What better way to celebrate 50 seasons in the National Football League than to host a game against the other team celebrating their own special anniversary?
The Seattle Seahawks announced on Friday that their Week 6 home game on Oct. 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be the designated ‘50th Season Game.’ There will undoubtedly be a host of special commemorative festivities, of which we know one will be Seattle honoring the top 50 Seahawks of all-time.
Seattle’s first win in franchise history came on Oct. 17, 1976 against the Buccaneers. Sam McCullum’s touchdown catch and two John Leypoldt field goals were enough for the Seahawks to prevail 13-10 on the road over the Steve Spurrier-led Buccaneers. Tampa Bay, of course, famously lost its first 26 games over its first two seasons.
The Seahawks’ third win also came against the Buccaneers on Oct. 16, 1977, with Steve Myer serving as starting quarterback and Steve Largent snagging a couple of touchdown grabs. Seattle forced six turnovers on its way to a 30-23 victory.
In more recent times, the last two Seahawks home game versus the Bucs have resulted in Seattle overtime victories. Russell Wilson’s touchdown to Jacob Hollister gave Seattle a 40-34 comeback win in November 2019, while the eventual Super Bowl champion ‘Hawks won 27-24 against a horrendous Bucs team that somehow raced out to a 21-0 lead. Wilson threw for two TDs, ran for another, and Steven Hauschka sealed the deal in OT in an unexpected thriller.
I don’t know whether or not double throwbacks are allowed by the NFL, but the only way for this 50th anniversary game to work is if the Buccaneers are also allowed to wear their classic ‘Creamsicle’ uniforms.
