Buccaneers who deserve the most blame after pathetic collapse vs. Falcons

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Atlanta Falcons 29-28 in one of the most inexplicable losses in recent memory. 

Tampa Bay held a 28-14 lead in the fourth quarter and had a chance to run away with the game, but collapsed and allowed the Falcons to steal a win that the Bucs desperately needed. 

The Buccaneers just gave the Carolina Panthers the inside track to win the NFC South, and frankly, it’s worth wondering if the Bucs even deserve to make the playoffs in the first place. 

After one of the most devastating losses for Tampa Bay over the last few years, there is plenty of blame to be shared.

3 Buccaneers who deserve the most blame after heartbreaking 29-28 loss to Falcons

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield played well for the most part, but when it mattered most, he faltered and cost the Bucs in a must-win game.

With Tampa Bay leading 28-20, Mayfield threw a horrific interception that gave Atlanta the ball back and allowed them to score off his turnover. 

Then, late in the fourth quarter with a chance to effectively end the game with a first down, Mayfield threw the ball behind an open Emeka Egbuka.

A completed pass would’ve allowed Tampa Bay to run out the clock, but Mayfield’s inaccurate pass stopped the clock and Atlanta had plenty of time to go down the field for the game-winning field goal.

Mayfield has played some of the worst football of his Bucs tenure as of late, and it’s becoming a major cause for concern. 

Bucs’ entire defense 

The defense, in what has unfortunately become a common theme as of late, played a horrible game,

Tampa Bay surrendered 11 catches for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns to Kyle Pitts — a career game for the Falcons tight end. It was the first time in almost 30 years that a tight end posted over 150 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in a single game since Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe did it in 1996.

37-year-old Kirk Cousins once again shredded the Buccaneers, throwing for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns. He led was his first game-winning drive since last season against guess who? The Buccaneers.

It was one of the most embarrassing defensive performances in recent memory for Tampa Bay, and they’ve got some serious soul searching to do as the team appears to be going nowhere this season. 

Todd Bowles

There’s no way to avoid it. When the defense collapses that badly to blow a 28-14 lead, the leader of the squad has to be held accountable. 

Bowles’ defensive unit allowed a career day for Pitts and got absolutely shredded by a 37-year-old quarterback who entered the season as a backup quarterback. 

For someone heralded as a defensive guru, the consistently embarrassing performances by this season's Bucs defense are an indictment against Bowles.

He was furious in his postgame press conference, and he should be.

This Bucs team has proved to be nothing more than a mediocre squad with no realistic shot at a deep playoff run, and the organization could very well be looking for a new head coach at the end of this frustrating season.