The Pewter Plank
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Buccaneers: 5 things that went wrong in 2018

By Ryan Doyle

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 23: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws against the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 23: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws against the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 09: Adarius Taylor #53 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers catches an interception thrown by Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 09: Adarius Taylor #53 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers catches an interception thrown by Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images) /

Interceptions and lack thereof

It may be a cliche, but typically when a team wins the turnover battle, they win the game. The Buccaneers rarely won the turnover battle.

They have the second-worst giveaway/takeaway ratio in the league at -18. Tampa has just 16 takeaways on the season, with a three-interception game from Andrew Adams taking a chunk of that production.

What makes matters worse is the league-leading 25 interceptions from Buccaneers quarterbacks. Fitzpatrick and Winston made some brutal decisions that hindered the offense.

When the Bucs defense needed to make a play, they rarely did. Their inability to come away with a critical fumble or interception, it would hit the turf or land back with the opposition.

Offensively, Tampa set the defense up in poor field position often. The only thing that could stop Tampa Bay’s offense for most of the year were themselves.

Next. Buccaneers 2019 three-round NFL mock draft. dark

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