The Tampa Bay Buccaneers threw it back to the 1970s on Sunday — in the worst of ways.
The Bucs lost their game on Sunday to the Detroit Lions 20-6, giving Tampa Bay its second loss of the season and first loss to the NFC North. Both of the Bucs’ losses have been at home this year, the first coming against the Philadelphia Eagles.
A futile offense was to blame, putting up just six points over four quarters. It was a pedestrian day for the entire unit, with quarterback Baker Mayfield throwing for just 206 yards on 37 attempts and Tampa Bay’s leading receiver in Chris Godwin only managing 77 yards (a chunk of which were in garbage time). The team’s run game was particularly dreadful, averaging only 2.9 with the team’s leading rusher in Rachaad White managing only 26. The Bucs were left without a touchdown across the game, the only game so far that such a thing has occurred.
Overall, the defense was good, holding a normally explosive Lions team to just 20 points on the day and holding in the red zone. The lack of offensive prowess left the defense tired, however, and the Lions took advantage after being stifled for just 10 points in the first half. Detroit scored two touchdowns, once on a third and long pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown for 27 yards and a deep ball to Jameson Williams for 45 yards. The team was particularly spited by 3rd and 10-plus scenarios, giving up over three over the course of the whole game.
The Bucs fall to 3-2 but still remain atop the NFC South, as the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons both lost their games on Sunday as well. Tampa Bay’s next opponent will be against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m.