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Bobby Rainey surprised at duration of Bucs' skid at home: 'That is sad'

TAMPA, Fla. -- Surprise washed across the face of Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey.

Early Thursday afternoon, he was told his team last won a regular-season home game in Week 14 of the 2013 season, when the Bucs beat the Buffalo Bills. He knew Tampa Bay's slump at Raymond James Stadium was long -- it stands at 11 consecutive losses -- but he didn't realize how dire the situation had become.

"That's the last game we won at home?" said Rainey, who ran for 127 yards and one touchdown against the Bills that day. "I can't even remember. I didn't even know that. That is sad. I did not know that. Dang. Wow."

The Bucs have a chance to end that futility Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have lost 11 consecutive road games.

The Bucs' current slide began when they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15 of the 2013 season under then-coach Greg Schiano. They're winless in 10 home games under coach Lovie Smith since the start of the 2014 season, a stretch that includes blowout losses to the Baltimore Ravens (31 points), Tennessee Titans (28) and Green Bay Packers (17).

Although 22 months have passed since the Bucs' last home victory, memories from that 27-6 victory over the Bills remain. In addition to Rainey's rushing output, quarterback Mike Glennon threw for two touchdowns. The Bucs also intercepted quarterback EJ Manuel four times on an afternoon when Tampa Bay forced five turnovers.

"Everybody was happy," Rainey said. "Definitely, everybody was happy. It didn't matter if you were a fan of the Bucs or not, you were happy, especially being in Tampa, so the vibe and everything [was good]. And winning is always fun, anyway. It doesn't matter if you didn't get a certain block. As long as you win, nobody really cares. So it was fun. ... We need to get back to that."

Added Bucs wide receiver Vincent Jackson: "Man, that was a while ago. But it's always fun to win at home. It's fun to win any football game in the NFL. It's tough. So it has been a while. It has been a drought here, and we definitely need to do it for ourselves, do it for our fans, do it for this organization, and get back to a tradition of protecting this place.

"Raymond James needs to be a tough place to play. And know that we're going to come in and give everybody our best shot."

It remains to be seen if the Bucs will earn that elusive home victory Sunday. But if they do, a sad slump will end at last.