In week 9, Tampa Bay beat the then-undefeated Minnesota Vikings with an explosive game which turned the season in the right direction.
In the final week of the regular season, the Buccaneers faced the Green Bay Packers, with the NFC Central title on the line.
After a rally to tie the game in the fourth quarter, kicker Martin Gramatica missed a game-winning field goal attempt at the end of regulation.
The Tampa Bay defense sacked Drew Bledsoe six times, and recovered a fumble to hold a 21–16 lead late in the game.
Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson had been traded to the Buccaneers over the offseason, and for the first time, would meet his former club, the New York Jets.
In the first quarter, King went long for Jacquez Green, who caught it as two Jets defenders misplayed the ball, and went down the sideline for what appeared to be an 86-yard touchdown.
It looked like Tampa Bay would hold on as linebacker Jamie Duncan intercepted another pass from Testaverde in the fourth quarter.
In the overtime period, Deion Sanders returned a Tampa Bay punt 57 yards, setting the Redskins up for a game winning 20-yard field goal.
A 9–0 lead was fizzled away as Lions running back James Stewart rushed for 116 yards, three touchdowns, and a two-point conversion.
Tampa Bay snapped a four-game losing streak by beating their division rivals the Minnesota Vikings in their second meeting of the season.
Martin Gramatica saved the game for the Buccaneers, connecting on two long field goals (54, 51 yards) in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Shaun King threw two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and gained only 91 yards of passing, as the Buccaneers fell to the division rival Bears.
Tampa Bay gained less than 200 yards of offense and allowed 7 sacks, but so-called "Buc Ball" still prevailed over the visiting Bills.
Running back Warrick Dunn finished with two touchdowns and 210 rushing yards, just 9 short of the team single-game record.
With just over 8 minutes remaining, Martin Gramatica made a 46-yard field goal in the pouring rain, and the Buccaneers held on to win.
Facing 3rd down & 7 at the 5 yard line, Shaun King threw a screen pass to Warrick Dunn from the end zone.
On the next play, Mark Royals boomed a 54-yard punt, and good coverage kept the Dolphins starting at midfield rather than needing a single first down to get into field goal range with 2:08 left.
A pass interference call against Brian Kelly put the ball at the 24 yard line and in kicker Olindo Mare's range when Fiedler made the worst play of the day.
The win secured, at minimum, a wild card playoff spot for Tampa Bay, and is regarded as one of the greatest regular season games in Buccaneer history.
A Tampa Bay win, coupled with a loss by Minnesota would clinch the NFC Central title for the Buccaneers, as well as a first-round bye in the playoffs.
In addition, a win by the Buccaneers would break an 11-game losing streak at Green Bay dating back to 1989, and an 0–18 record in games under 40 °F (4 °C).
On Green Bay's next drive, John Lynch intercepted Brett Favre, and returned the ball to the Packers' 35-yard line.
Late in the fourth quarter, Favre drove the Packers into Tampa Bay territory, looking to win the game.
Instead of winning their division and securing a first-round bye (and a legitimate shot at a "home game" for Super Bowl XXXV held at their very own Raymond James Stadium), the Buccaneers instead saw themselves fall to a wild card, having to play on the road at the Eagles.
But late in the period, the Eagles' Hugh Douglas forced Tampa Bay quarterback Shaun King to fumble, and Mike Mamula recovered the loose ball at the Buccaneers 15-yard line.
Tampa Bay then punted on their next possession and the Eagles marched 69 yards on 8 plays to take a 14–3 lead on Na Brown's 5-yard touchdown reception with 12 seconds left in the half.
Philadelphia then shut out the Buccaneers in the second half, while McNabb threw a 2-yard pass to Jeff Thomason with less than a minute left in the game to seal the victory.