After a promising 3-1 start to the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost three straight games. The Buccaneers pushed the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs into overtime on Monday Night Football in Week 9. But the Chiefs came away with the victory, scoring a touchdown that dropped Tampa Bay to 4-5.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield kept the offense going against the Chiefs despite playing without his two best players. Mayfield was asked how the team planned to finish the losing streak.
“It’s just – obviously, a singular game focus, but knowing that the bye week is after this one is going to be a big help for us in getting some guys back, but yeah. Offensively… leaving three points [on the field] before halftime, it’s a huge thing and it goes back to previous weeks, turnovers that I had in the red zone or over 50 [yard-line] – making sure we do everything we can on offense to not leave any points there,” Mayfield said, according to a transcript of the press conference from the Buccaneers’ official website.
“That’s what we’re focused on is finishing practices, while trying to find ways to get explosives… We’re doing a good job getting the ball to everyone, but we have to finish, we also need to find more explosives,” Mayfield added.
The Buccaneers have been shorthanded on offense since losing Chris Godwin and Mike Evans in the Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Godwin suffered a season-ending ankle injury while Evans strained his hamstring and is expected to miss several weeks.
Baker Mayfield kept the Buccaneers competitive despite injuries
Tampa Bay’s injury report heading into Week 9 listed running back Bucky Irving and wideouts Sterling Shepard and Jalen McMillan as questionable. Irving and Shepard were able to play and the Buccaneers had a close game as Mayfield threw two touchdown passes and avoided turning the ball over.
Mayfield led a 10-play, 71-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that gave Tampa Bay a chance to take the lead with less than 30 seconds left. However, instead of attempting a two-point conversion, the Bucs went for the extra point and tied the game. The Chiefs won the toss in overtime and Patrick Mahomes led a 70-yard drive that ended with a game-winning touchdown run by Kareem Hunt.
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Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles attempted to explain his controversial decision to kick an extra point and play for a tie despite being in a hostile environment on the road against a superior opponent . Basically it was because of the rain or something.
Tampa Bay is in the middle of a brutal stretch that included games against the Ravens and Chiefs. And things don’t get any easier in Week 10 as the Bucs face the San Francisco 49ers in what could be Christian McCaffrey’s season opener.
The Buccaneers look to improve to 5-5 heading into their Week 11 bye. After the break, the schedule loosens up with games against the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders.
