1980 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

Infobox NFL_season
team = Tampa Bay Buccaneers
year = 1980
record = 5-10-1
division_place = 4th NFC Central
coach = John McKay
stadium = Tampa Stadium
playoffs = "Did not qualify"The 1980 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 10-6 season. At first it looked as if the Buccaneers took over right where they left off. After a week one win on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals on a last minute touchdown, Tampa Bay made their first appearance ever on ABC's Monday Night Football. Playing in the national spotlight against the Los Angeles Rams for the second time in just over 9 months, the game was almost a carbon copy of the 1979 NFC Championship game won 9-0 by the Rams. In this game however, Doug Williams led the Bucs to a victory scoring the 10 points they needed the year before in a 10-9 win in which he willed himself into the endzone with seconds left. Some feel the turning point in the 1980 season came in this game, which was the season ending injury to Nose Tackle Randy Crowder. With his 1979 Back up now playing next to him on the line, the Bucs were forced to go with young David Logan who would become a star in Tampa, but was inexperienced. The Tampa Bay Defense, the pride and strength of the team, would give up large chunks of yardage in the coming weeks in losses which added up. In week 6 they recorded their first and as of 2008 only tie in their history, a 14-14 game against the Green Bay Packers. There were some bright spots however, as Quarterback Doug Williams became the first Buccaneer to ever pass for 3,000 yards in a season. After making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 1979, this season was a major disappointment.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Awards and honors

* Lee Roy Selmon, All-Pro selection
* Lee Roy Selmon, Pro Bowl selection

References

* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/1980.htm Buccaneers on Pro Football Reference]