The Buccaneers fell to the Miami Dolphins 20-17 as self-inflicted wounds and miscues plagued the visiting team at Hard Rock Stadium in Week 17.<\/p>\n
The Buccaneers elected to defer and the Dolphins’ opening drive ended in a punt after Antoine Winfield Jr. tipped Quinn’s Ewers pass over the middle of the field on third down to force the incompletion. Tampa Bay capitalized on their first possession, a 14-play, 68-yard drive with a five-yard Chris Godwin Jr. touchdown. Godwin ran a slant inside out of the slot and Mayfield hit as he crossed his face in the end zone to give the Bucs a 7-0 lead.<\/p>\n
The Dolphins answered with a 63-yard touchdown. Ewers heaved a deep bomb to Theo Wease Jr., who worked over the top of the Bucs’ defense with a wide-open shot to the end zone. The Bucs were forced to punt to begin the second frame and the Dolphins then moved down the field courtesy of a 23-yard gain by Greg Dulcich in which he settled in a zone over the middle of the field and a 32-yard gain for Jaylen Wright after the forced a missed tackle in the hole and churned upfield post-jumpcut. A tackle for loss by Haason Reddick on Dulcich ended Miami’s drive, forcing the home team to settle for a 29-yard field goal. On the ensuing drive, Mayfield was intercepted by Jason Marshall Jr. at the Miami 17-yard line and he returned it 23 yards to the 40. A 15-yard penalty off a blindside block was enforced at the 39.<\/p>\n
The Dolphins heavily targeted the perimeter on the following drive with gains of 13 yards to Dulcich and 19 by Achane out of the flat to set up the 11-yard touchdown pass from Ewers to Dulcich in the end zone, providing the Dolphins with a 17-7 advantage. The Bucs were able to move into field goal range on their next drive after a 33-yard gain by McMillan, but Chase McLaughlin’s 55-yard attempt was blocked, keeping it a 17-7 game.<\/p>\n
Bucs forced to punt coming out of the half after a quick three-and-out and the Dolphins’ followed suit with a punt after Achane was stopped short of the sticks on third down and a second-down sack by Yaya Diaby on Ewers for a loss of nine. The Bucs following drive ended in a 33-yard field goal by McLaughlin following a fumble and subsequent recovery by Mayfield on third down.<\/p>\n
Patterson kicked a 31-yard field goal to begin the fourth frame to give Maimi a 20-10 lead. With just over six minutes left in regulation, Mayfield’s pass intended for Egbuka was intercepted by Ashtyn Davis and returned 21 yards to the Miami 26-yard line. On the next drive for Tampa Bay, Mayfield was sacked by Bradley Chubb for a loss of nine and the ball was stripped, recovered by Quinton Bell at the Miami 41-yard line. The Bucs came back with a three-play, 91-yard scoring drive, including a 59-yard gain by Godwin Jr. that positioned the Bucs at the 19. Mayfield connected with Evans in the end zone on a four-yard pass to make it a 20-17 game.<\/p>\n
\n TOP PERFORMERS \ud83c\udfc8<\/p>\n
Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 33\/44 for 346 yards – 2 TD & 2 INTs
\nRushing: RB Bucky Irving: 9 rushes for 19 yards
\nReceiving: WR Chris Godwin Jr.: 7 catches for 108 yards – 1 TD
\nDefense: OLB Yaya Diaby: 6 total tackles & 1.0 sack<\/p>\n
Passing: QB Quinn Ewers: 14\/22 for 172 yards – 2 TDs
\nRushing: RB De’Von Achane: 18 rushes for 83 yards
\nReceiving: TE Greg Dulcich: 5 catches for 58 yards – 1 TD
\nDefense: S Ashtyn Davis: 7 total tackles & 1 INT<\/p>\n