CBS Sports Names 1999 Catch as Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Biggest Do-Over

The Bucs could have made it to the Super Bowl a bit earlier if not for a certain Hall of Fame QB.

Sep 8, 2002; Denver, CO, USA; FILE PHOTO; St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner (13) in action against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK / Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY Sports

There are defining plays throughout a franchise's history. These plays can be organizationally changing positively or negatively, sometimes leaving a sour taste in the team's and fans' mouths for years or perhaps even lifetimes.

Those negative instances in a game will be ones that folks will look back on and think "What could have been" or "What if". For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that biggest do-over, according to CBS Sports, is way back in 1999 when they faced off against the Greatest Show on Turf, the St. Louis Rams, and QB Kurt Warner.

"Shaun King's ruled incomplete pass to Bert Emanuel (it would have counted in today's NFL) sealed the Buccaneers' fate in their 11-6 loss to the Rams in the 1999 NFC Championship game. But that play wouldn't have mattered had Kurt Warner not hit Ricky Proehl for the go-ahead score with 4:50 remaining.

Despite playing a near-perfect game against the "Greatest Show on Turf," the Buccaneers' pass rush just missed getting to Warner, whose pass just evaded the reach of cornerback Brian Kelly. Arriving just after Proehl pulled in Warner's pass was Hall of Fame safety John Lynch, who said he replayed the play in his head countless times in the days following the game."

READ MORE: Is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Top Trio Doomed to Fail Without Coach Dave Canales?

24 years ago today, Ricky Proehl caught “The Catch,” sending the #STLRams to the Super Bowl. (January 23, 2000) pic.twitter.com/7M9vC0X6cg

— St. Louis Rams History (@STLRamsHistory) January 23, 2024

Devastating. A couple of plays here and there can be the difference in the history of a franchise. The Buccaneers played well holding the Rams to just 11 total points, but it just wasn't enough on this day. Had the Bucs made this play they likely would have found themselves in the Super Bowl with a great shot to win their first-ever Lombardi Trophy as the Rams would go on to become the eventual Super Bowl champions.

The taste might have been sour, but it didn't take the Buccaneers long to find themselves back in contention for a Super Bowl, winning the organization's first just a few years later in large part due to Ronde Barber's game-sealing pick-six against the Eagles in the 2002 NFC Championship game.

READ MORE: Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC Rival's Biggest Do-Over is Legendary Bucs Moment

Stick with BucsGameday for more FREE coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the offseason.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook

More Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

• Will Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro Left Tackle 'Hold In' During Training Camp?

• Where Does Buccaneers Receiver Mike Evans Rank Among NFL Players Over 30?

• Bucs News: PFF Identifies Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Best Offseason Decision in 2024

• First-Round Rookie Expected to be Crucial to Buccaneers' Success This Season