Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Buffalo Bills: Week 7 Key Plays

The Buccaneers suffered yet another heartbreaking loss, this time at the hands of Buffalo Bills, what key plays allowed Buffalo to come away with this game?

With this most recent Buccaneers loss, they are skidding and playoff hopes are in real danger. While Buffalo is a tough team, the Buccaneers had a chance to win the game, and ultimately blew it.

These are the games Tampa Bay has to win. Instead they looked like the “same Ol’ Bucs”.

Jameis Winston playing through a shoulder injury played great, it is just sad the defense could’nt make a stop when needed most.

On a positive note, Patrick Murray was a perfect 5 for 5(2 FG, 3 XP) from the field including a 50-yard kick. It is nice to see some kind of stability at the kicking position.

Without further ado, let’s get into the key plays.

LeSean McCoy 1 yd TD run: 9:26 Q2

The Bills methodically drove down the field aided by a big run from McCoy. Buffalo was 3 for 3 on third downs during the drive. Tampa Bay was completely unable to stop the run regardless of who the ball carrier was.

This was a key play because the Bills were able to get the first touchdown of the game and establish their run game.

Must Read: Week 7 Pick Six

Tyrod Taylor 22 yard TD pass to Logan Thomas: 11:36 Q3

With the first possession of the second half, the Bills drove downfield for their second touchdown of the game. Buffalo received some unlikely help on the ground from Mike Tolbert who rumbled for 18-yards to the Tampa Bay 29-yard line.

From there, Buffalo would only need three more plays to score. Taylor hit his open receiver on a defensive miscue for his first passing score of the game.

This was a key play because it allowed the Bills to take a two-possession lead and demoralize the defense.

Jameis Winston 7 yard TD pass to O.J. Howard: 7:11 Q3

The Buccaneers would finally get their first touchdown of the game. Winston led the Bucs on an effective drive, taking what the defense was giving him. He hit Evans for a big play inside the Buffalo 10-yard line before hitting a wide-open O.J. Howard for the score.

This was a key play because the Buccaneers were finally able to find the end zone and made it a one-possession game again.

Jameis Winston 33 yard TD pass to O.J. Howard: 10:08 Q4

Following a field goal by Buffalo to make it a 7 point game, the Bucs were able to tie it up in the fourth quarter.

Martin kept the Bucs drive alive on a critical 3rd and 13 on a check-down from Winston which would eventually set up the big touchdown.

Winston used play-action and rolled to the left finding a wide-open Howard for the second time in the game.

This was a key play because the Buccaneers were able to tie it up, and most importantly they scored quickly.

Lavonte David FF: 9:30 Q4

Mama, there goes that man! For the second straight week, Lavonte David made his presence known with a forced fumble.

David made an exceptional play to force and recover the fumble for the first turnover of the game against Buffalo. He’s a top LB in this league and he is making plays for the Bucs.

This was a key play because it killed a Buffalo drive and gave the Bucs good field position.

Jameis Winston 12 yd TD pass to Mike Evans: 3:14 Q4

Tampa Bay took advantage of the defensive turnover, as Winston tossed his third touchdown pass of the game.

With a short field to work with Winston made sure to eat up the clock, taking up six minutes to go 54-yards for a score. The pass was a beauty too, a brilliant throw by the third-year quarteraback, and an even better catch by Evans.

This was a key play because, for the first time since the first quarter, the Bucs had the lead.

LeSean McCoy 7 yard TD run: 2:28 4th

Buffalo wasted no time once they got the ball back, scoring in just three plays. Taylor hit wide reciever Deonte Thompson for a 44-yard catch deep down the sideline to the Buccaneers 36-yard line.

However, due to an unnecessary roughness penalty on cornerback Robert McClain, the Bills were on the Tampa Bay 21-yard line when it was all said and done. Just two plays later, LeSean McCoy would run it in. In all, the score came in under a minute.

This was a key play because the Bills were able to tie the game and wasted no time in the process.

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Tre’Davious White FF: 2:20 Q4

The third turnover by the Bucs would end up being the costliest, as the Bucs would give the ball up deep in their own territory. Winston found wide receiver Adam Humphries on a screen who picked up 12-yards before having the ball stripped. This was possibly the worst case scenario, as Buffalo would get the ball back with great field position.

This was a key play because it was a key turnover and a great play by White to put Buffalo in a great position to win the game.

Taiwan Jones 11 yard run for a first down: 2:00 Q4

It was a 3rd and 9 right after the two-minute warning as Buffalo ran a sweep to third-string running back Taiwan Jones, and it actually worked.

Tampa Bay defenders had multiple chances to stop him short, but failed to wrap up and it would cost the Bucs the game. It was an inexcusable effort by the defense.

This was a key play because it would pretty much win the game for the Bills and put kicker Steven Hauschka in solid field goal range.

Steven Hauschka 30 yard FG: 0:14 Q4

Following a string of runs, the Bills would settle for a short field goal to take a late lead. Hauschka converted the 30-yard field goal with ease to win the game. The kick made it 30-27, Bills.

This was a key play because it clinched the win for Buffalo.

The Buccaneers would do several laterals, but they did not come close. That play did go on for 45 seconds, which is actually impressive. If Jackson had broken that tackle who knows what could have happened.

Moving on, the Bucs season isn’t completely over, but it isn’t looking good. Tampa Bay is only two games behind division leader Saints and with two upcoming division games, including a game against the Saints the Bucs could rebound in a big way. However, for any of that to happen, the defense has to improve.

The fact that they allowed the Bills to tie the game in under 1 minute was just sad.

The Bucs will return home for a divisional matchup against the Panthers in a (stop me if you heard this before) must win game, I would like to see the defense live up to their talent.