# 1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

The 1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 19th season in the National Football League (NFL). The year 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 against the Minnesota Vikings. 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.

## Offseason
### NFL Draft

| Pick | Round | Player | Position | School |
| 6 | 1 | Trent Dilfer | Quarterback | Fresno State |
| 34 | 2 | Errict Rhett | Running back | Florida |
| 69 | 3 | Harold Bishop | Tight end | LSU |
| 136 | 5 | Pete Pierson | Offensive tackle | Washington |
| 165 | 6 | Bernard Carter | Linebacker | East Carolina |
| 200 | 7 | Jim Pyne | Center | Virginia Tech |

## Preseason

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 2–2 in the pre-season, winning their first game against the Bengals at home. After a loss to Seattle Seahawks on the road, the Bucs beat cross state rival Miami Dolphins in game three. The last game of the preseason was lost to the New York Jets by one point. Expectations were for a break even season in 1994.

## Regular season
### Schedule

Regular season :
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | Attendance | Record |
| 1 | September 4 | at Chicago Bears | L 21–9 | Soldier Field | 61,844 | 0–1 |
| 2 | September 11 | Indianapolis Colts | W 24–10 | Tampa Stadium | 36,631 | 1–1 |
| 3 | September 18 | New Orleans Saints | L 9–7 | Tampa Stadium | 45,522 | 1–2 |
| 4 | September 25 | at Green Bay Packers | L 30–3 | Lambeau Field | 58,551 | 1–3 |
| 5 | October 2 | Detroit Lions | W 24–14 | Tampa Stadium | 38,012 | 2–3 |
| 6 | October 9 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 34–13 | Georgia Dome | 52,633 | 2–4 |
| 7 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 8 | October 23 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 41–16 | Candlestick Park | 62,741 | 2–5 |
| 9 | October 30 | Minnesota Vikings | L 36–13 | Tampa Stadium | 42,110 | 2–6 |
| 10 | November 6 | Chicago Bears | L 20–6 | Tampa Stadium | 60,821 | 2–7 |
| 11 | November 13 | at Detroit Lions | L 14–9 | Pontiac Silverdome | 50,814 | 2–8 |
| 12 | November 20 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 22–21 | Kingdome | 37,466 | 2–9 |
| 13 | November 27 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 20–17 (OT) | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 47,259 | 3–9 |
| 14 | December 4 | Washington Redskins | W 26–21 | Tampa Stadium | 45,121 | 4–9 |
| 15 | December 11 | Los Angeles Rams | W 24–14 | Tampa Stadium | 34,150 | 5–9 |
| 16 | December 18 | at Washington Redskins | W 17–14 | RFK Stadium | 47,315 | 6–9 |
| 17 | December 24 | Green Bay Packers | L 34–19 | Tampa Stadium | 65,076 | 6–10 |
| Note: Division opponents in bold text |||||||

### Standings

NFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(3)}$ Minnesota Vikings | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 356 | 314 | W1 |
| $^{(4)}$ Green Bay Packers | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 382 | 287 | W3 |
| $^{(5)}$ Detroit Lions | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 357 | 342 | L1 |
| $^{(6)}$ Chicago Bears | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 271 | 307 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 251 | 351 | L1 |

## Season summary
### Week 13 at Vikings

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Buccaneers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
| Vikings | 0 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 17 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: November 27, 1994
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 47,250
* TV: FOX
* Box Score, Box Score
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Buccaneers | Passing | Craig Erickson | 20/38, 254 Yds, TD, INT |
| Buccaneers | Rushing | Errict Rhett | 24 Rush, 55 Yds, TD |
| Buccaneers | Receiving | Courtney Hawkins | 6 Rec, 80 Yds, TD |
| Vikings | Passing | Warren Moon | 24/46, 286 Yds, TD, INT |
| Vikings | Rushing | Terry Allen | 16 Rush, 54 Yds |
| Vikings | Receiving | Qadry Ismail | 6 Rec, 101 Yds, TD |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | TB | MIN |
| 1 | 11:14 | 3 | 6 | | Buccaneers | Errict Rhett 1-yard touchdown run, Michael Husted kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 2 | 13:36 | 12 | 61 | | Vikings | 23-yard field goal by Fuad Reveiz | 7 | 3 |
| 2 | 8:16 | 9 | 49 | | Vikings | 21-yard field goal by Fuad Reveiz | 7 | 6 |
| 2 | 5:13 | 8 | 55 | | Buccaneers | Courtney Hawkins 14-yard touchdown reception from Craig Erickson, Michael Husted kick good | 14 | 6 |
| 2 | 0:33 | 10 | 53 | | Vikings | 51-yard field goal by Fuad Reveiz | 14 | 9 |
| 3 | 5:24 | 14 | 86 | | Buccaneers | -yard field goal by Michael Husted | 17 | 9 |
| 4 | 2:27 | 3 | 52 | | Vikings | Qadry Ismail 40-yard touchdown reception from Warren Moon, 2-point pass good | 17 | 17 |
| OT | 12:52 | 1 | 0 | | Buccaneers | 22-yard field goal by Michael Husted | 20 | 17 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 20 | 17 |