Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Arizona Cardinals: A Week 13 Disappointment
It was a nail-biting victory, with the Buccaneers narrowly edging out the Cardinals at home with a score of 20-17. But despite the win, there were significant concerns. Let's dive into what went wrong.
Receiver Drops
Two of the most reliable receivers, known for their sure hands, had costly drops that prevented the Buccaneers from scoring more points. Early in the game, on a crucial 3rd and 10, Emeka Egbuka couldn't hold onto a pass that would have given the Bucs a first down in field goal range. Later, Chris Godwin missed a potential touchdown catch in the end zone. These drops cost the team a total of seven potential points. Considering Godwin and Egbuka's past performance, this is a worrying trend. Their catch percentages are hovering around 50% this year.
Bucs’ Flat Coverage
Aiming to prevent deep plays, the Buccaneers' defense left the flats open, which Arizona quarterback Jacoby Brissett exploited. Running backs Zonovan (Bam) Knight and Michael Carter, along with receiver Greg Dortch, capitalized on this, combining for 97 yards and a touchdown, with most of their production coming from the flats. Brissett consistently found open receivers, extending drives and leading to crucial scores.
Offensive Operation Struggles And Penalties
The Buccaneers struggled to read the Cardinals' defensive formations before the snap, forcing quarterback Baker Mayfield to make multiple protection adjustments and audibles, which caused the play clock to run down. This led to a false start penalty that stalled a promising drive. Penalties plagued the team throughout the game, with Luke Goedeke and Payne Durham getting flagged for false starts and holding penalties. Durham's holding penalty wiped a Bucky Irving touchdown off the board, and Goedeke's negated a Sean Tucker run.
Missed Tackles
The Buccaneers had an uncharacteristic number of missed tackles. Jamel Dean and Jacob Parrish missed tackles early in the game, allowing a Bam Knight run for a significant gain. These issues continued late in the game, allowing Arizona to gain crucial yards and extend drives. The missed tackles also extended to the pass rush, as Brissett escaped multiple sacks.
Bucs’ Second-Half Trey McBride Plan
After containing Trey McBride in the first half, the Buccaneers struggled to adjust to the All-Pro tight end in the second half. McBride became a primary target for Brissett, making key catches that helped Arizona mount a comeback. He had a big 20-yard catch and a 15-yard touchdown catch, closing the score. The Buccaneers failed to adapt when their initial plan stopped working, giving McBride easy gains.
What are your thoughts on the Buccaneers' performance? Do you agree with these points of concern, or do you have a different perspective on what went wrong? Share your opinions in the comments below!
