The Buccaneers fell to the Miami Dolphins 20-17 as self-inflicted wounds and miscues plagued the visiting team at Hard Rock Stadium in Week 17.
The Buccaneers elected to defer and the Dolphins' opening drive ended in a punt after Antoine Winfield Jr. tipped Quinn's Ewers pass over the middle of the field on third down to force the incompletion. Tampa Bay capitalized on their first possession, a 14-play, 68-yard drive with a five-yard Chris Godwin Jr. touchdown. Godwin ran a slant inside out of the slot and Mayfield hit as he crossed his face in the end zone to give the Bucs a 7-0 lead.
The Dolphins answered with a 63-yard touchdown. Ewers heaved a deep bomb to Theo Wease Jr., who worked over the top of the Bucs' defense with a wide-open shot to the end zone. The Bucs were forced to punt to begin the second frame and the Dolphins then moved down the field courtesy of a 23-yard gain by Greg Dulcich in which he settled in a zone over the middle of the field and a 32-yard gain for Jaylen Wright after the forced a missed tackle in the hole and churned upfield post-jumpcut. A tackle for loss by Haason Reddick on Dulcich ended Miami's drive, forcing the home team to settle for a 29-yard field goal. On the ensuing drive, Mayfield was intercepted by Jason Marshall Jr. at the Miami 17-yard line and he returned it 23 yards to the 40. A 15-yard penalty off a blindside block was enforced at the 39.
The Dolphins heavily targeted the perimeter on the following drive with gains of 13 yards to Dulcich and 19 by Achane out of the flat to set up the 11-yard touchdown pass from Ewers to Dulcich in the end zone, providing the Dolphins with a 17-7 advantage. The Bucs were able to move into field goal range on their next drive after a 33-yard gain by McMillan, but Chase McLaughlin's 55-yard attempt was blocked, keeping it a 17-7 game.
Bucs forced to punt coming out of the half after a quick three-and-out and the Dolphins' followed suit with a punt after Achane was stopped short of the sticks on third down and a second-down sack by Yaya Diaby on Ewers for a loss of nine. The Bucs following drive ended in a 33-yard field goal by McLaughlin following a fumble and subsequent recovery by Mayfield on third down.
Patterson kicked a 31-yard field goal to begin the fourth frame to give Maimi a 20-10 lead. With just over six minutes left in regulation, Mayfield's pass intended for Egbuka was intercepted by Ashtyn Davis and returned 21 yards to the Miami 26-yard line. On the next drive for Tampa Bay, Mayfield was sacked by Bradley Chubb for a loss of nine and the ball was stripped, recovered by Quinton Bell at the Miami 41-yard line. The Bucs came back with a three-play, 91-yard scoring drive, including a 59-yard gain by Godwin Jr. that positioned the Bucs at the 19. Mayfield connected with Evans in the end zone on a four-yard pass to make it a 20-17 game.
TOP PERFORMERS 🏈
Buccaneers:
- Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 33/44 for 346 yards - 2 TD & 2 INTs
- Rushing: RB Bucky Irving: 9 rushes for 19 yards
- Receiving: WR Chris Godwin Jr.: 7 catches for 108 yards - 1 TD
- Defense: OLB Yaya Diaby: 6 total tackles & 1.0 sack
Dolphins:
- Passing: QB Quinn Ewers: 14/22 for 172 yards - 2 TDs
- Rushing: RB De'Von Achane: 18 rushes for 83 yards
- Receiving: TE Greg Dulcich: 5 catches for 58 yards - 1 TD
- Defense: S Ashtyn Davis: 7 total tackles & 1 INT
