Raheem Morris will spend his third season as head coach. The team will attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007. They will try to build upon their success from 2010, when despite having a 10-6 record, they failed to make the playoffs.
After finishing the 2010 season 10-6 and narrowly missing the playoffs, the Buccaneers had the 20th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. A provision in the now expired collective bargaining agreement ensured that the draft still take place, despite the current lockout and lack of a new CBA.
The Buccaneers' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011. For the third consecutive year, training camp was held at the team's facilities at One Buc Place. During training camp, Tampa Bay became the first NFL club to discontinue the use of paper copies of playbooks, and instead distributed all players their playbook and videos in electronic format via an iPad 2.[2]
On March 21, 2011, Aqib Talib was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following an incident in Garland, Texas, in which Talib and his mother allegedly shot at a man.[3] On August 23, Talib met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell regarding possible game suspensions regarding his charge.[4][5] On August 27, it was announced that Talib would not be suspended for any games.[6]
Regular season[]
Schedule[]
The Buccaneers' regular season schedule was announced April 19. Tampa Bay will play Chicago at Wembley Stadium in London on October 23 as part of the NFL International Series, with Tampa Bay serving as the host team.[7]
The team's Ring of Honor induction ceremony is scheduled to take place during the December 4 game against Carolina. The team will honor Jimmie Giles at halftime, and wear their orange throwback uniforms.[8]
Detroit scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, and led Tampa Bay 27-13 late in the game. Josh Freeman suffered through some cramping issues, but rallied the Buccaneers to score a touchdown with under four minutes remaining. The subsequent onside kick failed, but the Buccaneers were able to get the ball back in the final two minutes. Freeman drove Tampa Bay to the Lions 42 yard line in the closings seconds, but they were unable to score.
Week 2: at Minnesota Vikings[]
Week Two: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Minnesota led Tampa Bay 17-0 at halftime, but the Buccaneers rallied for the 24-20 victory on the road. In the final four minutes, Josh Freeman drove the Buccaneers 61 yards in 9 plays, capped off by a game-winning 4-yard touchdown run by LeGarrette Blount with 35 seconds remaining.
Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons[]
Week Three: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Tampa Bay led Atlanta 16-13 with 1:49 remaining. The Buccaneers faced 4th down & 1 at the Atlanta 44 yard line. The Falcons had no timeouts remaining, and were looking to get the ball back for one last drive. Josh Freeman and the Buccaneers lined up for the fourth down play, and the Falcons flinched on the hard count. The Falcons were penalized 5 yards for Offsides, the Buccaneers received a first down, and were able to run the clock out the secure the victory.
Tampa Bay snapped a 5-game losing streak to their division rivals, and coach Raheem Morris won his first game against Atlanta.
Week 4: vs. Indianapolis Colts[]
Week Four: Indianapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Tampa Bay hosted the winless Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football. Miscues and penalties nearly cost the Buccaneers control of the game, but Josh Freeman threw for 287 yards, and LeGarrette Blount rushed for 127 yards, as Tampa Bay won the game 24-17. Curtis Painter started at quarterback for the Colts, his first career NFL start.
The Colts led early after an Adam Vinatieri field goal. Tampa Bay then sacked Painter and recovered the fumble. Connor Barth's field goal attempt, however, bounced off the upright, and the score remained 3-0. Late in the first quarter, Freeman connected to Arrelious Benn, who ran 62 yards for an apparent touchdown. However, the touchdown was nullified since Benn has stepped out-of-bounds before the catch (illegal touching).
In the second quarter, the Buccaneers pinned the Colts at their own 2 yard line. Painter threw to Pierre Garçon, who ran for an 87-yard touchdown, and 10-0 lead. Tampa Bay answered with a touchdown, and trimmed the score to 10-7. In the final seconds of the first half, Freeman drove the Buccaneers to the Colts 19 yard line, but was sacked with 20 seconds to go and counting. The field goal unit hurried on to the field, and the field goal was initially good. Tampa Bay, however, was penalized for 12 men on the field, and the score was nullified.
Tied 17-17 in the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay received a punt with just under 7 minutes remaining. LeGarrette Blount blasted for a 35-yard touchdown run, and a 24-17 Tampa Bay lead. In the final three mintues, Tampa Bay ran out the clock, including a "4th & Inches" quarterback sneak by Freeman, to seal the victory.
This was Tampa Bay's first appearance on Monday Night Football since 2008, and the first home Monday night game since 2003. This MNF telecast was notable in that Hank Williams, Jr.'s "All My Rowdy Friends" opening was omitted due to comments he made on Fox & Friends earlier in the day where he compared a golf outing involving Barack Obama, John Boehner, Joe Biden, and John Kasich to "Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu."[10][11]
Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers[]
Week Five: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Josh Freeman threw two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), as Tampa Bay was crushed 48-3 at San Francisco. Tampa Bay was held to only 86 yards rushing, had three turnovers, and suffered 9 penalties for a total of 96 yards.
Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints[]
Week Six: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Both of Tampa Bay's home preseason games were blacked out on local television because they failed to sell out prior to 72 hours before kickoff.[13][14][15] The affiliates affected include WTSP in the Tampa/St. Pete market, WFTV in the Orlando market[13] and WFTX in the Fort Myers area. The game was shown instead in tape delay.[14] The game was aired live on WTLH in Tallahassee since it falls outside the designated 75-mile blackout radius.
Dating back to 2010, Tampa Bay has had four consecutive preseason home games blacked out.
Regular season[]
Tampa Bay's week 1 game against Detroit[16] and week 3 game against Atlanta[17] failed to sell out, and were blacked out locally. Tampa Bay was the only NFL team to face a blackout in week 1. The FOX affiliates affected were WTVT in the Tampa/St. Pete market and WOFL in Orlando.
Dating back to 2010, Tampa Bay had ten consecutive regular season home games blacked out.[17] The blackout streak ended in week 4, when the Buccaneers hosted the Colts on Monday Night Football.[18]
Tampa Bay's week 7 game against Chicago in London is not subject to blackout, regardless of sellout status.[19]
