Injuries plagued the team. James Wilder emerged as one of the NFL's best running backs, but was not able to finish the season due to injury. Eighteen different players spent time on the injured reserve list over the course of the season, and only three started all sixteen games. Every member of the offensive line suffered an early-season injury, and the linebackers and defensive backfield were also hit hard. McKay blamed the team's problems on lack of effort and threatened personnel changes, while admitting that replacements would not be readily found. Attendance declined, and fans called for McKay's retirement. Owner Hugh Culverhouse reported an expected loss of $1.25 million due to declining ticket sales, while merchants reported a drop in merchandise sales. The team's final 2–14 record tied them with the Houston Oilers for the league's worst mark, but the Buccaneers were awarded last place over the Oilers by virtue of their opponents' worse combined winning percentage.