Breaking Down the Final Buccaneers’ Drive vs. the Rams

Second and Ten, Rams’ 15, :04 Left

Despite the mistakes, the Bucs still have a chance to win here. It’s second down from the 15 yard line. They line up with three wide receivers to the left and one to the right. We know what the Bucs need. They need a touchdown. Koetter sends the four wide receivers to the end zone, hopeful they can get one to make a play to pull the game out.

Then, the quarterback’s brain freezes.

Winston is stepping up in the pocket with his eyes downfield. The trouble is, nobody is open. But the middle of the field is open. The defenders are either in the end zone or at the one yard line. Shouldn’t Jameis take off?

Now here we have the head scratcher. See all of that open field in the box? What is the quarterback doing? Well, he is looking downfield for an open receiver. Good idea, right? It would be if he wasn’t TWO YARDS BEYOND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE! This is the time to make a mad dash to the goal line. But you have to remember where you are on the field first. Does Winston ever take off for the end zone?

He never gets the chance. The Rams’ defender catches Winston from behind at the five yard line, and just like that, the game is over. The Bucs fall to 1-2 and we are left to wonder what might have been.

Next: Bucs' Week Three Report Card

As I said at the top, Koetter certainly deserves blame for this. Why he didn’t call a timeout after the Sims’ first down is beyond me. But there was plenty of blame to go around. These things happen with young teams.

But they must learn from it. Tune it next week for more for the “Eye in the Sky”.