20–17 lead with 1:44 remaining in regulation. However, Detroit drove down the field, and Dave Rayner kicked a field goal for Detroit, and tied the game as time expired. Detroit won the coin toss in overtime, and Rayner kicked the game-winning field goal on the first possession. Had the Buccaneers won (or tied) this game, they would have qualified for the playoffs and denied the eventual Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers a postseason berth. Week 16: vs. Seattle Seahawks Josh Freeman threw for 237 yards and threw five touchdown passes, tying a franchise record, as Tampa Bay routed Seattle 38–15. In the first quarter, Matt Hasselbeck scrambled for a 1-yard touchdown to give Seattle a 7–0 lead. However, Hasselbeck suffered a muscle strain on the play, and was sidelined for the remainder of the game. Backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst was forced to take over for Seattle. Micheal Spurlock returned the ensuing kickoff 79 yards to the Seattle 17-yard line, setting up a Connor Barth field goal. Tampa Bay scored 31 unanswered points, including two touchdown passes apiece from Freeman to Kellen Winslow and Mike Williams. Week 17: at New Orleans Saints Looking to secure a playoff spot, the Buccaneers played at New Orleans. Trailing 3–7 in the second quarter, the Buccaneers took the lead with Josh Freeman completing a 2-yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Briscoe. The Saints tied the game after Garrett Hartley's 45-yard field goal in the third quarter. Tampa Bay re-took the lead after another field goal, then stretched their lead with Freeman's second touchdown pass of the day. The Saints tried to narrow the gap with Hartley making a 38-yard field goal, but the Buccaneers held on to win. With the win, the Buccaneers finished with a 10–6 record, but the Green Bay Packers victory over the Chicago Bears later that day gave them the 6th seed due to a strength of victory tie-breaker and eliminated the Buccaneers from playoff contention. This was also tied with the Giants but were eliminated because of Green Bay's tie breaker with them and the Giants. Off-season Personnel changes Alex Van Pelt joined the team as quarterbacks coach, taking the role over from Greg Olson so that he could concentrate on the offensive coordinator role. Eric Yarber joined the team as wide receivers coach, taking the role over from Richard Mann who left the team. Robert Nunn left the