touchdown pass to Mike Evans with 28 second left before halftime made the score 24–14, and was the turning point of the game. Tampa Bay scored touchdowns on the first three drives of the second half, and led 38–31 with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter. With 2:35 remaining in regulation, Justin Herbert's pass was intercepted by Carlton Davis near midfield. Tampa Bay ran out the clock, and it was their biggest comeback win since 2008..
Week 5: Away vs. Chicago Bears
On Prime-Time Thursday Night Football, the Buccaneers jumped out to a 10–0 lead in the first quarter, but it was thwarted as the Bears scored two touchdowns in the final 1:48 of the first half, including a one-handed 12-yard touchdown reception by Jimmy Graham. In the third quarter, the Buccaneers responded with a long field goal, but Bears kicker Cairo Santos countered with a long field goal of his own. The two teams then traded a field goals. Trailing 20–19 in the final minute of regulation, Tampa Bay was driving near midfield. Quarterback Tom Brady threw an incomplete pass, not realizing it was 4th down, which effectively ended the game. Bears quarterback Nick Foles finished with 243 yards, a touchdown, as well as an interception. Tom Brady finished with 253 yards and one touchdown pass to Mike Evans.
Week 6: Home vs. Green Bay Packers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated undefeated Green Bay by the score of 38–10 at Raymond James Stadium, in front of a limited FANS (Boooooooo) of approximately 25% capacity. Aaron Jones scored a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, as the Packers built a 10–0 lead. But the remainder of the game was dominated by the Buccaneers. Early in the second quarter, Aaron Rodgers' pass was intercepted by Jamel Dean who returned it for a 32-yard touchdown. Three plays later, Rodgers was intercepted again. An incomplete pass fell into the hands of Mike Edwards, who ran it back 37 yards to the 2 yard line. Ronald Jones scored the first of two rushing touchdowns, as Tampa Bay took a 14–10 lead. Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter, including his 79th regular season touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski. The Tampa Bay defense shut out Rodgers and the Packers offense for the rest of the game. Rodgers was sacked five times, and the Packers never crossed midfield in the second half. The Buccaneers also tied a team record with zero penalties, a feat accomplished only once by the club in 1983. This is also the Buccaneers first 4-2 start since 2011 (HINT!).
Week 7: Away vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Tampa Bay made their first-ever trip to Las Vegas to face the Raiders. The game was played without FANS (Boooooooo). They faced former head coach Jon Gruden for the first time since 1999 and for the first time since Gruden (who was the Buccaneers head coach from 2002 to 2008, winning Super Bowl XXXVIII) was fired from the club. Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 369 yards, four touchdown passes, and ran for a touchdown, as the Buccaneers defeated the Raiders 45–20. Derek Carr was sacked three times and intercepted once, as the Tampa Bay defense continued to excel. The Raiders were held to only 76 yard rushing, and the Buccaneers lead the NFL in fewest rushing yards per game allowed. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday Night Football but was moved to 4:05 p.m. after four starting offensive linemen for the Raiders were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list..
Week 8: Away vs. New York Giants
The primetime, "Monday Night Football", win puts Tampa Bay at 6-2, the best Buccaneers start since 2002 THE YEAR WE WON THE SUPER BOWL. The Giants came with a game plan that razzeled the BUCS, but all it took was a few mistakes to open the window for our victory. The Giants held the BUCS to just two field goals in the first half, trailing 14-6 heading into the locker room at halftime. Making adjustments for the second half the BUCS settled for a field goal after Daniel Jones threw an interception on the Giants' first possession of the third quarter. Brady capitalized, hooking up with Gronkowski on a 3-yard score giving Tampa Bay a 15-14 lead with six minutes remaining in the period. The Giants reclaimed the lead with a field goal 17-15 heading into the fourth quarter. With another interception, Brady made sure to capitalize again, putting Tampa Bay back in front 22-17 with an 8-yard touchdown to Mike Evans. With 28 seconds the Giants attempted at a game-tying 2-point conversion and failed. BUCS WIN!
