UPDATED: NOVEMBER 9TH, 2014
I live in Atlanta. Every time I’ve tuned into local sports radio today, it’s been the callers and radio hosts woe-is-meing about the Falcons and their “heartbreaking” loss to the Lions yesterday. They’re calling for heads to roll…their GM, their QB, and even their head coach, who has been the most successful HC in their franchise’s history.
I can’t help but chuckle. If they only knew. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffer losses like that on a regular basis.
In fact, after yesterday’s overtime loss to the Vikings, I decided to go home and count the amount of times the Bucs have lost in heartbreaking fashion. Why? Because, as a fan, I’m at my wit’s end. It is so incredible, how disappointing this team has been the last few years, I just had to know exactly how bad it has been.
The number was 13.
13 times since the 2012 season.
When the Bucs went into OT on Sunday, I knew they were going to lose. I knew, because I had seen it all play out before so many times before.
The following is a list and short rundown of all of the games that the Buccaneers lost in the final minutes of a game in the last two and a half seasons. Either they had a failed comeback and built my hopes up, or they let a lead slip away at the last second by shooting themselves in the foot and losing because of dumb penalties, dumb mistakes, and dumb luck. They are setting franchise records for futility…and for the Bucs, that’s saying a lot!
So read up, Falcons fans. Watch the highlight videos. You would realize just how good you’ve had it the last few years. Stop boo-hooing because you’ve had your first rough spell after five straight winning seasons.
The following is a rundown as to why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been the most heartbreaking team in the NFL the last few years (note how many of these are home games)…
1.) September 16th, 2012 – Bucs @ Giants
Why it was heartbreaking:
- Bucs led the game by 11 at one point, and blew the lead in the fourth quarter.
- After tying the game with 2 mins left in the game, the defense proceeded to let the Giants march down the field and score a touchdown with 30 seconds left.
- Freeman throws a pick to end the game. Lead blown.
- Bucs fall to 1-1 on the year after a hard fought win vs. the Panthers the week before.
2.) September 30th, 2012 – Redskins @ Bucs
Why it was heartbreaking:
- The Bucs were actually down the entire game until the fourth quarter, when they fought back to take a 22-21 lead.
- RGIII then led the ‘Skins down the field to get into field goal range with seven seconds left. Billy Cundiff nails a 42 yarder to clinch the game…in spite of missing 3 FGs earlier in the game.
- Lead blown. Comeback squelched. Their third loss in a row.
3.) October 21st, 2012 – Saints @ Bucs
Why it was heartbreaking:
- In the third quarter, the Bucs are down by a TD, and Freeman connects on a long pass to Vincent Jackson. Jackson gets tackled at the one yard line.
- The Bucs then run three times and fail to score. On fourth down they try to pass but Freeman gets sacked and they turn the ball over, failing to score FROM THE ONE.
- Soon after, the Saints are trying a long FG, but the Bucs commit a penalty to keep their drive alive. The Saints score a touchdown and go up by 14.
- Freeman leads the team down the field and throws a TD to Jackson with :05 remaining in the game, but VJ’s heal was barely out of bounds and it didn’t count.
- They have one more shot, and Freeman connects with Mike Williams for a TD…but he was forced out of bounds and came back in so the TD was taken away due to an illegal touching penalty. Comeback squelched. Bucs fall to 2-4.
4.) November 25th, 2012 – Falcons @ Bucs
Why it was heartbreaking:
- The Bucs were up 23-17 in the fourth quarter.
- They (of course) blow that lead and the Falcons go up 24-23 with 8:00 left in the game.
- Barth misses a go-ahead 56 yard FG with under four minutes left.
- Defense can’t stop Falcons from running down the clock. Lead blown. Comeback squelched. Bucs fall to 6-5.
5.) December 9th, 2012 – Eagles @ Bucs
Why it was heartbreaking:
- The Eagles had lost eight straight games before this.
- The Bucs were up 21-10 with four minutes left in the game.
- The Eagles converted two fourth downs in their final drive, and scored a TD to win the game with :02 left. Lead blown.
- Bucs lose third straight and fall under .500. They go on to end the season 7-9.
6.) September 8th, 2013 – Bucs @ Jets
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000240972/GameDay-Buccaneers-vs-Jets-highlights
- This was Jets rookie Geno Smith’s first NFL game.
- It was the beginning of the end for Bucs “franchise” QB Josh Freeman.
- It was the beginning of the end for Bucs head coach Greg Schiano.
- In spite of inconsistent play, Freeman leads the Bucs to a 17-15 lead with under two minutes left in the game.
- With seven seconds left, Geno Smith runs out of bounds, and before his foot even lands out of bounds, LB Lavonte David shoves him (earlier in the game Geno faked out defenders and stayed in bounds, so David was trying to prevent that), and refs penalize him for unnecessary roughness.
- The penalty put the Jets in FG range and they win the game in the final seconds. Comeback squelched. Lead Blown.
- This is what would turn out to be the first loss of an 0-8 start to the season.
