The Tampa Bay Buccaneers walked into Sunday night with first place in the NFC South and walked out with a gut punch. Cairo Santos ended it with a 38-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Chicago Bears to a 27-24 win and dropping the Bucs to 3-6.
It was a brutal finish to a game Tampa nearly stole back after digging itself a 14-0 hole in the first quarter. The Bears looked ready to run away with it early, but the Bucs kept clawing, tying the score at 24 with under three minutes left.
That comeback, though, never got the defensive stop it needed. Instead, Chicago got the final shot and cashed it in.
The wild part is that Tampa’s defense did plenty to win this game. The Bucs forced five turnovers, including four interceptions off MVP candidate Caleb Williams, and still couldn’t close it out. That’s the kind of loss that lingers into the bye week.
Baker Mayfield’s night was a big reason why. If Tampa wants to make a real playoff push, it needs much more from its $55 million/year quarterback.
Mayfield completed 18 of 32 passes for 243 yards, threw no touchdowns and had two interceptions, including a crushing pick-six after the Bucs had trimmed the margin to 17-13. That stood in sharp contrast to Tampa’s last two wins, when Mayfield completed a total of seven passes.
On the other side of the ball, Bucky Irving kept the Bucs alive. He finished with 97 rushing yards on 20 carries and scored both Tampa touchdowns.
His first touchdown capped a strong drive to open the third quarter and swing momentum back Tampa’s way. His second came with just under three minutes left and tied the game after a 2-point conversion.
Irving was running with real force all night, bouncing off defenders and making tacklers miss. He looks every bit like a Pro Bowl-caliber back.
The defense’s turnover binge had its own storylines. Zyon McCollum started rough, getting picked on early, but he answered with two interceptions.
Alex Anzalone added another, giving him three in the last two games and four on the season. Tykee Smith grabbed the other interception, and the Bucs also forced a fumble from Luther Burden that helped set up Irving’s game-tying score.
Still, one busted coverage changed everything. A 38-yard completion to Colston Loveland helped Chicago set up the winning kick, and Tampa never got the final stop it needed.
The bigger issue might be what’s missing in the passing game. Tez Johnson had a huge 58-yard catch that set up Tampa’s first touchdown, but he also had two ugly drops.
Ted Hurst remained a non-factor. Chris Godwin caught only two passes for 16 yards and has been disappointing all season, while Emeka Egbuka finished with three catches for 38 yards before disappearing late.
With the trade deadline on Tuesday, Tampa needs help at receiver if it wants to be taken seriously in the NFC. Trey McBride would be a game-changer.
Even after this loss, the Bucs still look like the best team in the division. They may have come up short against Chicago, but they remain in the driver’s seat for the NFC South, and winning the division would bring a home playoff game. Once the postseason starts, anything can happen.
In Other News...
Bucs Face A Trade Deadline Call That Could Save Baker Mayfield
With the Buccaneers sitting at 3-6 and still somehow atop the NFC South, the offense has become the bigger concern than the standings. Tampa Bays passing game has been stuck at the bottom of the league, and that kind of production puts even a division lead in jeopardy if it does not turn around soon. For a team trying to keep Baker Mayfield upright and productive, the trade deadline offers one of the few realistic chances to add a jolt.
One name that naturally fits the conversation is George Pickens, whose talent has been on display in Dallas and whose contract situation makes him a possible trade candidate. The Buccaneers have not been linked to any official talks, but the fit is obvious enough to keep circling back to: a receiver with the ability to change coverage and give Tampa Bay a more dangerous passing game. Whether the front office is willing to pay the price is another question, and one that could define how aggressive this team wants to be about saving its season. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Wasted A Golden Chance In Chicago And Fans Know Why
A strong defensive effort at Soldier Field should have been enough to give Tampa Bay a road win, especially after the Buccaneers forced five Chicago turnovers and got a much-needed rebound from a unit that had a rough opening stretch. Cornerback Jacob Parrish was part of that turnaround, and for long stretches the defense did its job well enough to put the game in the Bucs' hands.
The problem was the offense never fully cashed in on those chances, and the missed opportunities proved costly in a 27-24 loss to the Bears. Baker Mayfield's night turned on two interceptions, including a pick-six, while Bucky Irving was the one consistent bright spot with 125 total yards and two touchdowns, leaving Tampa Bay with plenty to clean up after letting a golden opening slip away. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Face A Big Bucky Irving Decision After The Bye
Bucky Irving has been the most productive offensive player in Tampa Bays attack this season, giving the Buccaneers a steady ground-game answer while the rest of the offense has worked through its own stretches of inconsistency. His production has put him among the leagues top rushers and made him central to what the Bucs want to do every week, especially with the offense leaning on him to keep drives on schedule and finish them in the red zone.
After the bye, though, the conversation shifts from usage to preservation. Todd Bowles has already acknowledged concern about Irvings workload, and Tampa Bay has some flexibility with other backs who have chipped in recently. The question now is how the Buccaneers balance keeping their best runner involved with making sure hes still fresh and available when the season tightens up. [Read more 🡒]