The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell just short against the Chicago Bears, losing 27-24 on Sunday Night Football in Week 9 and falling to 3-6 on the season.
It was a frustrating loss, because the game was there for the taking. Tampa Bay's defense forced five turnovers and the special teams unit even blocked a punt, but it wasn't enough to overcome yet another lousy outing from the offense.
Here are five instant reactions after the Buccaneers’ maddening loss in which they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
5 immediate reactions after Buccaneers' frustrating 27-24 loss to the Bears in Week 9
Todd Bowles' Buccaneers defense is truly elite
The Buccaneers had one of the NFL's best offenses looking lost, and limited Ben Johnson's unit to one of their worst performances of the season.
Caleb Willians had just one interception on the season entering this week, but Tampa Bay picked him off four times, the highest total in his career. The Bears’ second-ranked rushing offense, averaging 150 yards per game, rushed for just 72 yards against the Buccaneers.
They didn’t come away with the win, and ultimately surrendered a game-winning drive when it mattered most. But make no mistake, this loss is on the incompetence of the offense, and Todd Bowles deserves credit for putting together an incredible defensive unit.
Zac Robinson has been an utter failure as the Buccaneers offensive coordinator
Tampa Bay went 2-for-5 in the red zone and a miserable 2-for-12 on third down. The play-calling is too predictable, the offense is far too conservative, and the passing attack poses zero threat to opponents downfield.
Robinson is not the answer, and he won't be back next year. Tampa Bay will be looking for its sixth play-caller in as many years when they finally move on from this failed experiment.
Baker Mayfield is not playing like a franchise quarterback
Baker Mayfield had some positive moments, including a 58-yard dime to Tez Johnson and a scramble to convert a clutch two-point conversion.
But outside of a few flashes, he didn't play well enough to win this game. Mayfield threw two costly interceptions, including a pick-six that proved to be the difference in a game Tampa Bay only lost by three points.
He's had a dreadful season and has looked nothing like the franchise quarterback the Buccaneers thought they were getting when they signed him to a franchise-record $165 million extension.
Bucky Irving continues to be the Buccaneers' best player on offense
The Chicago Bears entered Week 9 with ther NFL's No. 3 rushing defense, surrendering just 87 yards per game on the ground.
Bucky Irving surpassed that by himself, rushing for 97 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, averaging out to 4.9 yards per attempt. He added four receptions for 28 yards to reach 125 scrimmage yards on the night.
The more Bucky touches the ball, the better. He's the only thing giving this offense a pulse.
Boneheaded pre-snap penalties doomed the Bucs' offense
Tampa Bay was called for five pre-snap penalties, making life harder for an already struggling offense. Going forward, the linemen can’t continue to make those unforced mental errors that back up the offense and set them up in unfavorable down-and-distance situations.
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