The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, 44-32, at Highmark Stadium. There were nine lead changes in the Week 11 matchup but too many explosives given up sealed the Bucs fate on the road. Tampa Bay took a 32-31 lead in the fourth quarter on Baker Mayfield's 28-yard pass to Sean Tucker on a wheel route for the touchdown but a pair of touchdown runs by Josh Allen in the final frame punctuated the Bills victory.
Offensive Outlook
The Buccaneers' offense relied on a run-heavy script, rushing for a season-high 202 yards – their most since posting that same total in the Week 17 win over the Carolina Panthers. In the first half alone, Tampa Bay tallied 136 rushing yards, which marked the Buccaneers' most in an opening half since 10/23/16 at San Francisco (143). Tucker spearheaded the ground attack, contributing 106 rushing yards on 19 carries (5.6 average), with two rushing touchdowns. His 106 rushing yards were his second-most in any single game of his career (136 at New Orleans, 10/13/24). In total, he tallied 140 total yards from scrimmage, the second-most in any single game of his career, behind only his 192-yard outing at New Orleans (10/13/24). Through the air, Tucker finished with two receptions for 34 yards, including the aforementioned 28-yard touchdown reception. He powered the offense with instinctive play, exceptional contact balance, crisp downhill cuts and lateral elusiveness to escape.
Baker Mayfield completed 16 of 28 attempts for 173 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He ran it in on a four-yard touchdown off a zone-read in the second quarter to give Tampa Bay a 10-7 lead. He threw just his third interception of the season in the third quarter, and it swung the momentum pendulum in the home team's favor. The Buccaneers had the ball and a two-point lead late in the third quarter when safety Cole Bishop made a diving interception at the Tampa Bay 38-yard line and returned it 13 yards to the 25. The Bills took advantage and Allen threw a 25-yard pass to running back James Cook on the ensuing play to provide the Bills with a 31-26 advantage.
Defensive Overview
The Bills amassed six touchdowns in Week 11 and 414 total yards of offense, averaging 7.8 yards per play. Three of the six scores came off the legs of dual-threat quarterback Josh Allen. Allen led touchdown drives of 81 and 85 yards, finishing both of them with scoring runs in the fourth quarter, and he recorded a two-yard run in the first quarter for a score, capping off a 10-play, 36-yard drive. The NFL's reigning MVP threw for 317 yards and he was picked off twice, once each by nickel Jacob Parrish and inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis.
After the Bucs' defense surrendered four plays of 54 or more yards against the Patriots in Week 10, including three touchdowns, it gave up Allen touchdown passes of 52, 43 and 25 yards. Tyrell Shavers emerged as Allen's go-to target, catching four passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, including a 43-yard touchdown in the second frame.
The Buccaneers' special teams unit struggled as Mecole Hardman and Ray Davis combined for returns of 62, 44, 41 and 44 yards, consistently gifting the Bills with advantageous field position to start drives. The Bucs had a standout play on punt coverage, with Josh Hayes causing a fumble by Hardman, which was recovered by Ryan Miller at the Buffalo 43-yard line, setting up a third-quarter touchdown drive. Chase McLaughlin hit field goals of 23 and 24 yards on a windy day at Highmark Stadium.
