Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles isn't happy with the team's third-down efficiency.
The Buccaneers are 0-3 after three weeks, which means Tampa Bay shouldn't really be happy about anything. But things definitely reached a breaking point in their 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, in which the Buccaneers went 2-for-17 on third-down conversions. It epitomized the team's struggles in the second half, especially considering they were limited to just six points despite multiple opportunities to take control of the game.
Bowles sounded off on the team's lack of third-down efficiency, giving credit to the Vikings' defense, while also pinning blame on his own team.
Via Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official website:
“Well, part of it was them,"
said Bowles after the game. "They have a good blitz package, and they got free a few times, but a lot of it was us too, shooting ourselves in the foot. Either we missed a play or either we got a penalty…It was a little bit of everything. I’ve said it again and again – I [have] to see what the penalty situation looks like. We [have] to see whether it’s playcalling, quarterback, offensive line. It’s everybody included in that. We [have] to do better on third down.”
The Buccaneers had 12 offensive drives after the second quarter began and punted seven times with two interceptions and three field goals. They also went 0-for-2 on fourth down conversions.
It didn't help that Tampa Bay also was plagued by penalties in an absolutely ugly game. The Buccaneers were penalized eight times for 81 yards, but the Vikings were also penalized nine times for 95 yards.
The Buccaneers had an 85-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin nullified in the third quarter due to a holding penalty that would have given them the lead.
Baker Mayfield also suffered a thumb injury at the end of their game against the Vikings, and we'll see how long he's sidelined for. Tampa Bay may be forced to go with undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels for the foreseeable future.
The Buccaneers have a lot to clean up as they seek their first win when they host the Green Bay Packers in Week 4.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Todd Bowles Sounds off on Buccaneers' Third Down Inefficiency in Vikings Loss
