A disappointing Week 11 performance culminated in the third loss in four games for the Bucs. A freefall from grace has ensued, and the Bucs are just 0.5 a game ahead of the surprise Panthers in the NFC South.
Let's take a quick look at the heart-wrenching Week 11 game and figure out who to blame for the two-score defeat.
QB Baker Mayfield
Whether a win or a loss, all eyes will be on the Quarterback, but Mayfield played well below expectations this week. The veteran Quarterback threw for 173 yards and a touchdown, and fell apart in the second half.
Two touchdown drives surrounded an interception, two three-and-outs, and a strip-sack fumble for Tampa Bay's golden boy. Mayfield led four scoring drives in the first half, but couldn't muster much in the second.
"It goes back to where the momentum swung in the game with the interception on third down in our own territory, for me, that's going to be hard," Mayfield said after the game. Normally, the 30-year-old Quarterback is solid despite defeat, not today.
The Buccaneers' defense
Josh Allen threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns, and was never sacked. Jacob Parrish and SirVocea Dennis both had interceptions, but those were almost the only stops of the day.
The Bills had four different players with over 40 receiving yards, and seven with over fifteen. The Bucs' pass defense was atrocious, which is out of character. The secondary typically defends the pass at a much higher rate than the rest of the league, but not today.
Safety Tykee Smith and linebacker YaYa Diaby teamed up to allow a 43-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Shavers, who had eight career catches entering Week 11. The pass rush was even more putrid - zero sacks.
The defense was putrid on Sunday, and there are too many players to begin with. Zero sacks, 40+ points allowed for the first time since Week 7 2024, 317 passing yards, six touchdowns, three tackles for loss, the list doesn't stop.
Head Coach Todd Bowles has his work cut out for him this week. The Bucs started hot, but now they're not, and must turn it around quickly to stay atop the division. Once the Bucs face the Rams in Week 12, they'll be home free with an easy remaining schedule.
Regardless, this week is a tough pill to swallow, but it was worse last season. Tampa Bay lost four straight from Week 7 to 10 in 2024, but went on a tear to end the year. Let's hope these two problems don't rear their ugly head again next week.