Tampa Bay's Postseason Hopes Not Dead Despite Woeful Losing Streak Continuing in Miami

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The saying goes, “When it rains, it pours,” and if that’s the case, it has reached Category 5 hurricane levels in Tampa Bay.

The Miami Dolphins held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-17 on Sunday afternoon, and frustration is boiling over in the Bucs locker room.

“It’s not the leadership failing, it’s the execution at certain times with certain things with certain guys,” head coach Todd Bowles said. “The leadership has been great. The message has been great by the leaders, and we’ve just got to execute at critical times.”

Tampa Bay has now lost four games in a row and seven of its last eight — its worst seven-game stretch since the 2018 season, when the Bucs finished 5-11.

“We’re shooting ourselves in the foot at every chance,” Bowles said. “That starts with me. I’ve got to coach them better, and they’ve got to play it better.”

Two costly turnovers on back-to-back possessions by quarterback Baker Mayfield derailed the Bucs’ hopes of a fourth-quarter comeback. The first came through the air when Mayfield attempted to find rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka but was intercepted by Dolphins safety Ashtyn Davis, who fooled Mayfield by vacating his coverage area at the snap. On the next possession, with the Bucs again driving in Miami territory, Mayfield was strip-sacked by linebacker Bradley Chubb.

“Those turnovers crushed us,” Mayfield said after the game.

Tampa Bay turned the ball over three times while Miami did not commit a turnover. The Bucs are now 0-8 this season in games in which Mayfield throws an interception.

Tampa Bay jumped out to a 7-0 lead after forcing a three-and-out on Miami’s opening possession, then driving 14 plays for 68 yards and capping the drive with a touchdown pass from Mayfield to receiver Chris Godwin. Tampa Bay has scored a touchdown on its opening possession four times this season.

The momentum was short-lived. Three plays later, rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers found rookie receiver Theo Wease wide open for a 63-yard touchdown. It was Ewers’ first career passing touchdown and Wease’s first career touchdown reception. Bowles confirmed after the game that a busted coverage led to the big play.

Ewers made his second career start Sunday after taking over following Miami’s benching of Tua Tagovailoa two weeks ago after a 28-15 loss to Pittsburgh. Last week, Ewers completed 20-of-30 passes for 260 yards and two interceptions. Against Tampa Bay, he was more efficient, completing 14-of-22 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns.

Both of Ewers’ touchdown passes came in the first half and helped Miami build a 17-7 halftime lead. The Dolphins totaled 226 yards and averaged 8.4 yards per play in the first half. They were held to just 72 yards and three points in the second half.

Tampa Bay’s offense struggled once again. The Bucs scored just three points in an eight drive span in the middle of the game before scoring a touchdown on their final possession. They rank in the bottom third of the NFL in scoring and total offense this season.

Mayfield finished 33-of-44 for 346 yards and two touchdowns, along with three turnovers. It marked the second-highest passing yardage and passing attempt total of his season.

Second-year receiver Jalen McMillan had a breakout performance, catching seven passes for a career-high 114 yards. It was his first career 100-yard receiving game. McMillan missed the first 13 games of the season due to a neck injury.

Godwin also finished with seven catches for 104 yards, his first 100-yard receiving game of the season. He has played in just eight games this year after returning from a season-ending ankle injury last season.

Tampa Bay’s rushing attack was stifled. The Bucs ran for just 53 yards at 3.3 yards per carry, their second-lowest rushing output of the season. Miami entered the game allowing 130.3 rushing yards per game.

The Dolphins ran for 145 yards at 4.8 yards per carry. Running back De’Von Achane led the way with 18 carries for 83 yards.

Despite their struggles, the Bucs remain in position to win their fifth straight NFC South title and make their sixth consecutive playoff appearance. Carolina’s loss to Seattle on Sunday set up a pivotal matchup next weekend at Raymond James Stadium.

If Atlanta loses Monday night to the Rams or next Sunday to the Saints, the winner of next week’s Panthers-Buccaneers game will clinch the NFC South. If Atlanta wins both games, the Panthers will win the division regardless of the result in Tampa.

“There’s a window of opportunity, and it’s up to us as coaches, players and a team to take advantage of it,” Bowles said.

Mayfield added that the team is “out of lives” heading into the win-or-go-home game.

Carolina defeated Tampa Bay 23-20 last week in Charlotte.

If the Bucs reach the playoffs with an 8-9 record, they would become the seventh team in NFL history to clinch a postseason berth with a below-.500 record. The last team to do so was Tampa Bay in 2022.

Tampa Bay will take on the Panthers next Saturday at 4:30 to conclude the regular season.