The Buccaneers are still searching for their first win, and Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the Packers dropped Tampa Bay to 0-4. After another frustrating outing, the biggest takeaway is pretty clear: this roster keeps finding new ways to come up short.
Quarterback play was one of the few areas that offered even a little encouragement. Jalon Daniels had his rough moments, including two interceptions, but he also made enough plays to stand out in a game where little came easy.
He threw the ball well at times and added 55 rushing yards, giving the offense a dimension that was hard to ignore. The problem was what came around him - or more accurately, what didn’t.
The offensive line couldn’t give Daniels much of anything. Protection was shaky, and that made it hard for the quarterback to settle in. Even so, Daniels did enough to make you wonder what he might look like against Dallas on Thursday night football.
The backfield did some damage once the ball was in its hands. Bucky Irving carried 16 times for 61 yards, while Sean Tucker and Kenny Gainwell each found the end zone.
But the running backs also kept running into the same issue: blitz pickup. Until that improves, this group is going to keep getting dinged.
There was production from the passing game, but not nearly enough. Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka combined for eight catches on 11 targets, finishing with 44 yards and no touchdowns.
Both have fallen well short of expectations, and the quarterback under center hasn’t changed that. Whether it’s Baker Mayfield or Daniels, those two simply aren’t seeing enough of the football.
Ted Hurst III and Tez Johnson each had a couple of nice grabs, but the receiver room remains one of the biggest letdowns on the roster. At tight end, Cade Otton led the team with 37 receiving yards on four catches, though he also had another drop.
That kind of night only added to the sense that Tampa Bay may have overcommitted when it brought him back on the contract it did. Payne Durham and Bauer Sharpe didn’t register much on offense, with both handling special teams work while Ko Kieft sat out because of injury.
Up front, the Bucs’ line earned a D, and even that came with a small nod to its run blocking. The pass protection was the bigger issue, and it has become a glaring problem.
The interior, in particular, has been rough, and Jordan Love never looked uncomfortable. Tampa Bay finished with only two quarterback hits and no sacks.
The defense had some bright spots, but it also gave up too many chunk plays on the ground. Christian Rozeboom remains the linebacker worth pushing into a bigger role, even though Alex Anzalone and Josiah Trotter didn’t turn in disasters. Trotter did miss a couple of tackles early, but this group has definitely been worse at other points this season.
The best part of the defense showed up in the form of takeaways. Jacob Parrish picked off a pass, and Tykee Smith forced a red zone fumble. Week after week, that unit continues to look like the strongest part of the team.
Special teams were quiet. Chase McLaughlin made his kicks, and Riley Dixon was steady, if unspectacular, in the punting game.
In Other News...
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Bucs Fans Have Every Right To Question This Late-Game Decision
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Bowles pointed to the length of the kick and the wind conditions as the reasons for passing on the attempt, but it is the kind of decision that naturally invites a second look. When a kicker has already shown he can hit from that range, leaving points on the table in a tight late-game spot is the sort of move fans will remember, especially if the drive does not end with the kind of payoff the choice requires. [Read more 🡒]