4 Buccaneers who deserve serious praise despite embarrassing 34-7 loss to Rams

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were dominated 34-7 by the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football in one of the team's most disappointing showings in recent memory.

Just about nothing went right, with the loss being punctuated by an injury to Baker Mayfield that knocked him out of the second half. Thankfully, the injury isn't as bad as it seemed, as an MRI on Monday confirmed it's just a low-grade AC joint sprain, but that's still not exactly great news.

After starting the season 6-1, the battered Bucs are in free fall, having lost four of their last five games. It's yet another midseason slump, but there were a few players in Sunday's loss who stepped up in ways that give us all hope that the ship might be starting to turn around.

Buccaneers who deserve praise despite crushing loss to Rams in Week 12

Tez Johnson, WR

Johnson caught three passes for 21 yards and the team's only touchdown of the game, his fifth of the season.

He continues to be an absolute steal of a seventh-round draft pick. His five receiving touchdowns are tied for the second-most among all rookie wide receivers, behind only his teammate Emeka Egbuka, who has six touchdowns.

Due to injuries, Tez has been thrust into a bigger role than expected this season with the Bucs' wide receiver room, and he's risen to the occasion and continued to surpass all expectations.

YaYa Diaby, OLB

With Rams quarterback Matt Stafford being the NFL's best against the blitz, the Buccaneers desperately needed to get pressure on him with just their front four. While the team ultimately failed to slow down Stafford and the Rams offense, Diaby did his part.

Diaby dropped Stafford for a 10-yard loss and the team's only sack of the night. His final stats included two solo tackles, a tackle for loss, and another quarterback hit in addition to his sack. Diaby was about the only Bucs defender who showed up, and he deserves recognition.

Rachaad White & Sean Tucker

The Bucs didn't really have a chance to establish the run, considering the Rams were running up the score before Tampa Bay could blink, forcing a more pass-heavy attack.

But White and Tucker ran hard with their limited opportunities against a stout Rams defense.

White rushed for 38 yards on just seven carries (5.4 yards per carry), including an impressive 16-yard rush and a reception for four yards. Tucker led the backfield and gained 42 yards on 12 carries (3.5) as well as a reception for four yards.

The stats alone are certainly nothing to write home about, but the running back duo was efficient and could've made a bigger impact if Tampa Bay didn't fall behind so early.