7.) September 15th, 2013 – Saints @ Bucs
Why it was heartbreaking:
- After a pick-six, the Bucs go up 14-13 in the fourth quarter.
- Bucs K Rian Lindell misses a 47 yard FG that would have but them up by four with just over a minute left in the game.
- The soft Bucs defense lets Drew Brees march down the field and the Saints win the game with a chip-shot field goal. Comeback squelched. Lead Blown.
8.) September 29th, 2013 – Cardinals @ Bucs
Why it was heartbreaking:
- The Bucs were leading 10-0 until the fourth quarter, when the defense allows the Cardinals to go up 13-10 with under a minute left.
- Mike Glennon, in his first ever start, throws a pick to end the game. Lead Blown.
9.) November 3rd, 2013 – Bucs @ Seahawks
Why it was heartbreaking:
- The 0-7 Bucs went up 21-0 on the eventual Super Bowl Champion Seahawks in Seattle.
- They were up 24-17 in the fourth quarter when they allowed Russell Wilson to tie it up with less than two mins left…erasing a lead they held the entire game.
- The Bucs win the coinflip in overtime, but go three-and-out, and give the ball back to the Seahawks, who proceed to march down the field and win with a FG. Lead Blown. 0-8. Greg Schiano eventually fired.
10.) September 7th, 2014 – Panthers @ Bucs
Why it was heartbreaking:
- The Bucs hired a new head coach, who spent the offseason overhauling the team, signing big free agents and drafting all offensive players. He stressed that this was a team that wasn’t rebuilding, but can win now.
- Cam Newton was out with an injury, and journeyman backup QB Derek Anderson started for the Panthers.
- The Bucs were dominated all game, but still came back from a 17-0 deficit in the fourth quarter to bring it to 17-14 with under two minutes left.
- Bucs Safety Dashon Goldson dropped an interception that would have at least put the Bucs in field goal range with 1:40 left in the game.
- Panthers still punt, and on the first play, RB Bobby Rainey fumbles and give the ball back to Carolina. Comeback squelched.
11.) September 14th, 2014 – Rams @ Bucs
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000395138/Week-2-Rams-vs-Buccaneers-highlights
Why it was heartbreaking:
- The Rams were down to their third string QB, who was making his first ever NFL start, and the Bucs made him look like Joe Montana.
- The Bucs were up 17-16 with under a minute left in the fourth quarter, and gave up the lead when the Rams kicked a field goal to make it 19-17.
- Bucs QB Josh McCown completes a deep ball to Mike Evans to put them in field goal range, but Evans gets drilled and stays down. Since the Bucs have no more timeouts left, by rule they were supposed to have a ten second run-off. There were only seven seconds left. Comeback squelched.
12.) October 5th, 2014 – Bucs @ Saints
Why it was heartbreaking:
- The Bucs had 24 unanswered points against the Saints after getting into a 13-0 hole early.
- In the fourth quarter, the Bucs led 31-20.
- The Saints scored a TD after the Bucs missed 37 tackles on Pierre Thomas, but couldn’t convert the 2-point conversion.
- That didn’t matter, because after three offensive penalties, the Bucs ended up with a 3rd and 29 on their own 1 yard line on their ensuing drive and gave up a safety. Lead cut down to 3.
- Saints of course tie up the game on their next drive and take it into overtime.
- The Saints win the toss and get the ball first in OT, and the Bucs have a crippling illegal contact penalty on third and ten to give the Saints a first down.
- The defense lays down and the Saints march on to a touchdown. Lead blown.
13.) October 26th, 2014 – Vikings @ Bucs
Why it was heartbreaking:
- In this offensive stinker, the Bucs were down 10-6 in the fourth quarter.
- The Bucs convert a 4th-and-1 with 2:30 left in the game, and end up scoring a TD to put them up 13-10 with 2 minutes left.
- CB Johnthan Banks drops what would have been the game-clinching INT with less than a minute to go.
- Vikings then proceed to drive the field and kick a FG to take it into overtime.
- The Bucs win the toss, and on their first play in OT, fumble the ball. Vikings scoop and score. Comeback squelched. Lead blown.
14.) November 9th, 2014 – Falcons @ Bucs
Why it was heartbreaking:
- The Buccaneers once again held a 1-point lead in the fourth quarter.
- They blew that lead in spite of holding the Falcons to what would have been just a field goal, but because of a defensive hands-to-the-face penalty away from the ball on 3rd down, Atlanta got a fresh set of downs and scored a TD.
- Down ten with just under 2 minutes left and all timeouts, Josh McCown throws a ball into the endzone that gets tipped and intercepted by Atlanta. The problem is, it was tipped by Vincent Jackson, who was pushed out of bounds. This means that it should have been ruled an incomplete pass and a penalty due to illegal touching. In spite of reviewing the INT, the refs don’t catch it and the Falcons get the ball.
- The Bucs get the ball back with too little time left and can’t do anything. Lead blown. Comeback squelched.
Go Cory Sports 