Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
It was a rough outing overall for the offense.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield was a little off his game, throwing an interception early in the contest due to his reluctance in the pocket and overall missing a few throws. Wide receiver Mike Evans had plenty of drops (three, to be precise), but the second of those drops in the end zone, even if he should have come down with it, was partially influenced by the wonky positioning of Mayfield’s ball to the inside of him. He was also sacked a few times Monday night, and that’s largely down to poor offensive line play all around the board.
When asked about the run game after the matchup, coach Todd Bowles replied very curtly — “We didn’t have one.” That might honestly be selling it short, as the Bucs managed just 41 net rushing yards on 17 attempts for a miserable 2.4 yards per carry. Not only does running back Rachaad White need to be better with the amount of carries he’s getting, but the interior offensive line has played very poorly in run-block scenarios and isn’t exactly helping him out with no room to go. The team was able to run against the Chicago Bears, but now that the Bears have proven themselves as the definitive worst team in football, the Bucs still have to show that they can run against teams with stout defenses.
All in all, it was a dreadful outing for the offense, but the only reason we don’t grade F here is because Tampa Bay’s lone touchdown drive showcased some big-time catches by Evans and strong playcalling inside the five to get both a touchdown and a two-point conversion through the air.
