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Buccaneers Extra Points: A Week 4 to Week 5 Review

By Jerry Stalheim

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 5: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes his way off the field following the Bucs' loss to the New England Patriots at an NFL football game on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 5: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes his way off the field following the Bucs' loss to the New England Patriots at an NFL football game on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 5: Free safety Chris Conte #23 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackles wide receiver Danny Amendola #80 of the New England Patriots during the second quarter of an NFL football game on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 5: Free safety Chris Conte #23 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackles wide receiver Danny Amendola #80 of the New England Patriots during the second quarter of an NFL football game on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

BETTER: DEFENSE ON THIRD DOWN

STOPPING TEAMS FROM CONVERTING ON THIRD DOWN

In the Giants game the Buccaneers defense struggled to get off the field on third down allowing the Giants offense to convert on eight of seventeen attempts or 47% of the time.
Although they did quite well in the first half allowing them to convert on only two of nine attempts (22%) but when the Giants got on a role in the second half the Buccaneers struggled allowing the Giants to convert on six of eight attempts (75%).

Which in turn allowed the Giants to take the lead twice at 17 to 16 and then 23 to 22 before moving from their own 25 to the Giants sixteen in the final three minutes of the game to kick the game winning field goal.

Must Read: Cardinals to Watch vs Bucs

During the Patriots game the Buccaneers were much improved in covering on third down of the Patriots offense by only allowing them to convert four of thirteen attempts (31%).
Going three for eight (38%) in the first half and only one for five (20%) in the second half, and only allowing the high powered offense of the Patriots (averaging 419.4 yards/game ranked number one, and 29.6 points/game ranked third) to score one touchdown in the game when they took a 10-7 lead.

A much improved third down defensive performance against the Patriots offense was big and with the expected return of Lavonte David, and TJ Ward this week it could improve on a regular basis. The Buccaneers still rank 29th though on third down defense allowing teams to convert on 46.43% of their third down attempts.

Those were some of the things that the Buccaneers did much BETTER against the Patriots in week five then they did against the Giants in week four, so now let’s take a look at some of the things that the Buccaneers were WORSE at against the Patriots included an “old nemesis” that costs the Buccaneers a win.

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