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Through the ups and the downs, it was a memorable season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs started hot, nosedived and then somehow crawled back all through the 2023 season, finishing the year at 9-8 and as NFC South Champions. They didn’t stop there, though, winning their first Wild Card playoff game and then battling close with the Detroit Lions before losing that game and ending their season. All in all, the team was a big success given the odds against them at the beginning of the season, and it was wild ride in the first year of the post-Tom Brady era.
There were plenty of memorable moments throughout the year, and we picked one photo from each game — preseason and postseason — to display the journey. Check out our picks below:
Pittsburgh Steelers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 11: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands off during…
TAMPA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 11: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands off during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Raymond James Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Syndication: The Record
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer (10) catches a touchdown pass as New York Jets…
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer (10) catches a touchdown pass as New York Jets cornerback Derrick Langford (36) looks on in the first half of a preseason NFL game at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in East Rutherford.
NFL: Preseason-Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Aug 26, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Kaevon Merriweather (26) break up Baltimore…
Aug 26, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Kaevon Merriweather (26) break up Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar (88) catch as Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27) reacts during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Minnesota Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 10: Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is tackled by…
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 10: Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is tackled by Camryn Bynum #24 of the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter of a game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 17: Lucas Patrick #62 of the Chicago Bears waits to snap the…
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 17: Lucas Patrick #62 of the Chicago Bears waits to snap the ball during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
NFL: Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sep 25, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) lines up against…
Sep 25, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) lines up against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v New Orleans Saints
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 01: Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates…
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 01: Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after a play during the first half against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on October 01, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NFL: Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Oct 15, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) drops back to…
Oct 15, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) drops back to pass against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Falcons v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 22: Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers avoids a tackle…
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 22: Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers avoids a tackle after a reception in the second quarter of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans
Nov 5, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans mascot ÔToroÕ holds a sign as Tampa Bay…
Nov 5, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans mascot ÔToroÕ holds a sign as Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) calls a play in the huddle during the fourth quarter of the game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nov 12, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) gets hit by Tampa…
Nov 12, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) gets hit by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Markees Watts (58) in the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v San Francisco 49ers
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 19: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on…
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 19: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on at the line of scrimmage during the first half of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Indianapolis Colts
Nov 26, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) points at…
Nov 26, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) points at the crowd after catching a long pass during the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Carolina Panthers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 03: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after a…
TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 03: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after a first down reception against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium on December 03, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Atlanta Falcons
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 10: Cade Otton #88 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown…
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 10: Cade Otton #88 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown as he is defended by
Richie Grant #27 Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers
Dec 17, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Logan Hall (90) smiles…
Dec 17, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Logan Hall (90) smiles as he walks off the field after recovering a fumble by Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) late in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dec 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars huddle during a…
Dec 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars huddle during a timeout in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dec 31, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) hands off to…
Dec 31, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) hands off to running back Alvin Kamara (41) in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
Jan 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) receives the…
Jan 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) receives the ball in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: NFC Wild Card Round-Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) celebrates his…
Jan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) celebrates his touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of a 2024 NFC wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: NFC Divisional Round-Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
Jan 21, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is unable…
Jan 21, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is unable to make a catch against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (35) during the second quarter in a 2024 NFC divisional round game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
