On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked to close out their six week road trip with a win over the Seattle Seahawks. After setting a franchise record with 55 points against the Los Angeles Rams in a week 4 victory, Tampa Bay entered week 9 having lost their last three games. The 2-5 Bucs entered one of the toughest environments in the NFL against the 6-2 Seahawks desperate for a win before returning to Tampa for week 10.
Offenses trade scores early
Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers offense got off to a fast start. On the first play of the game, Winston found Mike Evans for a 17 yard gain. After a couple of powerful runs from Ronald Jones and another strike to Evans for 21 yards, Seattle was called for a roughing the passer penalty. This set Tampa Bay up at the 8 yard line and Jones cashed in on first down touchdown run to give the Bucs an early 7-0 lead.
Seattle took over and promptly marched down field to even the score. Russell Wilson set the tone for what would be a huge day for receiver Tyler Lockett on the Seahawks opening drive. After converting 2 first downs to Lockett on that drive, Wilson found his favorite target for a 19 yard touchdown over Bucs’ cornerback Jamel Dean. Dean entered the game after an injury sidelined starter Carlton Davis. The 6 play, 75 yard drive took just over 3 minutes off the clock.
Missed kicks go the Bucs’ way for a change
The teams traded 3 and outs and punts before the Tampa Bay offense got things going again. With 56 seconds to go in the first quarter, Winston threw into coverage toward Evans and Chris Godwin. The pass was tipped and luckily fell into the hands of Breshad Perriman who caught his first touchdown as a Buccaneer. On that drive, Evans had catches of 6 and 12 yards. He also drew a defensive pass interference call for 16 additional yards.
After a Jason Myers missed field goal, the score remained 14-7 until late in the second quarter. With 4:37 to go, Winston scrambled and found Mike Evans for a 5 yard touchdown to put Tampa Bay on top 21-7. Later in the quarter, the Seahawks answered with a touchdown of their own before halftime. Russell Wilson found tight end Jacob Hollister for a 1 yard touchdown with just over a minute left in the half. Myers missed the extra point as his rough day continued.
Tampa Bay had one last chance to get points before halftime on the next drive. However, Matt Gay missed wide left from 50 yards and the score remained 21-13 at halftime. Through 30 minutes, Winston was 14/22 for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns. Evans had 7 catches for 88 yards and 1 score. The Bucs’ leading rusher in the first half was Ronald Jones with 42 yards on 10 carries.
Dean, secondary continue to struggle
Seattle started the second half with the football and a 3rd down sack by Lavonte David forced a quick punt. On the Bucs ensuing drive, a false start on Donovan Smith created a 3rd and 12 that Tampa Bay could not overcome. The Seahawks took over from their own 15 yard line after the punt and made quick work of the Buccaneers defense. A 59 yard run by Chris Carson on first down set Seattle up at the Bucs’ 26. On the next play, Wilson found Jacob Hollister on a 25 yard gain down to the 1. Wilson then converted another touchdown strike to Tyler Lockett who again beat Jamel Dean for a score.
With the score 21-19, Pete Carroll opted to go for the 2 point conversion. Wilson completed to DK Metcalf for the conversion to tie the score at 21. Matt Gay added a 41 yard field goal to give Tampa Bay a 24-21 lead heading into the 4th quarter.
Back and forth final quarter sets up exciting finish
Early in the 4th quarter, Jason Myers got back on track with a 37 yard field goal to tie the game at 24. 2 drives later, Tampa Bay recovered a Chris Carson fumble but the play had been blown dead. Officials originally ruled Carson down by contact. As a result, Bucs’ head coach Bruce Arians successfully challenged the play. The Bucs took over at the Seattle 4o yard line. 3 plays later, Jameis Winston fumbled and the Seahawks returned the ball to the Tampa Bay 15 yard line. The Buccaneers defense held Seattle to a field goal as Jason Myers gave the Seahawks their first lead of the afternoon.
Matt Gay answered the score on Tampa Bay’s next drive. After a 25 yard pass and catch to Evans and a 15 yard run by Jones, the Bucs’ drive stalled at the 27, and Gay converted from 45 to tie things at 27.
Seattle needed just 3 plays to take the lead again on their ensuing drive. Wilson hit Lockett for 19 yards before finding DK Metcalf for a 53 yard touchdown strike.
The Seahawks led 34-27 as Tampa Bay faced a 4th and 5 at the 2 minute warning. Jameis Winston scrambled to pick up the first down. After a 16 yard catch from Evans set the Bucs up at the 2, Dare Ogunbowale punched it for a touchdown. The extra point was converted by Matt Gay and the score was tied 34-34 with 46 seconds left.
Don't you DARE count us out.#GoBucs | #TBvsSEA pic.twitter.com/VbC89s5pM2
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 4, 2019
Last ditch effort in regulation comes up short for Seattle, Dean has a tough overtime
46 seconds proved to be plenty of time for Russell Wilson to lead Seattle into field goal range. However, after it appeared Jason Myers had shaken his earlier demons, the Seahawks kicker missed from 39 as time expired. The wide right miss was Myers 3rd of the day and sent the teams into overtime tied at 34.
The Seahawks won the overtime coin toss and opted to receive. Jamel Dean, who to his credit made a few nice defensive pass breakups, continued to be picked on by Russell Wilson. After David Moore beat Dean for a 12 yard catch, Dean was called for illegal contact on a deep ball thrown to DK Metcalf. The penalty gave Seattle an automatic first down at the Buccaneers 44 yard line. 3 plays later, Dean again was targeted by Wilson on a 29 yard completion to Metcalf. After a loss of 4 on a run by Chris Carson, Wilson connected with Jacob Hollister on the game winning touchdown. Officials reviewed the play but determined that Hollister broke the plane of the end zone before his knee was down.
The game ended with a 40-34. As a result, a respectable effort by the Buccaneers came up just short. All in all, the Tampa Bay defense allowed a 5 touchdown performance from Russell Wilson. Wilson also threw for 378 yards. This performance overshadowed another outstanding effort from the Buccaneers offensively. This game was also the 6th time this season Tampa Bay’s defense has allowed 30 or more points.
Up next for the Bucs
The Buccaneers finally return home to Raymond James Stadium next week. The Arizona Cardinals (3-5-1) will be the first team to visit the Bucs in Tampa since the New York Giants on 9/22. During their stretch of 6 weeks away, Tampa Bay went 1-4.