Week 9: Home vs. New Orleans Saints
The Saints sunk the Buccaneers 38–3 to sweep the season series. Brady threw three interceptions in the loss. Tampa Bay snapped a streak of 22 touchdowns scored when facing a "Goal to Go" situation. Early in the third quarter, Buccaneers recovered a Drew Brees fumble, and subsequently faced a 1st & Goal at the New Orleans 1 yard line. Saints defense held and the BUCS failed to score a touchdown in a game for the first time in two years (Week 10 of 2018). This was the first time in Brady's career he was swept in two meetings by a division rival in a regular season; it was also the team's worst margin of defeat since Week 4 of 2018 and the largest margin of defeat for Brady in his career as a starter.
Antonio Brown, signed by Tampa Bay on October 27, made his first appearance with the team. He made three receptions for 31 yards.
Week 10: Away vs. Carolina Panthers
Ronald Jones II scored on a 98-yard touchdown run, the longest rush and longest play from scrimmage in Tampa Bay history, as Buccaneers swept the season series against Carolina. Brady threw for 341 yards and three touchdown passes, and ran for a touchdown, as Tampa Bay racked up 544 yards of total offense. Carolina led 17–10 late in the second quarter, but Mike Evans made a leaping touchdown catch at the back of the endzone with 27 seconds left in the half to tie the game at 17–17. Miscues then began piling up for the Panthers. Teddy Bridgewater threw an apparent 42-yard catch to D. J. Moore, giving the Panthers a chance for a field goal attempt before halftime. But with seconds left, a delay of game penalty on the Buccaneers, followed by a timeout, allowed officials to review the play. The play was overturned, and the half ended. After the Jones touchdown run midway through the third quarter, Bridgewater threw an interception, which led to a Buccaneers field goal. Bridgewater would later leave the game with a knee injury. Tampa Bay scored points on nine straight drives, including a touchdown run by Brady and a touchdown catch by Rob Gronkowski, both in the fourth quarter, to seal the victory. The Bucs swept the Panthers for the first time since 2010.
Week 11: Home vs. Los Angeles Rams
Quarterbacks Tom Brady and Jared Goff met for the first time since Super Bowl LIII. On Monday Night Football, Goff threw for 376 yards and three touchdown passes, as the Rams held off the Buccaneers to win 27–24. Brady finished the game with only 216 yards passing, and threw two interceptions. After a prolific ground performance the week before, Ronald Jones II was held to only 10 carries for 24 yards rushing. With the game tied 24–24, Matt Gay kicked a 40-yard go-ahead field goal with 2:36 left in regulation. Brady and the Buccaneers then took over, looking to score to win or force overtime. Brady's deep pass was intercepted at the 31 yard line, and the Rams secured the victory. It was the third loss in four primetime appearances for the Buccaneers.
Week 12: Home vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Tyreek Hill racked up 269 yards receiving and three touchdown passes, much of it in the first half, as the defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City outlasted Tampa Bay by the score of 27–24. The Buccaneers lost their second straight game, and third game in four weeks heading into their bye week. After trailing 20–7 at halftime, the Buccaneers narrowed the deficit. Tom Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski for a 48-yard completion to the Kansas City 5 yard line. They had to settle, however, for a Ryan Succop field goal. Brady connected with Mike Evans for two fourth quarter touchdowns, and closed to within 3 points with 4:14 remaining in regulation. Needing a defensive stop to get the ball back, the Buccaneers could not contain Patrick Mahomes, who first scrambled for a first down, and then moments later connected with Hill for a game-clinching first down with 1:15 to go. This was the Buccaneers' first loss to the Chiefs since 1993.
Week 13: *** BYE ***
Week 14: Home vs. Minnesota Vikings
Brady threw for 196 yards and two touchdown passes, the first quarter was dominated by the Vikings, as Dalvin Cook rushed for 78 yards and one touchdown in the first half alone. Two Vikings drives ended with missed field goal attempts. Brady connected to Scotty Miller with a 48-yard touchdown bomb and a 7–6 Tampa Bay lead. With 44 seconds left in the half, a 1-yard touchdown run by Ronald Jones II gave Tampa Bay a 14–6 lead. On the first drive of the third quarter, Brady and Gronkowski connected for a 2-yard touchdown pass, and a 23–6 lead. Late in the fourth quarter, with Tampa Bay leading 26–14, the Vikings were attempting to rally. On 4th down & 13 with 2:13 left in regulation, Jason Pierre-Paul sacked Kirk Cousins, and stripped the ball away for a turnover. The sack thwarted any chance of a comeback, and the Buccaneers ran out the clock to secure the victory.
