Blocked Field Goal, Ten-Second Runoff Help Sink Bucs in 19-17 Loss to Rams

Sep 14, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) lays on the ground after getting hit by St. Louis Rams defensive back T.J. McDonald (25) on the last play of the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finding extremely creative ways to lose football games.

Lovie Smith’s squad has now dropped two in a row at home against backup quarterbacks to begin the year 0-2. This one came courtesy of a few different factors, which I will recap for you now.

The first, and most glaring, was the injury bug. During the course of Sunday’s game, the Buccaneers lost Gerald McCoy (broken hand) and Mason Foster (shoulder). They were already down to both of their backup defensive ends, and at one point were without Dashon Goldson for a few plays. The Rams, behind first-time NFL starter Austin Davis, took advantage. St. Louis’ backup quarterback looked extremely comfortable under pressure, and the put the ball exactly where it needed to be on most occasions. He finished the day 22-for-29 with over 200 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Davis played admirably for his team, and it never seemed like he was out of his element.

Speaking of which, the red zone doesn’t seem to be the Buccaneers’ element after this game with the Rams. Tampa Bay reached the red zone five times, but came away with only 17 points. Two of those possessions saw the Buccaneers end their drive with no points. One came early in the game with Josh McCown throwing an ugly interception. He went 16-for-21 on the day with 179 yards and one interception. To his credit, he also rushed for both of Tampa Bay’s touchdowns in the game.

The other red zone drive where the came away with no points was late in the game, as Demar Dotson and Luke Stocker missed their blocks on a Patrick Murray field goal attempt which ended up getting blocked. That was a six-point swing, as the Rams made a field goal of their own on the following drive.

But the final nail in the Buccaneers’ coffin on Sunday was the most heart-breaking part of this loss. With 38 seconds left on the clock and no timeouts, the Bucs had to try to get in field goal range to kick the game-winning attempt. Josh McCown first completed a pass to Bobby Rainey which put Tampa up towards their own 40. They spiked the ball with just around 20 seconds left to stop the clock.

Next, Bucs fans thought the team would be able to pull out a win after McCown found Mike Evans for a huge catch just in front of the 30 yard line. Evans took a huge shot on the play, which ended with about 12 seconds on the clock. But by the time the referees had realized Evans was injured on the play, there were only 8.

By NFL rule, a team with no timeouts that has an injury on the field is subject to a 10 second runoff of the clock, and since the referees didn’t stop the clock as soon as the last play was over, Tampa Bay never got to try their field goal attempt. Instead, the clock ran, and the game was over. Bucs lose a heartbreaker, 19-17.

It’s hard to find any positives, but there is one that is too glaring not to share.

Bobby Rainey got the start on Sunday for the injured Doug Martin, and the former WKU Hilltopper put on a show. He carried the ball 22 times for 144 yards, and caught three passes for another 30 yards. He was easily the best player on the field for the Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.

With their 0-2 record, the Buccaneers will try to get healthy on a short week before they take on the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Thursday Night Football.

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