Buccaneers: Key Plays from 2017 Week 11 against the Dolphins

The Buccaneers picked up their second straight victory over another AFC East team, beating the Miami Dolphins 30-20.

The Buccaneers defense played great (for the most part) again, forcing five turnovers and putting some pressure on the quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick was also much improved this week, throwing for 275 yards and two touchdowns.

However, it was Pat Murray to the rescue yet again. Murray did miss one on the day, but he made more than made up for it. Murray went three for four on the day and made the game-winning field goal from 35 yards out.

The Buccaneers are finally starting to show signs of life, albeit they did blow a 20-7 lead. The Buccaneers kind of stalled out in the second half after a great first half. However, it is a positive sign that the Bucs did not completely allow the game to get away from them like how they normally would. The second half performance was absolutely poor and there is no excuse for it, but they came away with a victory and that’s all that matters.

Let’s get to the key plays from the victory!

Damien Williams – 69 yard run: 12:59 Q1

Following the short drove by the Bucs, where they punted after just four plays, the Dolphins took over. While fast starts have eluded the Bucs, the Dolphins were looking for their own fast start. On just the second play of the drive, Miami got deep into Tampa Bay territory. Dolphins running back Damien Williams ripped off a 69 yard run to the Tampa Bay twelve yard line. This was a huge gainer and certainly gave the young running-back some confidence.

This was a key play because it put the Dolphins in prime position to score points and jumpstarted their offense.

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Justin Evans – Interception: 10:51 Q1

A few plays after the big run by Williams, Jay Cutler was looking to punch it in. On 3rd and 7, Cutler was looking for wide-receiver Devante Parker in the end-zone, instead, he found Safety Justin Evans. Evans made an acrobatic interception when Parker tripped and he brought it out for a short return.

This was a key play because it prevented Miami from getting a touchdown, or any points at all.

Ryan Fitzpatrick – 24 yard pass to O.J. Howard: 9:22 Q1

It was O.J. Howard’s birthday and Fitzpatrick kept giving him gifts in the form of targets. A play after hitting Howard for a twenty-plus yard gain to Miami territory. Fitzpatrick went back to Howard again, this time for a 24-yard gain to get inside the Miami twenty yard line. The Buccaneers were moving the ball well and were in a very good position to score.

This was a key play because it meant the Bucs were almost guaranteed to score and because they were getting Howard involved.

Jay Cutler – Two-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Landry: 4:23 Q1

The next drive after throwing an interception, Cutler looked sharp leading the Dolphins 90 yards in just seven plays. Cutler dissected the Bucs defense for two plays over twenty yards. Cutler hit Williams for a gain of 24, then later found Kenny Stills for 26 yards. Following a pickup of twelve by Landry to get inside the Tampa Bay five, Cutler went back to Landry. Cutler found Landry wide open in the end-zone for the first touchdown of the game.

This was a key play because the Dolphins scored a touchdown and took their first lead of the game.

Kwon Alexander – Interception: 12:55 Q2

Following a field goal by Murray to cut the deficit down by one, Cutler was looking to score again. Instead, Cutler turned the ball over again. Cutler was under duress and inexplicably threw it off his back-foot into the middle of the field. Jarvis Landry was in the area, but Kwon Alexander came away with the ball and returned it to the Miami ten.

This was a key play because it gave the Bucs the ball back and in a great position to score points.

Ryan Fitzpatrick – Six-yard touchdown pass to O.J. Howard: 12:14 Q2

Following the interception by Alexander, the Bucs wasted no time getting on the board. On second down, Fitzpatrick found the birthday boy Howard for a six-yard touchdown. This was the first touchdown of the day for the Bucs and allowed them to take a 13-6 lead. Howard was getting involved early and the offense looked better because of it.

This was a key play because the Bucs scored a touchdown and took the lead again.

Robert McClain – Interception: 10:58 Q2

Cutler’s day went from bad to worse when he tossed his third interception on the day. However, this interception was just unlucky, as the ball bounced of Parker’s hands into McClain’s. Cutler threw interceptions on back to back possessions, giving the Bucs great field position yet again.

This was a key play because the Bucs turned the Dolphins over yet again, and were in prime position to build on their lead.

