Buccaneers Fall to 0-4 Following Loss to Packers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain winless after another frustrating loss at Raymond James Stadium.

Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels made his first NFL start and helped spark a fourth-quarter comeback. However, the Green Bay Packers held on for a 17-14 victory.

The loss dropped Tampa Bay to 0-4 for the first time since 2013.

Daniels Shows Fight in First Start

Daniels became the first rookie quarterback to start an NFL game this season.

He also made history as the first undrafted rookie quarterback to start for the Buccaneers. Daniels finished with 148 passing yards and a touchdown.

He added 55 rushing yards while completing 19 of 27 attempts. However, two interceptions and three sacks ultimately proved costly.

Daniels’ favorite target was Chris Godwin, who finished with six catches for 31 yards. Cade Otton added four receptions for 37 yards.

Another Close Loss

Sunday marked Tampa Bay’s fourth consecutive loss by seven points or fewer.

That statistic offers little comfort to a Buccaneers team that expects far more from itself.

“We are 0-4,” said team captain Tristan Wirfs. “I don’t care how close it is…We are shooting ourselves in the foot.”

The Buccaneers had opportunities to change the outcome, but once again failed to make the necessary plays late.

Protection Problems Decide the Game

Daniels connected with running back Kenny Gainwell for a 10-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

That score cut Green Bay’s lead to three points. Tampa Bay’s defense then created two more opportunities by forcing turnovers on subsequent Packers possessions.

The offense eventually moved into Green Bay territory and reached the Packers’ 46-yard line.

Then the protection broke down.

Daniels faced immediate pressure on three of the next four plays. Safety Evan Williams eventually came free on fourth-and-11, forcing Daniels into a desperation throw that fell incomplete.

“We just had a negative play,” said Bowles. “We didn’t get it done. We’ve been here a couple weeks now at the end of ballgames and we’re not finishing. We’ve got to find a way to finish the game.”

Daniels Takes Responsibility

Daniels did not place the blame entirely on his offensive line.

Instead, the rookie acknowledged that he needed to make a better protection adjustment.

“They brought a double-A gap mug look with eight threats,” Daniels explained. “We’ve got to do a better…or I have to do a better job of being able to put us in better protection and make sure we pick that keep up. If I flip that and make sure that we’re able to slide to him, he doesn’t get free and I’m able to make a throw.”

That final drive ultimately ended Tampa Bay’s best opportunity to tie the game.

The Buccaneers also considered attempting a lengthy field goal before deciding against it.

“Yeah, we did,” Bowles confirmed. “It was too far for us, a good 10 to 15 yards too far for us. The wind was blowing that way as well. We thought about it, didn’t feel good about it.”

Bowles Knows Tampa Bay Has a Problem

The Buccaneers have now lost four consecutive games while repeatedly failing to close out winnable contests.

Bowles acknowledged that the team cannot continue accepting close losses as progress.

“It’s on us,” stated Bowles. “We know what the problem is. It’s on us. We can’t keep getting close and not winning. That’s not good enough. Our record says what we are. We’re oh-and-four. We acknowledge that and correct our own mistakes [or] it’s going to keep happening. We talked about it as a team: We’re going to be a team and we’ve got play tougher in the end and we’ve got to execute in the end. That’s the only way you can win a ballgame.”

That is the reality facing Tampa Bay after four weeks.

The Buccaneers are 0-4, and moral victories will not change their record.

Daniels’ First Start Provides One Positive

Daniels was thrust into the starting role after Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb against Minnesota.

The rookie’s performance was far from perfect, but he showed enough to give Tampa Bay something to build around.

“I mean, being able to have your first NFL start,” stated Daniels about what positives he can take. “It didn’t go as I wanted it to go. I would have much rather had a win after this. But I think that’s probably the positive, just being able to say that I had my first NFL start.”

Unfortunately for Daniels and the Buccaneers, the milestone came with another loss.

Tampa Bay now has to figure out how to turn close games into victories before its season completely slips away.