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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered Week 10 looking to solidify their grip on the NFC South. Instead, they left Raymond James Stadium reeling from a gut-punch loss to one of the AFC’s hottest teams. The 28-23 defeat to the New England Patriots felt like a microcosm of the Bucs’ recurring issues. They had defensive breakdowns, shaky protection, and inconsistent quarterback play.
The game began with promise. Baker Mayfield tossed three touchdowns and kept Tampa Bay within striking distance. However, the Bucs’ defense unraveled at the worst possible moments. Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson ripped off touchdown runs of 55 and 69 yards. Meanwhile, quarterback Drake Maye continued his MVP-caliber campaign with timely throws and sharp execution. Tampa Bay had chances late, though. These included a red-zone interception from Tykee Smith that briefly swung momentum. However, critical fourth-down failures and a missed field goal earlier came back to haunt them.
When the dust settled, Tampa Bay fell to 6-3. On paper, they remain in solid position atop their division. On the field, though, this loss revealed deep cracks that can’t be ignored. If left unaddressed, they could derail what once looked like a promising playoff run.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are most to blame for their late loss to Patriots.
For all the talk about Tampa Bay’s top-tier defense, Week 10 showed confusion, poor tackling, and missed assignments. The Buccaneers were gashed repeatedly by explosive plays that should never happen at this level.
To wit, Henderson’s massive touchdown runs were backbreakers. They were momentum-shifting plays that demoralized a team and its fan base. On both occasions, Tampa Bay defenders were caught out of position. They overpursued and left open lanes that Henderson punished with ease.
Cornerback Jalen Morrison also had a night to forget. He was burned by Kyle Williams on a 72-yard catch-and-run that tied the game in the first quarter. Later, Morrison’s defensive pass interference extended a Patriots drive that led to more points. When the Bucs desperately needed a stop late in the third quarter, Morrison gave up a 15-yard completion to Mack Hollins on third-and-seven. Each of these moments chipped away at Tampa Bay’s composure and their chances.
Defensive coordinator Larry Foote’s unit looked unprepared for the Patriots’ speed and misdirection. Without injured edge rusher Haason Reddick generating pressure, Drake Maye was comfortable in the pocket. He calmly read coverages and exploited mismatches. For a defense that once thrived on chaos, the Bucs looked entirely too predictable.
The offensive line’s struggles have become a weekly storyline for Tampa Bay. Sadly, Sunday was no different. Injuries forced yet another round of shuffling, and the instability up front proved costly.
Left guard Ben Bredeson’s early exit forced backup Michael Jordan into extended duty. Jordan, along with backup right guard Dan Feeney, was overmatched against New England’s interior pressure. The Patriots’ front seven feasted on mismatches,...
