# 2016 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2016 [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-bay-buccaneers) season was the franchise's 41st in the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league), played at [Raymond James Stadium](https://www.edgepedia.org/raymond-james-stadium), in which the team finished 9-7, second in the NFC South, and posted its first winning record since 2010 while missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker.[1](https://pro-football-history.com/season/974/2016-tampa-bay-buccaneers-schedule) • [2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) • [3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/2016.htm)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record | 9-7-0, 2nd in the NFC South; 354 points scored, 369 allowed (differential -15)[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/2016.htm) • [4](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg) |
| Head coach | Dirk Koetter, promoted from offensive coordinator after Lovie Smith was dismissed in January 2016[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) |
| Playoff outcome | Tied with Detroit for the final NFC playoff spot; the Lions won on a common-opponents tiebreaker[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) |
| Passing | Jameis Winston: 4,090 yards, 28 touchdowns, 18 interceptions, 86.1 rating[5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/) |
| Receiving | Mike Evans: 96 receptions, 1,321 yards, 12 touchdowns[5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/) |
| Rushing | Jacquizz Rodgers led with 560 yards and 2 touchdowns; Doug Martin added 421[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) • [5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/) |
| Defense | Ranked 23rd in the NFL; Gerald McCoy led with 7.0 sacks, Kwon Alexander had 145 tackles[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) • [5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/) |
## Coaching change
In January the Buccaneers fired [Lovie Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/lovie-smith) and elevated offensive coordinator [Dirk Koetter](https://www.edgepedia.org/dirk-koetter) to the head coaching job, expecting him to keep nurturing [Jameis Winston](https://www.edgepedia.org/jameis-winston), a young quarterback showing promise. To run the defense as coordinator, Koetter hired Mike Smith, who had coached the Falcons and worked alongside him in Atlanta.[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016)
## Season summary
The season opened with an emotional win at Atlanta, 31-24, but the defense then surrendered 104 points in a three-game losing streak that included a 40-7 loss at Arizona and a 37-32 home defeat to the Rams.[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) • [6](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/buccaneers/2016) Sitting at 3-5 at midseason after a 43-28 home loss to the Falcons, the Buccaneers reeled off their first five-game winning streak since 2002, beating Chicago, Kansas City, Seattle, the Chargers, and New Orleans to move into the thick of the playoff race.[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) • [6](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/buccaneers/2016)
Tight losses at Dallas (26-20) and at New Orleans (31-24) in Weeks 15 and 16 left the Buccaneers needing help in the final weekend. They took care of their own business, beating Carolina 17-16, but ended in a tie with Detroit for the final NFC playoff spot. The Lions won that on a common-opponents tiebreaker, though at 9-7 the Buccaneers did post their first winning record since 2010.[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) • [6](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/buccaneers/2016)
## Offense
The offense was slowed by injuries that sidelined running backs Doug Martin and [Charles Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/charles-smith), as well as wideout [Vincent Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/vincent-jackson), but Winston still passed for 4,090 yards and 28 touchdowns, with [Mike Evans](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-evans) catching 12 of those scoring throws.[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) Winston completed 345 of 567 passes (60.8 percent) with 18 interceptions and a 86.1 passer rating, and backup Mike Glennon added 75 yards and a touchdown on 10 of 11 passing.[5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/)
Evans finished with 96 receptions for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns, and tight end Cameron Brate added 57 catches for 660 yards and 8 touchdowns.[5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/) With Martin limited to 421 yards on 144 carries (2.9 per carry), Jacquizz Rodgers led the ground game with 560 yards on 129 carries.[5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/) The team totaled 1,875 rushing and 4,165 passing yards, and scored 41 touchdowns, 24 of them through the air.[5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/)
## Defense
The defense ranked 23rd in the NFL. [Gerald McCoy](https://www.edgepedia.org/gerald-mccoy), Robert Ayers, Noah Spence, and [Lavonte David](https://www.edgepedia.org/lavonte-david) all had between five and seven sacks, with McCoy leading at 7.0 and Ayers at 6.5.[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) • [5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/) [Kwon Alexander](https://www.edgepedia.org/kwon-alexander) led the team with 145 tackles, followed by Bradley McDougald with 91 and Lavonte David with 87.[5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/) Brent Grimes and Keith Tandy each intercepted 4 passes.[2](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016) • [5](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/)
## References
1. [2016 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pro Football History](https://pro-football-history.com/season/974/2016-tampa-bay-buccaneers-schedule)
2. [2016 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season | First Winning Record Since 2010, Buccaneers.com](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2016)
3. [2016 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Pro-Football-Reference](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/2016.htm)
4. [2016 NFL League Standings, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg)
5. [Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2016 Team Stats, Buccaneers.com](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/stats/2016/)
6. [2016 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pro Football Rewind](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/buccaneers/2016)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › National Football League › NFL teams and franchises › NFL team seasons 2010 to 2019*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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