The Game
The game is over. The fans have left. The lights are out. And the Cowboys still have a receiver open over the middle. Egad, that was ugly. The Bucs are in danger of squandering a postseason date because they were incapable of stopping the passing attack of a losing team with a backup quarterback in a 26-24 loss to the Cowboys Sunday night at AT&T Stadium. Cooper Rush threw for 292 yards with no interceptions as Dallas scored on six of its first seven possessions.
Current Standings
Tampa Bay is technically tied with the Falcons for the NFC South lead with identical 8-7 records, but Atlanta is essentially one game ahead with the tiebreaker advantage. The Bucs will need the Falcons to lose at least one of their final two games to have a chance at the division title. The Bucs might have a slim chance for the wild card if they win their final two games and Washington loses its last two. The Bucs outgained Dallas 410-317 and had multiple chances for a comeback but had two turnovers in the final seven minutes.
Game Analysis
Game Ball
When you blow a division lead by losing to a team that began the day with a 6-8 record, it’s hard to justify giving a game ball to anyone. However, Vita Vea made a critical third-down stop by dropping into coverage and tackling tight end Jake Ferguson on the first play after the two-minute warning. Had the Bucs completed the comeback, that play would have gone down in Tampa Bay lore.
Play of the Day
The Bucs had the ball at their own 26 with 1:40 remaining. They only needed 30 yards or so to move into range for a possible Chase McLaughlin game-winning field goal. On first down, Mayfield was wrapped up by a pass rusher when he somehow managed to flip the ball to Rachaad White. After gaining 6 yards, White started to go down when cornerback DaRon Bland ripped the ball out of his hands. Game over.
Keep an Eye On
With all their injuries, the Bucs have adopted a next-man-up attitude. When it comes to receivers, it’s more like last-man-standing. Chris Godwin is out for the season. Cade Otton has a bum knee, and Sterling Shepard left Sunday’s game with a hamstring pull. Of Mayfield’s 43 passes, more than 20 went to a rookie (Jalen McMillan), a backup tight end (Payne Durham), and pair of little-used wideouts (Ryan Miller, Rakim Jarrett, and Trey Palmer).
Division Update
No time to fret about the Cowboys loss. With the Falcons beating the Giants on Sunday, the Bucs are no longer in control of the division. Atlanta’s magic number is two, while Tampa Bay’s remains at three. So that means the Bucs will need help from the Commanders next week against the Falcons, or the Panthers in the regular season finale.
Next Game Preview
A couple months ago, a game against the Panthers looked like a joke. Now, it feels like a trap. After beating the Cardinals on Sunday, Carolina is 3-4 in its last seven games. And that’s with one-score losses to the Chiefs, Eagles, and Bucs. If you recall, the Bucs won that game in overtime after Chase McLaughlin tied it with a 51-yard field goal in the final seconds of regulation.
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Conclusion
The loss against the Cowboys has put the Bucs in a tough spot in the race for the division title. With key players out due to injuries, the team will need to regroup and focus on the upcoming games to secure a playoff spot.
FAQs
1. Can the Bucs still make the playoffs?
There is still a chance for the Bucs to make the playoffs either through winning their final two games or with help from other teams in the league.
2. How important is the next game against the Panthers?
The upcoming game against the Panthers is crucial for the Bucs’ playoff hopes. They will need to put up a strong performance to stay in contention for a postseason berth.
