The Buccaneers left Week 3 with a 23-16 loss to the Vikings, and the damage was bigger than the final score. Tampa Bay dropped to 0-3, and Baker Mayfield is expected to miss several weeks with a dislocated right thumb.
Adam Slivon’s latest Top 10 Takeaways points to a team that keeps running into the same problems no matter the opponent. The offense, despite the buzz around coordinator Zac Robinson, has not found its rhythm.
Mayfield was struggling before he exited, the running game never got going, Riley Dixon punted nine times, and Tampa Bay went just 2-17 on third down. Chase McLaughlin had to settle for three field goals because the offense could not finish drives.
The wide receivers never gave the unit a steady answer, either. Ted Hurst III was the bright spot on one snap, getting wide open for a 40-yard touchdown, but then he was largely absent after that. Up front, the offensive line continued to be a problem and, in Slivon’s view, is holding the entire offense back.
If there was a silver lining, it came on defense. Tampa Bay’s defense played its best football of the season in Week 3, doing a better job of limiting Kyler Murray, even with Justin Jefferson missing much of the game.
Murray still felt the pass rush more than Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson had in earlier games, but there is room for improvement there too. Slivon says one way to get more out of that group is to use David Walker more on the outside, since he is the only edge rusher who can consistently get to the quarterback.
Through three games, Slivon identifies Walker, Josiah Trotter and A’Shawn Robinson as the team’s three best defenders. That, in turn, raises uncomfortable questions about players such as Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield Jr., Yaya Diaby and Calijah Kancey, whom he says are not living up to their price tags or extension value.
Looking ahead to Week 4, Tampa Bay turns to Jalon Daniels for the matchup with the Packers. Daniels will have plenty on his plate at Raymond James Stadium, where Slivon expects a heavy Packers presence in the stands. He also says it is hard to blame fans for not showing up, with the Glazers facing difficult decisions and the season already feeling like it is slipping away.
Whatever this is, it has to end.
In Other News...
Panthers Have A Tetairoa McMillan Problem They Need To Solve
The Panthers left Week 3 with another reminder that their passing game still has room to grow, and a big part of that conversation centered on Tetairoa McMillan. After building momentum in the early part of the season, the rookie wideout was much quieter against Cleveland, and the matchup with cornerback Denzel Ward went a long way toward explaining why Carolina struggled to generate enough offense.
McMillan drew only two targets and finished with one catch, a sharp dip from what the Panthers have come to expect from him. Dave Canales and Bryce Young both acknowledged the issue afterward, with the offense needing to find better ways to get McMillan involved if it wants to stay on schedule and avoid more days like this one. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers 1-2 Start Has Fans Arguing Over One Bigger Problem
The early part of Carolinas season has already produced three very different snapshots, and none of them have made the bigger picture any easier to read. A lopsided loss to Chicago raised immediate alarms on the defensive side, a 34-3 win over Atlanta briefly suggested a smoother path forward, and the 21-18 loss to Cleveland brought the discussion right back to the same familiar questions about how this team closes out games.
What has made the first month so frustrating is that the problems have not stayed in one lane. The defense has been under scrutiny, the offense has had trouble finishing drives, and even some game decisions have drawn fresh attention as the Panthers sit at 1-2. Bryce Youngs numbers through three games are part of the conversation too, but the larger issue is still whether Carolina can turn the flashes from one week into something more dependable before the season drifts further into uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Have A Guard Problem They Cant Ignore
Damien Lewiss UCL tear has left the Panthers searching for answers on the interior of their offensive line, and the timing makes the loss even tougher to absorb. Lewis was expected to be a stabilizing presence, but now Carolina is bracing to be without him for several weeks and perhaps longer, forcing the team to reshuffle a group that already has little margin for error.
Corey Bullock is handling the spot for now, but the Panthers do not appear content to simply ride out the injury and hope for the best. Free agents, practice squad options and even the trade market are all part of the conversation as Carolina tries to protect its depth up front, a reminder that one injury inside can quickly become a bigger roster issue than it first looks. [Read more 🡒]