The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have enjoyed a resurgence in relevance over the past few years thanks to the addition of quarterback Tom Brady. However, Tampa Bay spent quite a bit of time atop NFL standings in the past. Today, we dive into the postseason record books to find out exactly how much success the Cowboys have had throughout their long history.
*We’ll only consider appearances from the 1970 merger onward.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Playoff Appearances and Results by Year
- 2021
- Wild Card: Won 31-15 vs. Eagles
- Division: Lost 30-27 vs. Rams
- 2020
- Wild Card: Won 31-23 @ Washington
- Division: Won 30-2 @ Saints
- Conference Championship: Won 31-26 @ Green Bay
- Super Bowl: Won 31-9 vs. Chiefs
- 2007
- Wild Card: Lost 24-14 vs. Giants
- 2005
- Wild Card: Lost 17-10 vs. Washington
- 2002
- Division: Won 31-6 vs. 49ers
- Conference Championship: Won 27-10 @ Eagles
- Super Bowl: Won 48-21 vs. Raiders
- 2001
- Wild Card: Lost 31-9 @ Eagles
- 2000
- Wild Card: Lost 21-3 @ Eagles
- 1999
- Division: Won 24-13 vs. Washington
- Conference Championship: Lost 11-6 @ Rams
- 1997
- Wild Card: Won 20-10 vs. Lions
- Divisional Round: Lost 21-7 @ Packers
- 1982
- Wild Card: Lost 30-17 @ Cowboys
- 1981
- Divisional Round: Lost 38-0 @ Cowboys
- 1979
- Divisional Round: Won 24-17 vs. Eagles
- Conference Championship: L 9-0 vs. Rams
Buccaneers Playoff History FAQ
The Buccaneers saw a ton of success in the early 2000s but struggled for a long time before that. Let’s break down some of the top highlights.
What’s the Buccaneers’ Playoff Win/Loss Record?
The Buccaneers have an 11-10 postseason record following the NFL’s 1970 merger.
How Many Times Have the Buccaneers Been to the Playoffs?
The 2022 season notwithstanding, the Buccaneers have been to the playoffs 12 times. Nearly half of those appearances were between 2000-2007. Before then, there was a huge gap between their 1982 appearance and their next appearance in 1997. In their first 20 seasons, the Buccaneers only made the playoffs three times.
How Many Super Bowl Appearances Do the Buccaneers Have?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have appeared in the Super Bowl two times. Their first-ever appearance was in 2002.
How Many Super Bowls Have the Buccaneers Won?
The Buccaneers have only ever appeared in two Super Bowls, but they actually won both of those games. That means they have won a total of two Super Bowls.
In their first-ever Super Bowl appearance, the Buccaneers dominated the Oakland Raiders, who were the AFC’s No. 1 seed, 48-21. Similar to their win in 2020, this Super Bowl featured the league’s top offense (Raiders) against its top defense (Buccaneers). Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon threw a Super Bowl record five interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. The Buccaneers also sacked Gannon five times and scored 34 consecutive points to build a 34–3 lead late in the third quarter.
Often referred to as the “Gruden Bowl,” this game was unique due to head coach Jon Gruden. He was the head coach for the Raiders from 1998-2001 but was traded to Tampa Bay in 2002. He then led the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl, where he defeated his old team.
When Was the Last Time the Buccaneers Made the Super Bowl?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers last made the Super Bowl in 2020, where they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9. It was a storybook ending to a magical season that saw QB Tom Brady come to town and lead the team to glory at the age of 43. Brady was named the Super Bowl MVP for a record fifth time in his career. He also became the oldest player in the NFL’s history to win the honor.
For the first time under quarterback QB Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs failed to score a touchdown and lost by double-digits, making them the third Super Bowl team not to score a touchdown in history. It was a shocking turn of events considering the Chiefs had the top-ranked offense in the league heading into the game.