> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Tampa Bay Offensive Struggles Continue in 28-23 Loss to New England - URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/tampa-bay-offensive-struggles-continue/ - Published: 2025-11-11T15:08:30.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-11T15:08:30.000Z - Description: The Bucs lose to the Patriots in a frustrating affair - Author: Collin Sherwin - Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) fell to the New England Patriots (8-2) 28-23 on Sunday afternoon. Head coach Todd Bowles is now 1-3 as Tampa Bay’s head coach and 2-6 overall after a bye week following the Bucs’ sluggish performance Sunday. “We didn’t play well in all three phases,” Bowles said. “The routine things we should have done, we did not do.” [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) Tampa Bay has lost two of its last three games, and its offensive struggles are shifting from frustrating performances to a concerning trend. The Bucs are averaging 18.3 points and 4.4 yards per play over their last three games. They’ve surpassed 400 total yards just once this season — in Week 5 at Seattle — after hitting that mark 10 times during the 2024 regular season. Tampa Bay seemed poised for a breakout early Sunday. The Bucs marched down the field on their opening possession for a six-play, 65-yard drive capped by quarterback Baker Mayfield’s 21-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka. The Bucs wouldn’t find the end zone again until midway through the third quarter. “We’re a good team, but to be great, when you score on the opening drive, you can’t be satisfied with it,” Mayfield said. Tampa Bay continued to struggle on third down, converting just 5 of 13 attempts. The Bucs rank 23rd in the league this season at 36.5%. Mayfield completed 28 of 43 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns. He has 12 games with three passing touchdowns since joining the Bucs in 2023, tied for the most in the NFL during that span. Egbuka had six receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown, leading all rookies this season in receiving yards and touchdowns. Tight end Cade Otton tied his career high with nine receptions for 82 yards. Rookie receiver Tez Johnson added 42 receiving yards and two touchdowns, giving him four scores in his last four games. New England entered the game with the NFL’s top rushing defense, allowing 75.4 yards per game. The Bucs ran for 113 yards Sunday, becoming just the third team this season to eclipse 100 against the Patriots. Running back Sean Tucker led the way with 53 rushing yards, the first back to top 50 yards against New England this season. Starting offensive guard Ben Brederson left the game in the first quarter and did not return. Bowles did not have an update on his injury after the game. Brederson is one of two Bucs offensive lineman to start every game this season. The Patriots’ offense relied on explosive plays. They scored touchdowns of 72, 55 and 69 yards, which accounted for 45% of their total offense. Tampa Bay had allowed just two plays of 55 yards or more in its first eight games combined. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson led the Patriots with 14 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns, including runs of 55 and 69 yards. It was a career high in rushing yards for Henderson and his first touchdown since Sept. 28 against Carolina. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 16 of 31 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. His first was a 72-yard strike to receiver Kyle Williams in the first quarter. Maye’s second touchdown came as time expired in the first half when he found veteran receiver Stefon Diggs in the corner of the end zone on fourth-and-goal — a backbreaking play for the Bucs defense after holding New England out of the end zone on three straight downs from the 1-yard line. In the fourth quarter, Bucs safety Tykee Smith intercepted Maye for the game’s first turnover. It was Smith’s third career interception and his first this season. He also had eight tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Rookie defensive lineman Elijah Roberts added a sack, tackle for loss and pass breakup. The Bucs have forced 11 turnovers in their last five games, the third most in the league over that span. Mayfield said after the game that the Bucs lacked a “killer instinct” Sunday. Tampa Bay will need to find it quickly with back-to-back road games against the Bills and Rams — both playoff teams last season and currently in postseason position through Week 10. The good news for Tampa Bay is that both the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons lost Sunday, allowing the Bucs to maintain a 1½-game lead in the NFC South. Next week, the Bucs will travel to Buffalo for their final game at Highmark Stadium. It’s a pivotal matchup for both teams, as the Bills are also looking to rebound after a 30-13 loss to the Dolphins. Thanks for reading The Bay Area Examiner ! This post is public so feel free to share it.