The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Miami Dolphins 20-17 at Hard Rock Stadium, dropping to 7-9 on the season. It marked the club's seventh loss in the previous eight weeks and the NFC South division hunt will be decided in Week 18 as the Carolina Panthers come to town. The Buccaneers scored on their opening offensive drive, which culminated in a five-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to Chris Godwin Jr. However, Tampa Bay was unable to reach the end zone again until there were only 50 seconds left on the clock. The ensuing onside kick attempt failed but miscues and turnovers decided the Bucs' fate at Hard Rock Stadium.
Offensive Overview
The Dolphins' Quinn Ewers threw a pair of touchdowns in the first half, including a 63-yard pass to Theo Wease Jr. on the go route and an 11-yard pass to Greg Dulcich to provide the home team with a 17-7 cushion at halftime. Two promising drives into Dolphins' territory for the Bucs were halted by interceptions and a lost fumble by Baker Mayfield on a strip sack in the fourth quarter killed the Bucs' momentum. The play before the interception by Ashtyn Davis, who flipped his hips and turned to snatch the ball before it arrived to Emeka Egbuka on the skinny post, Mayfield somehow spun out of a seemingly sure sack by Quinton Bell and delivered a side-arm dart off-platform to Mike Evans. Late in the fourth, a 91-yard touchdown drive that took 60 seconds trimmed the deficit and put the Bucs to within three but missed opportunities proved too much for Tampa Bay to overcome.
Overall, Mayfield completed 33 of 44 passes for 346 yards and two touchdowns along with those two aforementioned picks. In addition, he had three scrambles for 16 yards, with two producing critical first downs. Mayfield was sacked three times during the clash and throughout the afternoon, Jalen McMillan became his go-to target. McMillan posted his first career 100-yard receiving game, hauling in seven catches for 114 yards, including a 33-yarder off a Mayfield pump fake. The Bucs were unable to cash in with points on that drive as Chase McLaughlin's 55-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Godwin Jr. also surpassed the 100-yard marker, notably due to a 59-yard catch-and-run on the Bucs' final drive when Miami blew an assignment.
Defensive Rundown
The Tampa Bay defense limited Miami to 298 yards and four conversions on 12 third-down attempts but the unit was unable to make Quinn Ewers uncomfortable in the pocket. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 172 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Ewers was sacked twice, once by Yaya Diaby and Logan Hall. On Diaby's, he beat the offensive lineman, barreling past on the up-and-under to take down Ewers. The Buccaneers did not force a turnover and lost the takeaway battle, 3-0. Overall, the Bucs were unable to consistently get off blocks and Miami took advantage with the speed of De'Von Achane in one-on-one's through the C-gap and on the edge.
