Bucs Completely Outclassed In 34-7 Loss To Rams

There wasn’t much going for either side in the final 30 minutes, perhaps mercifully. Ultimately, the Bucs fell 34-7, dropping their third straight game out of the bye week and falling to 6-5 and even with the Panthers in the NFC South race. Carolina plays on Monday Night Football this week and will now have a chance to take over first place in the division when they match up with the 49ers.

Here’s a recap of all that went down in Tampa Bay’s third straight loss on Sunday night:

Rams 34, Bucs 7

The Bucs won the coin toss and elected to receive, and it initially looked like a good call as the drive moved into Rams territory thanks to a couple of third-and-short conversions from Sean Tucker. But after the drive stalled out at the Los Angeles 43-yard line, it all turned quickly. A 23-yard punt by Riley Dixon was just the start of the horrors to come for Tampa Bay as Matthew Stafford took the field for the first me.

After Davante Adams beat Zyon McCollum inside for a 13-yard gain on an early 3rd & 7, the Rams really got going. Stafford then found Puka Nacua for a 31-yard gain deep into Buccaneer territory and despite Yaya Diaby getting to the quarterback for a 10-yard sack on the next play, Stafford converted an eventual 3rd & 18 by finding Nacua for 18 yards. Once again, it was McCollum as the closest defender, though he wasn’t all that close.

A couple of plays later, Adams beat McCollum clean off the line for a 1-yard touchdown, putting the home team up 7-0 after a 10-play, 80-yard drive that took 5:38.

Things went from bad to worse for Tampa Bay from there, as the next Bucs possession turned into another Rams touchdown. Baker Mayfield threw to a wide-open Cade Otton in the flat, but he bobbled the ball multiple times before Cobie Durant stole it away and returned it 50 yards for a pick-six. Just like that, Todd Bowles and Co. were in a 14-0 hole.

It didn’t get better from there, as two Mayfield incompletions set up 3rd & 10 before Kobie Turner got to the quarterback for a third-down sack, forcing a punt.

As the second quarter got underway, it was more of the same. Stafford marched the Rams 72 yards in 12 plays, covering 5:02 of game time, before finding Colby Parkinson for a 5-yard touchdown to make it 21-0.

On their ensuing possession, the Bucs finally strung some positives together. Predictably, it started with a couple of third-down scrambles for conversions by Mayfield. From there, a 9-yard run by Tucker, a 12-yarder by Rachaad White and a 6-yarder by Tez Johnson got the ball into the red zone. And one play later, Mayfield found Johnson for a 14-yard touchdown to make it 21-7.

But as Mayfield went into the blue injury tent with his left shoulder hanging by his side, Los Angeles answered right away. It took only four plays to get in the end zone again, with the fourth play being a 24-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Adams, who once again beat McCollum for a score.

Los Angeles later added a field goal to make it 31-7 just before halftime, then as he threw an interception one final Hail Mary attempt as the half ended, Mayfield went down favoring his shoulder again, spelling complete disaster for the Tampa Bay offense.

The Bucs defense finally got a stop coming out of halftime, with the Rams turning the ball over on downs. And as the offense came out to take over near midfield, it was Teddy Bridgewater, not Mayfield, in at quarterback. At the time, Mayfield was announced as doubtful to return to the game, but he was soon completely ruled out. Later in the half, he was seen in a hoodie and a sling on the sideline, playsheet in hand.

On the field, Bridgewater and the Buccaneer offense couldn’t cut into the deficit. They got into the red zone, but stalled out there as Bridgewater was sacked on an eventual 4th & 9.

The Los Angeles offense didn’t get much of anything going on its next drive, either, and was finally forced into its first punt of the game. But Tampa Bay would just punt it right back and after the third quarter ended scoreless between the two teams, the Rams added to their lead with a field goal early in the fourth.

A big 32-yard pass from Bridgewater to Emeka Egbuka sparked the next Bucs drive, but that one also stalled out in the red zone with Bridgewater once again getting sacked on fourth down.

The two offenses simply ran the clock out from there without any real fanfare. In the end, the Bucs lost 34-7 for their third straight loss and their fourth defeat in the last five games.

Mayfield was just 9-of-19 for 41 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions before leaving with his shoulder injury. Tez Johnson hauled in his fifth touchdown of the season in the loss, while Sean Tucker ran 12 times for 42 yards (3.5 avg.) and Rachaad White went for 38 yards on seven carries (5.4 avg.). In relief of Mayfield, Bridgewater finished 8-of-15 for 62 yards and was sacked twice.

Defensively, Yaya Diaby was the only player to do anything of note, earning his team-leading fifth sack. Zyon McCollum had a particularly awful game, getting beaten for two touchdowns by Davante Adams in addition to allowing a couple of other big gains to Puka Nacua.

Matthew Stafford finished the night 25-of-35 for 273 yards and three touchdowns, with Adams catching five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Nacua added seven catches for 97 yards as well.

The Bucs (6-5) will now return home to Raymond James Stadium in Week 13, looking to close November out with a victory. The Arizona Cardinals (3-8) will be in town for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff, with Simeon Rice set to be inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor at halftime.