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===2006===

{{main|2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers}}
After winning the division in 2005, the Bucs suffered through an abysmal 2006 season. The season was plagued by injuries, with starters such as G [[Dan Buenning]], WR [[Michael Clayton]], RB [[Carnell Williams]], DE [[Simeon Rice]], CB [[Brian Kelly (football player)|Brian Kelly]], and QB [[Chris Simms]] all being placed on injured reserve at some point in the season. The season also saw a lot of rookies starting for the Bucs, such as QB [[Bruce Gradkowski]], T [[Jeremy Trueblood]], and G [[Davin Joseph]].

The Bucs started off the season 0-3, with QB [[Chris Simms]] throwing only 1 touchdown to 7 interceptions. In the third game of the season, a last-minute loss to the [[Carolina Panthers|Panthers]], Simms' spleen was ruptured, and he was placed on injured reserve for the balance of the season. After their bye week, the Bucs elected to start rookie quarterback [[Bruce Gradkowski]], a 6th-round pick from Toledo. After nearly beating the [[New Orleans Saints|Saints]], Gradkowski lead the team to last-minute wins over the [[Cincinnati Bengals|Bengals]] and [[Philadelphia Eagles|Eagles]]. The success was short-lived, however, and the Bucs lost five of the next six games. [[Tim Rattay]] replaced Gradkowski as quarterback late in the season, and the team finished 4-12. The aged defense, with 5 starters who had played there for a decade or more, was ranked 17th overall, the first time a Tampa defense was not ranked in the top ten since 1996.