After a one-year absence, the Buccaneers returned to the playoffs in 1981, earning a Wild Card berth with a 9-7 record that included a hard-fought 4-1 finish to the regular season. Cedric Brown led a defensive rebound with nine interceptions and the Buccaneers picked off opposing passers a whopping 32 times. In his second season, Kevin House emerged as the team's top receiver, recording the first 1,000-yard receiving season in team annals and helping Doug Williams set a career high with 3,563 passing yards. Jimmie Giles gave a thriving passing attack another big weapon, adding 786 yards and six touchdowns. The season came down to a winner-take-all showdown with the Lions in Detroit, which the Bucs won 20-17 to capture a second NFC Central title. The team's second playoff appearance was brief, a 38-0 shutout loss in Dallas.
