The Bucs Drop One on Monday Night to the Rams, 27-24
By Josh Davis
The Bucs came into their Monday night matchup against the LA Rams as the favorites, but they faltered in a matchup that was marred by individual mistakes.
The Bucs welcomed the LA Rams into Raymond James Stadium for Monday Night Football, and from the start, Sean McVay showed his gameplan to keep Tampa Bay’s defensive line off of QB Jared Goff.
Quick passes, little to no play-action pass, and a lot of Cooper Kupp.
Tampa Bay entered the game 2nd in the league against the run. With it not being the strong suit of the Rams offense, McVay made the choice to abandon it early.
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They weren’t the only ones. The Bucs didn’t get a lot going in the run game either, as RB Ronald Jones ended the night with 24 yards on 10 carries. The backfield wasn’t much help in the passing game either, as both Jones and Leonard Fournette had troubles with securing passes from Brady.
That wouldn’t be the case early for the receivers. Newly acquired Antonio Brown was featured on the first couple of drives, ending the night with eight catches and 57 yards.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin also got in on the night as they finished with 12 catches 103 yards and two TDs between them.
The two teams traded scores throughout the first half, but the Rams would take the lead as time expired in the 2nd quarter, 17-14.
The second stanza wouldn’t be so kind to the Bucs offense. After a Goff interception, the boys in pewter tied it up with a Ryan Succop 38 yard field goal.
Turnovers would play a significant role, as the Rams came back and turned a Jordan Fuller INT into a Cam Akers touchdown.
The Rams would return the favor, though, with Jordan Whitehead intercepting a Goff pass intended for Robert Woods, and the Bucs later scored to tie the game at 24 apiece.
But on the ensuing drive, the Rams took the lead once again on another Matt Gay field goal.
Time would be left for another Tom Brady heroic comeback drive, but on the fourth play, Brady overthrew TE Cameron Brate, and Fuller got his second pick of the night.
Brady would finish with 216 yards on 26/48 with 2 TDs and 2INTs.
And although this was another game where the Bucs defense would hold a team well under 100 yards on the ground, Goff and company would have a night. He finished 39/51 with 376 yards, 2 TDs, and 2INTs.
Woods (12 for 130 yards and 1 TD) and Kupp (11 for 145 yards) would be the main beneficiaries.
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Tamba Bay’s secondary was picked apart tonight, but I wouldn’t put all the blame on them. The defensive line was not able to get to Goff much at all. Zero sacks for a team that is currently 3rd in the league in that category, thanks to the speed in which the Rams were able to get the ball out of Goff’s hand.
The Rams improve to 7-3, and the Bucs drop to 7-4.