Week 15: Away vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons jumped out to a 17–0 halftime lead, but Tampa Bay rallied in the second half for a 31–27 victory. Brady threw for 390 yards and two touchdown passes - the majority of it in the second half, as the Buccaneers improved to 9–5 on the season and put themselves on the cusp of clinching a playoff berth. In the first half alone the Buccaneers were held to only 60 total yards of offense. Tampa Bay received the ball to start the third quarter, and Brady engineered a spirited comeback. He drove Tampa Bay 80 yards in 7 plays, highlighted by a 32-yard reception to Mike Evans all the way to the 1 yard line. Fournette would pound the ball in for a score on the next play. On their next drive, Brady and Evans connected twice with pivotal catches, which led to another touchdown. With the Falcons leading 24–14 in the closing minutes of the third quarter, the Atlanta defense was called for a double penalty (Pass interference and Face mask) which advanced the Buccaneers to the 17 yard line. Fournette's second touchdown run made the score 24–21 in favor of the Falcons to start the fourth quarter. With 6:19 left in regulation, Brady threw a 46-yard bomb to Antonio Brown for the go-ahead touchdown. It was Brown's first touchdown as a member of the Buccaneers. The Tampa Bay defense stiffened, and forced a three-and-out. With under three minutes left, the Falcons got the ball back, but were pinned at their own 12 yard line. White sacked Ryan for the third time, and two plays later, Atlanta turned the ball over on downs. The Buccaneers managed one first down, and ran out the clock to secure the victory.
Week 16: Away vs. Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2007 defeating Detroit on a record-setting day. Brady threw for 348 yards and four touchdown passes for a perfect 158.3 passer rating, en route to a 34–0 halftime lead. Brady rested in the second half, and backup Blaine Gabbert took over in the third quarter. The Buccaneers won their third straight game off their bye week, and ended the regular season with a 6–2 road record, tied for the best in team history. Mike Evans caught ten passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns to bring his season total to 960 yards, just shy of his 7th straight 1,000-yard receiving season. Evans can set an NFL record if he becomes the first player to have 1,000 yards receiving in his first seven seasons. Brady's four touchdown passes put him at 36 total for the year, a single-season franchise record. It was also Brady's 300th career regular season start. The Buccaneers offense had 410 net yards of offense in the first half, and 588 total yards in the game, both club records. The 34–0 halftime lead was the largest such in team history, and the 40-point winning margin was the second-largest in team history. Rob Gronkowski scored on two touchdown passes, and Antonio Brown got his second touchdown reception with the Buccaneers. One day earlier on Christmas Day, New Orleans clinched the NFC South division title. Tampa Bay with the victory, secured a wild card berth, their first playoff appearance in thirteen seasons. It is also their first appearance as a wild card team since 2001, and the first time in his career that Tom Brady had led a team to the playoffs via a wild card berth.
Week 17: Home vs. Atlanta Falcons
Final 2020 regular season game. Brady threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns, leading our playoff-bound Buccaneers to clinch the fifth seed in the NFC. Tampa Bays (11-5) will face the NFC East champion, Washington Red Skins (sorry they ARE who they ARE us Buccaneers say), in our first postseason game in 13 years. Evans was hurt one play after a 20-yard reception made him the first player in NFL history to begin a career with seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He went down trying to make a catch in the end zone as a result of soaked field conditions. Per coach Bruce Arians. “The turf was really slick in the end zone. It was just a freaky thing. Knock on wood, we don’t think there is any serious damage, but we will know more in the next 24 hours.” Brady threw touchdown passes of 29 and 4 yards to Chris Godwin. The 43-year-old quarterback also teamed with Antonio Brown on scoring plays of 25 and 30 yards to finish with a franchise-record 40 in his first season with the Bucs. Brady joined Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Dan Marino as the only players with multiple seasons of at least 40 TD passes. Rodgers has done it three times, the others twice.
