The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took the primetime stage in week nine— Sunday Night Football on NBC. Not only would Cris Collinsworth be in the booth for the Buccaneers’ game but the team would take the field officially leading the NFC South. The first place Tampa Bay Bucs have dug themselves, with help, all the way out of the 0-4 early season hole they dug themselves into. Week nine would be the team’s first chance to put some distance between themselves and their NFC South rivals, will Tampa Bay rise
to the occasion or will they falter in the spotlight?
First Quarter:
Sunday night’s first drive was Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams versus Todd Bowles and his defense. Ben Johnson versus most would be a mismatch and in the game’s opening drive that looked to be the case as Tampa Bay fans had to watch Chicago coast down the field and into Tampa Bay’s end zone for ten first score of the game. Early concerns for Todd Bowles may stem, not only from the results of the drive (seven points allowed), but also from the fact that Caleb Williams consistently broke outside of the pocket without any noticeable restriction. 7-0, Bears.
No glove for Baker Mayfield and no first downs either, though the Bucs’ quarterback did eclipse his completion total from a week ago on the Tampa’s opening drive the net result was a three-and-out. Chicago’s next drive started with more first downs than Bucs had earned the game thus far and finished in the end zone once again. 14-0, Chicago.
The Buccaneers’ first six snaps all went to Bucky Irving before Zac Robinson remembered other players play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers— The other player targeted? Cade Otton. Mayfield’s incomplete pass to Cade Otton set up the game’s first dose of Mayfield magic. Third and long and Baker Mayfield scrambled his way around the pocket buying time before eventually directing Kenny Gainwell downfield for a 44 yard gain.
Second Quarter:
The Bucs’ drive would stall out and Todd Bowles would opt for a conservative approach to surprise of the fanbase, kicking a short field goal. 14-3, Bears.
Not much changed for Todd Bowles’ defense on the next Chicago drive, easy completions, no contain on the quarterback, and wide open receivers on most every play. The bleeding was finally stopped by a flagrant mistake when Chicago Bears’ rookie Zavion Thomas got frustrated and punched Jacob Parrish, pushed the Bears’ offense back 15 yards backwards. The ensuing play, Tykee Smith ruined the Caleb Williams showcase with a beautiful read undercutting a Williams throw to the end zone for for an interception. Converting turnovers into points are a necessity, however, Tampa converted the turnover into an awkward QB sneak for a failed fourth down conversion.
Taking possession back in field goal range, Williams did it again— Rather Tampa’s defense did it again. Zyon McCollum followed Tykee Smith’s interception with one of his own. The Bucs’ offense was still struggling to offense so naturally a punt would follow. After the Bucs wasted each of their defense’s forced turnovers, Chicago knocked through a field goal— 17-3, Bears.
Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ offense got themselves back across a first down marker for the first time in quite while as Emeka Egbuka scooped a low pass over the middle, ticking the first half down to the two-minute warning. The first downs came in bunches (by the Bucs’ standards, multiple in one drive), but Tampa’s drive, momentum, and chances at scoring were swept away by an untimely Baker Mayfield interception. Right as Bucs’ fans were no doubt bracing for the worst, the flood gates did in fact not open. Zyon McCollum, who deserves praise for being the shiny example of how much development a player is capable of went low for a diving interception and hauled in his second Caleb Williams pass of the night.
Back on offense with new life, Tampa Bay began with Emeka Egbuka for a huge catch and run, they found Bucky Irving and Cade Otton underneath to get themselves within striking distance. Another Chase McLaughlin field and another three points for the Buccaneers. 17-6, Chicago.
Third Quarter:
Zac Robinson went deep into his bag to start the second half. The Buccaneers started with two straight Bucky Irving runs, but after a chain-moving third down reception from Chris Godwin, Robinson dialed up a rare play action deep shot. Baker Mayfield dropped back and arched a beautiful pass into the striding arms of Tez Johnson all the way to the Bears’ two yard line. Two plays later, Bucky Irving would go on to score a touchdown in his homecoming— 17-13, Chicago.
Amidst a lull, the game’s third consecutive punt created a highlight when special teams ace Miles Killebrew broke through the line of scrimmage and blocked Tory Taylor’s punt setting the Buccaneers’ offense near midfield. He also would indirectly set the Bucs’ offense up for another punt— Four consecutive. Bears’ offense had the ball back but that just meant they could give it away again— interception, Alex Anzalone. The short lived burst of enthusiasm from Tampa’s defense would be given a quick dagger and shut down by the Bears second interception of Baker Mayfield, a pick six, and a two-score lead for the Bears. 24-13, Chicago.
Fourth Quarter:
Tampa began the fourth quarter with Second down and Bucky Irving. Irving. Despite a slower day by recent standards, Irving took off to start the fourth quarter scampering past, under, and around Chicago defenders for 25 yards. Irving’s jolt burst Tampa into field goal and Todd Bowles, after a small bit of indecision, opted for a kick— 24-16, Bears.
The next time Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ offense would see the ball would be with 8:03 left on the clock and the ball on their own 15-yard line. Tampa would it make slightly passed their 30, before needing a punt and handing hope back over to Todd Bowles and their defense.
4:27 on the clock— Do or die for Tampa’s defense and they did. Rueben Bain Jr. hustling over to help make a tackle forced the ball which was recovered by Ifeatu Melifonwu. Inside the 20, needing eight to stay alive, the Bucs’ offense turned to Bucky Irving and Bucky Irving turned carries into points, crossing the goal line for the second time in the game. Two point conversion— Successful on a Baker Mayfield scramble. 24-24, All tied up.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Todd Bowles have had an outstanding defense though the last few games. Aside from Sunday night’s opening quarter, they had one again today. The group let up just three points between the first quarter and the final drive of the game, harassed Caleb Williams, and forced five turnovers. If there is one knock that Todd Bowles’ defense has had and continues to have it would be failing to close out close games. Bowles’ defense was lights out for nearly 75 percent of the game, but when the team needing them to pull out a stop they blew a coverage left a player completely wide-open and lost the game with ease on a short Cairo Santos field goal. 27-24, Chicago Bars.
