2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

*Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
*Game weather:
*Stadium: Raymond James Stadium
*Television announcers (FOX): Matt Vasgersian and J.C. Pearson
*Game attendance: 65,423

The Bucs played one of their most heated rivals, the Carolina Panthers, at home. In the first half, it was a rout 20-7 with Bucs QB Chris Simms' first pass intercepted by the Panthers' Chris Gamble. In the second quarter, Tampa Bay finally scored its first touchdown of the season on a short pass from Simms to Joey Galloway, then followed that up in the third quarter with Carnell Williams scoring his first TD run of the season. Later that quarter, Simms led a drive that was wrapped up by a 2-yard bootleg by Simms on a fake to Mike Alstott, but Simms was hit hard on the play, and had to leave the game momentarily to let rookie Bruce Gradkowski take over. Simms returned in the fourth quarter to lead another scoring drive which ended with a long field goal by Matt Bryant. Unfortunately for the Bucs, the Panthers' kicker John Kasay hit his fourth field goal of the day, winning the game for the Panthers with only six seconds to spare. After the game, it was learned that Simms had a ruptured spleen and went into emergency surgery to remove it. Originally diagnosed as bruised ribs, it was only discovered shortly after the game ended. If discovery had been delayed any longer, Simms would have died. The injury cost Simms the rest of the season.

Week 4: Open date

The Buccaneers bye week was scheduled for week 4.

Week 5: at New Orleans Saints

*Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
*Game weather:
*Stadium: Raymond James Stadium
*Television announcers (FOX): Brad Sham and Brian Baldinger
*Game attendance: 65,808

The Bucs entered week 7 against an Eagles team looking to build upon their 14-13 win over the Bengals. The Bucs defense stepped up big early, particularly Ronde Barber, who returned two Donovan McNabb interceptions for touchdowns. The Bucs however blew a 17-point lead when Brian Westbrook scored on a 52 yard touchdown with 33 seconds left. With two timeouts remaining, the Bucs drove to the Philadelphia 45 yard line with 4 seconds left. Kicker Matt Bryant then converted on an improbable, franchise record 62-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bucs a 23-21 victory. Ironically, the kick was the same distance Bengals' Shayne Graham missed from the previous week. The Bucs improved to 2-4. The kick was one yard short of the NFL record (63 yards) and the second-longest game-winning field goal in NFL history.

Week 8: at New York Giants

*Game time: 8:30 PM EST
*Game weather:
*Stadium: Bank of America Stadium
*Television announcers (ESPN): Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann, and Tony Kornheiser
*Game attendance: 73,573

The Buccaneers travelled to Bank of America Stadium for an NFC South rematch on Monday Night Football with the Carolina Panthers. In the first quarter, QB Bruce Gradkowski completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR Ike Hilliard for the only score of the period and the first half. However, in the third quarter, the Panthers struck back with a vengeance as kicker John Kasay nailed a 28-yard field goal, QB Jake Delhomme completing a 4-yard TD pass to WR Keyshawn Johnson, and FB Brad Hoover contributing a 5-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, even though kicker Matt Bryant would nail 28-yard field goal, Carolina managed to put the game away with Delhomme completing a 36-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith. With the loss, the Bucs fell to 2-7.

Week 11: vs. Washington Redskins

*Game time: 4:15 PM EST
*Game weather:
*Stadium: Heinz Field
*Television announcers (FOX): Ron Pitts and Jesse Palmer
*Game attendance: 59,843

Bruce Gradkowski's homecoming was also his worst game of the season. In the first quarter, Ben Roethlisberger threw his only interception early in the game to linebacker Derrick Brooks. Later in the quarter, Gradkowski tossed his first interception to Steeler linebacker Larry Foote. In the final seconds of the first quarter, Roethlisberger threw a short touchdown pass to tight end Jerame Tuman. Later in the first half, Gradkowski tossed another interception in the red zone to Bryant McFadden. Steeler kicker Jeff Reed, kicked a fifty-yard field goal to end the first half. After another interception of Gradkowski in the second half, Roethlisberger completed a touchdown pass in the early fourth quarter. By the two-minute warning, the score was 20-0, in the favor of the Steelers. Tampa Bay kicker Matt Bryant, made sure the Bucs did not get shut out with a 27-yard field goal in the last seconds of regulation.

Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons

*Game time: 1:00 PM EST
*Game weather:
*Stadium: Cleveland Browns Stadium
*Television announcers (FOX): Matt Vasgersian and J.C. Pearson
*Game attendance: 69,603

Trying to end a four-game losing skid, the Buccaneers flew to Cleveland Browns Stadium for a Week 16 interconference fight with the Cleveland Browns on Christmas Eve. In the first half, the Bucs got off to a decent start with kicker Matt Bryant nailing a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter. In the third quarter, Tampa Bay increased its lead RB Michael Pittman's 11-yard TD run (following PAT was blocked). In the fourth quarter, the Pewter Pirates' defense got a chance to score with OLB Derrick Brooks returning an interception 21 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, the Browns would get their only score of the game as CB Daven Holly returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown. After that, the Bucs wrapped the game up with Bryant's 37-yard field goal. With the win, the Buccaneers improved to 4-11.

Week 17: vs. Seattle Seahawks

*Game time: 1:00 PM EST
*Game weather:
*Stadium: Raymond James Stadium
*Television announcers (FOX): Matt Vasgersian and J.C. Pearson
*Game attendance: 65,660

Trying to end their season on a high note on New Year's Eve, the Buccaneers hosted the NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks. Tampa Bay trailed early as Seahawks kicker Josh Brown nailed a 35-yard field goal, which was followed by RB Shaun Alexander's one-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Bucs got their only score of the game with QB Tim Rattay completing a 4-yard TD pass to WR Joey Galloway. Afterwards, Seattle continued its dominance with QB Matt Hasselbeck completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR D.J. Hackett. After that, the Seahawks wrapped up the game in the second half with Brown getting a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. With the loss, the Buccaneers ended their year at 4-12.

Division standings