Now it's on to the playoffs, where the BUCS haven’t appeared since 2002.
With Evans out, Brady still had plenty of playmakers to work with. Brown had his most productive day since joining the Bucs midway through the season with 11 catches for 138 yards. Godwin had five receptions for 133 yards, while Evans had three catches for 46 yards before exiting.
Buccaneers: make our first playoff appearance in 13 years. They haven’t won a postseason game since their Super Bowl championship run to end the 2002 season.
| PRESEASON | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Week/Record | Outcome | |
| Friday Aug. 14 |
|
@ Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA |
CANCELLED COVID-19 |
PAN 00-00 |
| Saturday Aug. 22 |
|
Jacksonville Jaguars Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
CANCELLED COVID-19 |
PAN 00-00 |
| Saturday Aug. 29 |
|
Tennessee Titans Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
CANCELLED COVID-19 |
PAN 00-00 |
| Thursday Sep. 3 |
|
@ Cleveland Browns FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH |
CANCELLED COVID-19 |
PAN 00-00 |
2020 Season Results
|
||||
| Date | Opponent | Week/Record | Outcome | |
| Sunday Sep. 13 |
|
@ New Orleans Saints Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA |
RS - WK 1 0 - 1 |
Loss 23-34 |
| Sunday Sep. 20 |
|
Carolina Panthers Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - WK 2 1 - 1 |
Won 31-174 |
| Sunday Sep. 27 |
|
@ Denver Broncos Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO |
RS - WK 3
2 - 1 |
Won 28-10 |
| Sunday Oct. 4 |
|
Los Angeles Chargers Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - WK 4 3 - 1 |
Won 38-31 |
| Thursday Oct. 8 |
|
@ Chicago Bears Soldier Field, Chicago, IL |
RS - WK 5 3 - 2 |
Loss 19-20 |
| Sunday Oct. 18 |
|
Green Bay Packers Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - WK 6 4 - 2 |
Won 36-10 |
| Sunday Oct. 25 |
|
@ Las Vegas Raiders Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV |
RS - WK 7 5 - 2 |
Won 45-20 |
| Monday Nov. 2 |
|
@ New York Giants MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ |
RS - WK 8 6 - 2 |
Won 25-23 |
| Sunday Nov. 8 |
|
New Orleans Saints Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - WK 9 6 - 3 |
Loss 03-38 |
| Sunday Nov. 15 |
|
@ Carolina Panthers Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC |
RS - WK 10 7 - 3 |
Won 46-23 |
| Monday Nov. 23 |
|
Los Angeles Rams Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - WK 11 7 - 4 |
Loss 24-27 |
| Sunday Nov. 29 |
|
Kansas City Chiefs Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - WK 12 7 - 5 |
Loss 24-27 |
| BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | |
| Sunday Dec. 13 |
|
Minnesota Vikings Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - WK 14 8 - 5 |
Won 26-14 |
| Sunday Dec. 20 |
|
@ Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA |
RS - WK 15 9 - 5 |
Won 31-27 |
| Sat/Sun Dec. 26or27 |
|
@ Detroit Lions Ford Field, Detroit, MI |
RS - WK 16 10 - 5 |
Won 47-07 |
| Sunday Jan. 3 |
|
Atlanta Falcons Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL |
RS - WK 17 11 - 5 |
Won 44-27 |
| PLAYOFFS | ||||
| Date | Opponent | NFC Playoffs | Outcome | |
| Saturday Jan. 9 |
|
@ Washington Redskins #4 Wildcard
FedEx Field, Landover, MD |
NFC WILD-CARD ROUND
01 - 00 |
Won 31-23 |
| Sunday. Jan. 17 |
|
@ New Orleans Saints
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA |
NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND 02 - 00 |
Won 30-20 |
| Sunday Jan. 24 |
|
@ Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI |
NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 03 - 00 |
Won 31-26 |
| Sunday Feb. 07 |
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL |
SUPER BOWL
04 - 00 |
WON 31-09 |
