The Buccaneers owe the Seahawks some thanks as they head into Week 18.
Sunday began with the Buccaneers facing possible playoff elimination and they played like a team that has no business being in the postseason against the Dolphins, but they will have a shot to win the NFC South next weekend. The Seahawks beat the Panthers, which means that the Buccaneers can win the division with a win over the Panthers in the final game of the regular season.
If they are going to pull that off, they’re going to need to play a much cleaner game than they played on Sunday. Baker Mayfield threw two interceptions and lost a fumble on a sack during a 20-17 loss to the Dolphins. The loss was the seventh in the last eight games for the Bucs and it guarantees they will finish the season with a losing record whether they win the division or not.
It looked like it would be a better day for the Bucs when the game got underway. Mayfield threw a touchdown to wide receiver Chris Godwin to open the game, but the Dolphins scored the next 17 points and the Bucs only moved back within one score on a Mike Evans touchdown catch with 50 seconds left to play.
The Bucs were out of timeouts at that point, however, and that meant the game ended when the Dolphins successfully fielded an onside kick.
Dolphins rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers was 14-of-22 for 172 yards and the first two touchdowns of his NFL career. They also got 139 yards on 23 carries by De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright as they improved to 7-9 on the season.
The Dolphins will close out the season in New England and they could have a chance to play spoiler against the Patriots, which would be a pleasant way to cap an otherwise disappointing season in Miami.
The Buccaneers have a lot more to play for than the Dolphins on Sunday, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that by the way the two teams have played through the first 30 minutes in Miami.
Dolphins rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers has thrown a pair of touchdown passes and they are up 17-7 after blocking a Chase McLaughlin field goal late in the first half.
Ewers’ second touchdown came on an 11-yard pass to tight end Greg Dulcich with 1:43 to play in the second quarter. His first was a 63-yard strike to rookie wideout Theo Wease that is the longest scoring play of the season for the Dolphins. Ewers is 10-of-15 for 144 yards and the De’Von Achane/Jaylen Wright running back duo has posted 92 yards on eight carries against an overwhelmed Buccaneers defense.
The Dolphins did lose wideout Jaylen Waddle to a rib injury, but it didn’t slow them down on offense.
Baker Mayfield led the Bucs to a touchdown on the opening drive of the game, but he threw an interception later in the half and went into the locker room 16-of-21 for 143 yards. The Bucs running game has not helped the quarterback out as they’ve produced just 20 yards on nine carries.
Tampa needs a win in order to guarantee themselves a shot at the NFC South in Week 18 and they’ll need to play a lot better in the second half to make that happen.
Dolphins rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers’ first NFL touchdown pass was a long one.
Ewers hooked up up with wide receiver Theo Wease for a 63-yard score in the first quarter to tie Miami’s game at 7-7 with 4:29 to play in the opening quarter. It was also the first touchdown of the rookie wideout’s career.
Ewers is making his second straight start and is looking for his first win in that role.
The Dolphins only have 11 yards on their other five plays, but the big one was enough to get them on the board at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Buccaneers need a win over the Dolphins on Sunday to ensure themselves a chance at winning the NFC South in Week 18 and they’re off to a good start.
After forcing a quick Miami punt, Baker Mayfield drove the Bucs 68 yards for their first points of the game. They came on a five-yard throw to wide receiver Chris Godwin and the Bucs are now up 7-0 with 5:27 to play in the first quarter.
Mayfield was 6-of-8 for 57 yards on the drive. Three of the completions went to wide receiver Jalen McMillan for 39 yards.
With a win, the Bucs will play the Panthers for the division title in the final weekend of the regular season.
The Panthers added rookie Tetairoa McMillan to their injury report with an illness on Sunday morning, but they won’t have to go without their top wide receiver against the Seahawks.
McMillan is active for their home game against the NFC West frontrunners. The first-round pick has 65 catches for 924 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season.
The Panthers will win the NFC South on Sunday with a win and a Buccaneers loss to the Dolphins. If they don’t get that combination of results, the two teams will okay for the division crown in Week 18.
Seahawks at Panthers
Seahawks: WR Hunter Renfrow, S Demani Richardson, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, TE James Mitchell, DT Tershawn Wharton
Panthers: QB Jalen Milroe, CB Coby Bryant, LB Jared Ivey, T Charles Cross, G Bryce Cabledue, OL Mason Richman, DL Brandon Pili
Steelers at Browns
Steelers: QB Will Howard, WR Calvin Austin, RB Kaleb Johnson, CB Brandin Echols, CB James Pierre, G Isaac Seumalo, EDGE T.J. Watt, DL Logan Lee
Browns: OL Jeremiah Byers, QB Dillon Gabriel, OL Kendrick Green, CB Myles Harden, DL Sam Kamara, TE David Njoku, WR Jamari Thrash
Patriots at Jets
Patriots: QB Tommy DeVito, WR Kayshon Boutte, OT Marcus Bryant, G Jared Wilson, NT Khyiris Tonga, LB Robert Spillane, LB Harold Landry
Jets: QB Tyrod Taylor, OL Marquis Hayes, WR Quentin Skinner, TE Mason Taylor, DL Mazi Smith, S Chris Smith
Saints at Titans
Saints: S Ugo Amadi, WR Mason Tipton, CB Rejzohn Wright, RB Alvin Kamara, G Cesar Ruiz, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DT Bryan Bresee
Titans: S Jerrick Reed, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OL Garrett Dellinger, OL Drew Moss, DL Cam Horsley
Jaguars at Colts
Jaguars: CB Keith Taylor, RB Bhayshul Tuten, G Patrick Mekari, C Robert Hainsey, TE Hunter Long, DL Danny Striggow, DT Maason Smith
Colts: C Tanor Bortolini, RB Tyler Goodson, S Reuben Lowery, S George Odum, OL Dalton Tucker, DL JT Tuimoloau
Buccaneers at Dolphins
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, WR Sterling Shepard, S Rashad Wisdom, LB John Bullock, OT Tristan Wirfs, EDGE Anthony Nelson
Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, OL Kendall Lamm, C Aaron Brewer, LB Derrick McClendon
Cardinals at Bengals
Cardinals: S Budda Baker, OL Evan Brown, TE Pharaoh Brown, CB Kei’Trel Clark, K Joshua Karty, CB Kalen King, DL PJ Mustipher
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Charlie Jones, CB Josh Newton, S PJ Jules, DE Joseph Ossai, TE Cam Grandy, DT Jordan Jefferson
