TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a myriad of injuries this season as the numbers and reports each day have been so lengthy that they would short-circuit most computers that are produced, even with the latest features.
Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers was even more proof of the fight in the Buccaneers, as well as the resiliency of coach Todd Bowles and his staff in getting this team ready to play each week.
“We pretty much give everybody a fight – we’re in games,” said Buccaneers defensive end Calijah Kancey. “Everybody can get beat in this league – it’s definitely hard to win, but everybody can get beat. That’s why I know how good of a team we are; we just came up short.”
San Francisco kicker Jake Moody had missed three earlier field goals, but nailed the game-winner from 44 yards as the game clock struck zero.
After Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin hit a 25-yard field goal to tie the game, 20-20, with 43 seconds remaining, the 49ers started on their own 35 where Purdy hit a pair of short passes to Pearsall and then his 13-yard pass to Jauan Jennings set up Moody’s game-winner.
Defensively, the Bucs couldn’t get a key stop which was the same story in the 30-24 overtime loss in Kansas City on Monday night. Tampa Bay has been known for it’s defensive ability, but with injuries shifting players to different positions, no one seems to be able to stop the opposition in the clutch.
“It’s really just finishing up and executing at the end of the game,” said Kancey. “Coach Bowles does a great job of letting us go through those periods of practice, seeing those situations, and having periods where we can work on when that shows up in a game, so we just have to execute.”
The Buccaneers once again could not take the lead and close the game and playmaking in the clutch has been a major problem. Safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., and cornerback Jamel Dean were out and cornerback Zyon McCullum left the game with a hamstring injury.
The inability to get off the field was an issue on San Francisco’s two touchdown drives. The 49ers took a 7-0 lead with 4:15 left in the first quarter when quarterback Brock Purdy hit Ricky Pearsall on a 46-yard touchdown pass.
On that drive, Tampa Bay had San Francisco backed up to a 3rd-and-7 on its own 32, when backup safety Josh Hayes was called for a defensive holding penalty which gave the 49ers the first down.
Fast-forward to the fourth quarter when Purdy hit George Kittle with an 11-yard scoring toss in the left corner of the back of the end zone.
On a 2nd-and-10 at the Bucs’ 23, Purdy was flushed out of the pocket and went out of bounds on a scramble. However, Kancey was assessed a personal foul that appeared to be a late call. San Francisco took a 20-17 lead with 7:02 left to play.
On offense, add tackle Tristan Wirfs to the injured Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as Wirfs went off the field in the second quarter with a sprained medial collateral ligament.
Offensively, running back Bucky Irving continued to solidify himself as an offensive threat with 13 carries for 73 yards and a key touchdown. Irving scored on a 12-yard run early in the fourth quarter to give Tampa Bay it’s first lead at 17-13.
He followed Baker Mayfield’s 9-yard pass to Rachaad White which tied the score at 10-10. This was set up when 49ers punt returner Jacob Cowing muffed a catch and it was recovered on the Niners’ 23-yard line by Anthony Nelson.
Offensively, the Bucs were still in peril with Evans and Godwin out and wide out Jalen McMillan was also sidelined with a hamstring injury. This forced the Buccaneers to use Sterling Shepard, Trey Palmer, Ryan Miller and Rakim Jarrett as wideouts.
“We have to finish ballgames,” said Bowles. “When guys get a chance to play, they have to come in, play and execute. We can’t play hard and then not play smart at the end. We have to play smarter football.”
The key for the 49ers’ defense was to stop Irving and White, as well as tight end Cade Otton in the red zone.
Mayfield was generally handcuffed which is why he passed for only 116 yards. He maintained the flow of the offense well with his leadership and field acumen, given the situations he faced.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers face the bye-week where they should be able to get some key players healthy and then rest physically, mentally and emotionally from this four-game losing streak.
“We need players who make plays and do it consistently and that’s what we’re not doing, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” explained linebacker Lavonte David. “Whoever’s out there, we’re not making enough plays, and we have to be better at that.”
