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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rapid Reaction: Jaguars vs. Buccaneers

The Bucs fell to the Jags 25-10 in their preseason finale on Thursday night.

RR---JAX

Tampa Bay won the toss to start the night and elected to receive as quarterback Ryan Griffin and the offense went right to work. Tampa Bay made it to midfield before being stopped and would be forced to punt on their first drive. The Jaguars got the ball for their first possession and would suffer the same fate, making it to midfield before being forced to punt as well. The Buccaneers got their first sack on the drive, though. Linebacker Eric Nzeocha got a piece of Jacksonville quarterback Cody Kessler before defensive tackle Nathan Bazata took him all the way down.

The Jags pinned the Bucs inside their own 10-yard line to start the next drive. After a couple backwards carries, the Bucs would go three-and-out. Jacksonville got just a bit further on their next possession, making it marginally past midfield. It was enough to attempt a 51-yard field goal, which kicker Josh Lambo made to put the Jags up first, 3-0, at the end of the first quarter.

View photos of the Buccaneers' preseason Week 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Bucs' next drive was more successful. It was wide receiver Bobo Wilson that would move the chains in a big way on a 21-yard end around to get Bucs inside the red zone. Griffin hit Wilson again on the next play for eight yards. It came down to fourth-and-1 as the Bucs went for it. A shallow slant to tight end Alan Cross would get the Bucs to convert. On second-and-goal, Griffin hit rookie receiver Justin Watson on the quickest of throws for the touchdown and the lead. It was a 14-play, 83-yard drive that took up 6:27 and put the Bucs up 7-3 with 9:25 left in the second quarter.

The Jaguars were stopped after going three-and-out and being forced to punt on their next possession. The Bucs moved the ball steadily down the field as they got the ball back but were stopped after 66 yards. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro was still able to get some points on the board as the Bucs settled for the 32-yard field goal and increasing their lead to 10-3 with 3:44 left in the half.

Rookie linebacker Jack Cichy had a great tackle on the next Jacksonville drive. After center Tony Adams fumbled the ball on the snap, quarterback Tanner Lee was able to recover but was promptly dropped for a six-yard loss by Cichy, which eventually meant a punt for the Jaguars. Tampa Bay got the ball back with 46 second left before halftime, starting inside their own 10-yard line. A pass interference call on Jacksonville would propel the Bucs to the 38-yard line before the Bucs picked up 11 on a short pass to running back Shaun Wilson.

The Jaguars started the second half fast, getting down to the Tampa Bay 11-yard line before going for it on fourth down and three. Jacksonville converted and on third-and-goal from the three, running back Tim Cook ran it in for the touchdown. The Jags went for two but failed, preserving the Tampa Bay lead at 10-9 with 9:46 on the clock in the third quarter.

Quarterback Austin Allen replaced Ryan Griffin to start the second half for the Bucs. On second down, Allen fumbled which was ran in for a touchdown by Jacksonville defensive end Carroll Phillips. The two-point conversion after was no good but the Jags took their first lead since the beginning of the game, 15-10, in the middle of the third.

The Bucs would surrender the ball on their next series after going for it on fourth down. Jacksonville took over on downs at their 44-yard line. After an initial ruling of a touchdown on a 43-yard pass to WR Montay Crockett from Lee, the play was reviewed and called back. The Buccaneer defense forced fourth-and-1 but the Jaguars would finally get in for six on a one-yard run by Tim Cook. The point after was good, extending Jacksonville's lead to 22-10 at the end of the third quarter.

Bobo Wilson again got the return work, putting together a nice little run before being hit hard out of bounds. The play ended up being a penalty on Jacksonville and the Bucs started the drive at their 49-yard line. Allen was sacked on second down, bringing up third and 16. Shaun Wilson was able to gain 12 yards as he bounced to the outside and the Bucs went for it on fourth-and-four. The play was an incomplete pass intended for Donteea Dye and the Bucs turned it over again on downs.

The next Jacksonville drive would result in a 40-yard field goal, putting the Jags further out of reach for the Bucs, 25-10. Quarterback Austin Allen completed his longest pass of the preseason on a 28-yard bomb to receiver Erv Philips. Allen was intercepted on the next play, though, giving the ball back to Jacksonville with 7:48 left in the game.

The Jaguars would not capitalize on their ensuing drive. The Bucs started their next possession with a first-down run from Shaun Wilson. Tampa Bay would stall at their own 33-yard line and give the ball back to the Jaguars with just 3:43 left in the fourth. The possession took the game through the two-minute warning and after going for it on fourth-and-5, Jacksonville came up empty-handed on a bobbled snap as the Bucs took over on downs with 31 seconds in the game.

The final score of the game was 25-10 as the Bucs fell to the Jags in their preseason finale.

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