The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with their brutal injury situation, were in trouble heading into their Sunday Night Football matchup against the Los Angeles Rams
With Jamel Dean, the team's best cornerback, out with a hip injury and Benjamin Morrison also out, the Bucs' thin cornerback depth was going to be tested against one of the league's best offenses.
The result was predictable, with the Rams taking complete advantage of the Tampa Bay secondary, The main victim, especially throughout the first half was Zyon McCollum, who has been a massive disappointment after signing a three-year, $48 million contract last offseason.
McCollum, on seven targets, surrendered six catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. The Rams consistently picked on him in coverage, and whether in zone or man coverage, McCollum and the Bucs defense as a whole had zero answers.
Tampa Bay was thoroughly embarassed 34-7 in front of a national audience. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford finished 25-for-35 with 273 yards and three touchdowns. Davante Adams posted five catches for 62 yards and a pair of touchdowns against McCollum while Puka Nacua finished with nine catches for 97 yards. Even tight end Colby Parkinson got involved wit four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.
The result might've been predictable, given the injury situation and Tampa Bay's recent struggles against the Rams under head coach Todd Bowles, but McCollum and the defense will need to dig deep and finish this season strong to avoid further embarrassment like this.
With the loss, the Buccaneers have now lost three consecutive games coming off their bye week. They allowed 28 points against the Patriots, 44 points against the Bills, and now 34 against the Rams, averaging out to an abysmal 35 points per game allowed over the three-game skid.