Three turnovers sink the Bucs in a 20-17 loss to Miami, but the playoff dream lives on. They must beat the Carolina Panthers in Week 18 to win the NFC South and clinch a postseason spot.
Baker Mayfield threw for more than 300 yards for just the second time this season and threw multiple touchdown passes for just the second time in his last six games, but his three turnovers were too much for Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers (7-9) dropped their fourth straight game in a 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins (7-9) in Week 17.
The loss was Tampa Bay’s seventh in their last eight games, but thanks to the Carolina Panthers’ 27-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Buccaneers remain alive for the NFC South Division crown and a spot in the NFL Playoffs.
All they have to do is finish the season with a win against the Panthers (8-8) in Week 18. The game will be played on Saturday at 4:30 ET.
Although Mayfield drove the Buccaneers 91 yards in one minute and cut the lead to three points with just 50 seconds left in the game on a four-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans, two of Mayfield’s turnovers came in the fourth quarter in Dolphins’ territory.
Miami took a 20-10 lead on a 31-yard field goal by Riley Patterson to start the fourth quarter, but it appeared the Buccaneers finally found some rhythm on offense after forcing the Dolphins to punt with 12:37 left in the fourth.
Mayfield led Tampa Bay to the Miami 43-yard-line in four plays, but on first-and-10 his deep shot toward the end zone was intercepted by Ashtyn Davis at the 5-yard-line with 6:59 left.
The Tampa Bay defense forced Miami to punt on their next possession, and once again Mayfield led the Buccaneers into Dolphins’ territory to the 38 with 4:26 left. On 2nd-and-3, Miami’s Bradley Chubb got to Mayfield in the backfield and stripped the ball out of Mayfield’s hands.
Quinton Bell recovered the ball for the Dolphins at the 41-yard-line with 3:55 left in the game. Miami wasn’t able to capitalize on the turnover, setting up Mayfield’s late-game touchdown drive. The Buccaneers attempted an onside kick but failed to recover to end the game.
The Buccaneers opened the scoring on the day with a 14-play, 68-yard drive capped by a five-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield to Chris Godwin Jr. with 5:27 left in the first quarter.
Although the Dolphins opened the game going three-and-out, they struck back quickly on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to Theo Wease Jr. with 4:29 left in the first to tie the game 7-7.
After a Tampa Bay punt, Patterson extended Miami’s lead to 10-7 with a 29-yard field goal with 8:18 left in the first half.
On the Buccaneers next possession, Miami’s Jason Marshall Jr. picked off Mayfield for the first time of the day. Ewers then led the Dolphins on a nine-play, 76-yard drive capped by his second touchdown pass of the game on an 11-yard strike to Greg Dulcich to take a 17-7 lead into halftime.
Tampa Bay had a chance to score at the end of the first half but Chase McLaughlin’s 55-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
Ewers finished the day completing 14-of-22 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He had zero interceptions.
Mayfield completed 34-of-44 for 346 yards for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ewers’ two first-half touchdown passes were the first time a rookie Dolphins’ quarterback had done so since Dan Marino in 1984.