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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\n TOP PERFORMERS \ud83c\udfc8<\/p>\n
Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 18\/28 for 194 yards – 1 TD
\nRushing: RB Bucky Irving: 17 rushes for 61 yards – 1 TD
\nReceiving: WR Chris Godwin Jr.: 3 catches for 78 yards
\nDefense: S Antoine Winfield Jr.: 7 total tackles, 1 INT<\/p>\n
Passing: QB Jacoby Brissett: 29\/40 for 301 yards – 2 TD & 1 INT
\nRushing: RB Bam Knight: 11 rushes for 62 yards
\nReceiving: TE Trey McBride: 8 catches for 82 yards – 1 TD
\nDefense: LB Josh Sweat: 4 tackles, 2.0 sacks<\/p>\n