The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 20-17 in Week 13. Baker Mayfield completed 18 of 28 attempts for 194 yards, and a touchdown. Chris Godwin led the Bucs in receiving with 78 yards and Bucky Irving spearheaded the ground attack with 61 yards rushing.
The Buccaneers were forced to punt on their opening drive, despite a 25-yard gain down the right boundary by Chris Godwin following a Baker Mayfield scramble. On the Cardinals' first possession, Jamel Dean deflected Jacoby Brissett's pass and Antoine Winfield Jr. intercepted the ball at the Tampa Bay nine-yard line and returned it five yards to the 14, thrusting Mayfield and co. back on the field. However, the Bucs were unable to cash in with points following a third-down sack on Mayfield by Sweat. That play occurred following a 21-yard pickup by Emeka Egbuka that was nullified by an offensive holding penalty.
The Bucs then traveled down the field on a 10-play, 63-yard drive, courtesy of a 31-yard gain by Chris Godwin Jr. Mayfield delivered a strike downfield, hitting Godwin before the defenders closed. An ensuing dropped pass in the end zone on third-and-seven led to a Chase McLaughlin 25-yard field goal. The Bucs' defense responded by forcing a quick three-and-out, including a sack by Yaya Diaby on first down and an eight-yard sack by Vita Vea on third-and-long to force a punt.
Next for Tampa Bay, after a touchdown was nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty, the club went for it on fourth down and converted with a pass to Sterling Shepard. Irving brought the Bucs to first-and-goal, and then his touchdown was negated by an offensive holding penalty. White then brought the Bucs to the one-yard-line and Tristan Wirfs capped off the 10-play drive with the first touchdown of his career. The offensive lineman sold the chip-and-release and Mayfield hit him with a two-yard touchdown pass, providing the Bucs with a 10-0 advantage. Prior to the half, Chad Ryland drilled a 52-yard field goal to make it 10-3 at halftime.
Out of the half, Logan Hall forced a Knight fumble and Tykee Smith recovered the ball at the Tampa Bay 33-yard line and returned seven yards to the 40. However, following an incompletion on third down, the Bucs were forced to punt. On Tampa Bay's next drive, a 23 -yard gain by Egbuka on an in-breaker and a 22-yard gain by Godwin off a hitch set up the 13-yard touchdown run by Irving, giving the Bucs a 17-3 lead. The Cardinals answered with a score of their own off a six-play, 72-yard drive, culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Brissett to Knight. On the Bucs' following drive, including four plays of zero yards gained, McLaughlin drilled a 57-yarder to make it a 20-10 lead.
The Cardinals marched right down the field and Brissett connected with McBride in the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown, trimming their deficit, 20-17. An earlier gain of 20 yards by McBride and a 10-yard pickup for Michael Wilson helped spur the score. The Bucs' defense got a stop under the one-minute mark, as SirVocea Dennis forced an incompletion to Wilson on fourth-and-two.
TOP PERFORMERS 🏈
Buccaneers:
- Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 18/28 for 194 yards - 1 TD
- Rushing: RB Bucky Irving: 17 rushes for 61 yards - 1 TD
- Receiving: WR Chris Godwin Jr.: 3 catches for 78 yards
- Defense: S Antoine Winfield Jr.: 7 total tackles, 1 INT
Rams:
- Passing: QB Jacoby Brissett: 29/40 for 301 yards - 2 TD & 1 INT
- Rushing: RB Bam Knight: 11 rushes for 62 yards
- Receiving: TE Trey McBride: 8 catches for 82 yards - 1 TD
- Defense: LB Josh Sweat: 4 tackles, 2.0 sacks