Ryan Smith – Forced fumble: 1:54 Q2

Ryan Smith decided to join in on the turnover party. On the first play of the drive, Cutler went to Landry and Smith made the play. Smith knocked the ball loose from Landry’s hands and recovered it in Miami territory. The Bucs defense killed off yet another Dolphins drive.

This was a key play because the Bucs forced their fourth turnover of the half, and were in good position to score before halftime.

Ryan Fitzpatrick – Four-yard touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson: 0:45 Q2

Fitzpatrick would take advantage of the turnover this time. Fitzpatrick hit Mike Evans for a huge gain inside the Miami ten to set up the touchdown. Just two plays later, Fitzpatrick found Jackson wide open in the end-zone to extend the Bucs lead to 20-7, just before the half.

This was a key play because the Bucs scored their second touchdown of the game and extended their lead.

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Matt Moore – 49-yard pass to Jarvis Landry: 13:29 Q3

Cutler was forced to miss the second half due to a concussion. Matt Moore stepped in and made his presence known immediately. Moore found Jarvis Landry down the sideline for a big pickup of 49 yards to the Tampa Bay nineteen. The Dolphins started off the second half with a big splash play, similarly to how they started the first half.

This was a key play because it put the Dolphins in a great position to cut their deficit and exposed the Bucs inability to stop the big plays.

Matt Moore – 45-yard pass to Kenny Stills: 8:30 Q3

Matt Moore continued to rip the Bucs for big plays, this time finding a different target. Moore found Stills deep down the left sideline for a 45-yard gain to the Tampa Bay 37. The Dolphins continued to attack the side where Brent Grimes wasn’t and it was paying dividends as they kept racking up big plays.

This was a key play because it was another big gainer that put the Dolphins into Tampa Bay territory yet again.

Matt Moore – 61-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Stills: 3:00 Q4

The Dolphins were picking up yardage in chunks but failed to find the end-zone in the second half up until this point. That all changed quickly, as Stills burned McClain yet again, this time for a touchdown. Moore found Stills in space, and Stills did the rest for the second Dolphins touchdown of the game.

This was a key play because the Dolphins scored a touchdown and tied the game at twenty late in the fourth.

Fitzpatrick – 24-yard pass to Chris Godwin: 1:54 Q4

The Buccaneers got the ball back with a chance to win it. Tampa Bay had given away a 20-7 lead and had shown no signs of life on offense in the second half. Fitzpatrick looked sharp early hitting Evans and Godwin for good gains. Godwin had been quiet all day but came up big when it mattered most. Fitzpatrick found Godwin for a gain of 24 to the Miami twenty, putting them in a good spot to put up points.

This was a key play because it put the Bucs in a great position to kick the game-winning field goal.

Patrick Murray – 35-yard field goal: 0:04

Fitzpatrick had done enough to put the Bucs in a position to win the game. It all came down to Pat Murray and he was up for the task. Murray drilled the 35-yard field goal with ease, giving the Bucs the late lead and essentially the victory.

This was a key play because it gave the Bucs the victory with basically no time on the clock.

Adarius Glanton – Fumble recovery/touchdown: 0:00 Q4

Murray squib kicked the ball down the field to prevent any potential big return. The Dolphins attempted to toss the ball around to maybe see if something could happen. However, that was not the case as the lateral by Grant ended up in the end-zone and would be recovered by the Bucs. In what was supposed to just be a play to end the game ended up being a touchdown for Glanton. This play really had no significance to the outcome of the game, just helped those that started the Bucs defense in fantasy.

This was a key play because it was a touchdown by the Buccaneers to make the final score look better for Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers offense stalled out in the second half, gaining only 83 yards. They stepped up when it mattered most, which is important, but the Bucs need more from their offense. 83 yards in a half will NOT cut it. That is putting too much pressure on the defense.

The Bucs defense did most of its damage in the first half as well but had some pretty big stops in the second half. The defense held strong on two red-zone trips by Miami and only allowed field goals. Teams continue to attack McClain and are succeeding. The defense missed Hargreaves this week for sure.

Next: Winners and Losers From The 30-20 Win Over Miami

The Bucs have won two games in a row now, they will face a big test in Atlanta this week, we will see if the Bucs are capable of another big winning streak by the end of this game.

If you’d like to hear more Buccaneers discussion, be sure to check out the PewterCast’s InstantCast show for this week where several callers brought up the topic.  Available on all major podcasting apps.