Sunday’s showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills was a shootout in every sense of the word. Both teams came out of the gates swinging, with the two powerhouses combining for 76 points. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, they found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard when all was said and done.
What Went Wrong for the Buccaneers Against the Bills
1) Inability to shut down Josh Allen’s feet
There is no denying that Josh Allen is one of the most electric players in the NFL, consistently turning heads with his ability to throw the ball downfield, while also carving up defenses with his feet. Even though Allen managed to pass three touchdowns, the fact that he added three more with his legs proved to be a deciding factor for the Bills. Allen, who came into the game ranked 4th on PFSN’s Quarterback Impact Rankings, showed exactly why he is the reigning NFL MVP.
The difficulty in bringing Allen to the ground when he leaves the pocket is something that Buccaneers Head Coach Brian Bowles spoke about with the media earlier this week. “He’s a very smart quarterback who knows the offense inside and out, and once you get hold of him, he is hard to bring down; that’s where the problem comes,” Bowles said of Josh Allen.
2) Costly Turnovers By Baker Mayfield
It has been a solid season for Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield despite having to overcome several significant injuries to notable stars such as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Bucky Irving. Unfortunately for Mayfield, the superstar recorded two costly turnovers, committing an interception and a fumble.
“It goes back to where the momentum swung in the game, and that was the interception on 3rd down in our own territory,” Mayfield explained to the media following the heartbreaking loss. “Played well for the most part, but moments like that, you can’t have it,” he continued.
3) Depleted Wide Receiver Core On Full Display
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been bitten by the injury bug this season on both sides of the ball. Mayfield and the rest of the offense have shown their resiliency so far this year; however, when push came to shove against the Buffalo Bills, it was clear that the team was lacking the firepower to get back into the game late.
Veteran Sterling Shepard led the team with only 54 receiving yards. That being said, even Shepard had to come off the field in the 2nd quarter. Shepard was able to return for the second half of the game; however, he was unable to record another catch. Injuries are an unfortunate part of the sport, and the Buccaneers will need to get some of their prized weapons back if they are going to secure the NFC South and make a postseason run.