The Bucs got back into the contest with an excruciatingly long 17-play, 92-yard touchdown drive — aided by two Bills penalties on fourth downs — that took 7:21 off the clock. Given that they were down two scores, taking up half the quarter wasn’t ideal, but the TD gave the Bucs a shot.
Mayfield heaved a gorgeous Hail Mary shot to close the game, but Chris Godwin turned his head late, watching the ball hit the turf for yet another loss.
The Bucs’ three wins have come against the 3-4 Vikings, 2-5 Bears and 3-4 Saints. The losses came to the 6-1 Eagles, 5-2 Lions, 4-3 Falcons and 5-3 Bills. With the schedule, in theory, easing up a bit over the next five weeks (Houston, Tennessee, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Carolina), the Bucs could turn the ship back around.
“It won’t snowball,” coach Todd Bowles said of the losing streak. “We have a lot of leaders in that locker room, a lot of leaders on our coaching staff. We have faith. We understand how tough we play. We just have to play smarter.”
Thursday’s penalties (11) and lack of third-down efficiency (4-of-15 on offense, allowed 7-of-13 on defense) were problems that have persisted during the losing streak.
“My faith in these guys has never wavered,” Bowles said. “I’ll take them anywhere. I’ll take them down an alley. I’ll fight with them any kind of way. I believe in them wholeheartedly. We believe in ourselves as a team. And we know we’ll push forward and get better.”