It’s time for PewterReport.com’s 2-Point Conversion post-game column, which features two statements, two questions and two predictions based on the latest Bucs game. Tampa Bay’s offense sputtered after building a 14-3 lead over New Orleans at halftime. Two missed field goals and a blocked punt helped the Saints score 25 unanswered points in the second half in a stunning 28-14 win at Raymond James Stadium as New Orleans captured the NFC South title.

2 BIG STATEMENTS

STATEMENT 1: Blame The O-Line For This Loss
The Bucs offense and its passing attack is one of the best in the league – when quarterback Jameis Winston has time to throw the ball. When Winston wasn’t getting sacked he was running for his life, especially in the second half. But he did throw a pair of touchdowns to tight end Cameron Brate to help Tampa Bay build a 14-3 lead over New Orleans at halftime, as the Bucs offense outgained the Saints 198-104.

But the second half was a far different story as the Saints came roaring back to score 25 unanswered points in a 28-14 victory which left the Bucs stunned and searching for answers. Tampa Bay’s offensive line played tremendous football in New Orleans in the Bucs’ 48-40 win in Week 1 and didn’t give up a sack. It was a far different story in the rematch in which the Saints wrapped up the NFC South title with a stifling defensive effort, holding the Bucs to just 81 yards in the second half.

Put the blame of Tampa Bay’s offensive line, which began to come unraveled in the second quarter. The O-line gave up four sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 16 QB hurries and was flagged for six of the team’s 10 penalties.

“We had way too many holding penalties,” Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter said. “That killed us. We went through a stretch there where we had a bunch of penalties right in a row. We got dominated in the second half. They shut us down. We haven’t been shut down like that for a long time.

“Jameis was under duress all day. Jameis got hit too many times today. You can’t have your quarterback getting hit that many times, whether it’s scrambling, running, four sacks. We can’t get him hit that much.”

The offensive line was flagged for two more calls that were declined by New Orleans. Penalties by the offensive line plagued the offense’s production from the second quarter on.

“No doubt – it starts with us,” said Bucs right tackle Demar Dotson. “At the end of the day, if Jameis is getting hit and he’s scrambling for his life it’s on us. That’s what we have to own. Overall, it wasn’t good enough. When you go back and watch the film we’re going to see exactly what transpired, but it you know that it wasn’t good enough. I think we’ve done a better job of protecting this year, so we can’t let one game get away from us. We’re a throwing football team and everybody knows it. It’s no secret. We still have to do a better job of protecting.”

Bucs QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

Pro Bowl defensive end Cam Jordan had two sacks against the injured Dotson, who also had a holding penalty and a false start. Jordan slipped into the B gap for his first sack and split a double team attempt by Dotson and right guard Caleb Benenoch, who had another awful game. Jordan’s second sack came in the third quarter when Dotson had to leave Jordan because defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins was beating Benenoch inside and pressured Winston out of the pocket.

That allowed Jordan free to pursue the scrambling Winston and track him down for a sack. Benenoch also allowed massive penetration by defensive tackle David Onyemata in the third quarter that forced Winston to step up into the pocket and get sacked by linebacker A.J. Klein, who was being blocked by running back Jacquizz Rodgers.

The fourth and final sack came in the fourth quarter when Rankins beat center Ryan Jensen up the middle. Jensen had a holding penalty and an unnecessary roughness penalty, which sparked a brief sideline confrontation between Jensen and Winston.

Left tackle Donovan Smith had two holding calls, one of which was declined, and nearly gave up a sack to defensive end Marcus Davenport. He also had a false start and didn’t have a good game, especially in the second half. The only offensive lineman that seemed to play well was left guard Ali Marpet, who is also Tampa Bay’s best offensive lineman.

“We didn’t match their energy in the second half,” Dotson said. “I don’t know if they’re better than they were in Week 1. They have a good player in Cam Jordan. That’s their standout player. They have a lot of complimentary player, but it all starts with Cam. He’s a tremendous football player. He’s what makes that group go. Overall, I don’t see much difference from them in Week 1, but I know they came with a chip on their shoulder, trying to get back from what happened in Week 1. Going into the second half, I thought we had them right where we wanted them. They got a boost of confidence, though.”

Winston finished the game completing just 18-of-38 passes for 213 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Winston was once again the leading rusher with 47 yards on five carries as scrambled for his life most of the game.

The Bucs did break a team record with 31 touchdown passes, which is the most in a single season in franchise history. Ryan Fitzpatrick has tossed 17 touchdowns and Winston has 14 on the year, including two today.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

The Bucs offense was held to 279 yards – the lowest output of the year and the first time Tampa Bay has been held under 300 yards all season.

“We struggled on offense – period,” Koetter said. “I mean, we’ve never struggled like that in our passing game. We had over 100 yards rushing, but we struggled in the passing game. We’re one of the best passing teams in the league, but we weren’t today.”

The offensive line deserves most of the blame and whether head coach Dirk Koetter returns or not next year, offensive line coach George Warhop has to go because this unit has underperformed for the better part of the season.

STATEMENT 2: Bucs Special Teams Were Awful
Bucs offensive line coach George Warhop isn’t the only assistant that needs to be shown the door after this year, which will likely end in another losing season in Tampa Bay. Most of special teams coordinator Nate Kaczor’s units have been below average all year, and special teams really let the Bucs down in Sunday’s loss to the Saints.

Kicker Cairo Santos was perfect heading into Sunday’s game, connecting on all three of his field goals and making 12-of-12 extra points before his 46-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright in the second quarter. He shanked a 40-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter after Bucs defensive end Carl Nassib sacked quarterback Drew Brees and forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who played a tremendous game with eight tackles and that fumble recovery.

Bucs K Cairo Santos – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But the big momentum swing in the second half wasn’t Santos’ missed field goal. It was Bryan Anger’s blocked punt by Saints backup quarterback Taysom Hill. That set up a New Orleans touchdown that cut the Bucs’ lead to 14-11 in the third quarter and swung momentum in New Orleans’ direction.

“Overall, that blocked punt switched the momentum and we didn’t respond well to that adversity,” Bucs wide receiver Adam Humphries said. “You have to put it behind you, and as an offense, you have to have the mindset to score every time we come out on the field. We were talking about it and spirits were high, but we just didn’t execute. It just comes down to that. Some of the things we missed on today – obviously against a good team like the Saints you can’t do that or you’ll lose. That’s what happened.”

Tampa Bay’s special teams were also called for three penalties. Linebacker Kevin Minter had a false start on a punt, linebacker Cameron Lynch was flagged for an illegal block on a punt return and tight end Antony Auclair was penalized for unnecessary roughness on another return.

2 PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: What Needs To Be Done To Fix The O-Line?
A lot. The Bucs might need two new starting tackles next year as left tackle Donovan Smith just isn’t worth the $12 million the team is considering paying him on a new, long-term deal. Right tackle Demar Dotson will be 34 next year, and his play has definitely slipped.

Tampa Bay also needs a new starting right guard, as Caleb Benenoch is not a starting-caliber interior player. Is rookie Alex Cappa a better option? It might be time to find out.

Bucs RT Demar Dotson – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

With the Bucs essentially out of playoff contention with the best possible finish being 8-8 at this point, here’s a radical idea. Bench Smith and start Leonard Wester at left tackle. Let’s see if a younger, hungrier player like Wester can outperform Smith, who is prone to laziness at times and taking plays off. Start Cappa at right guard in place of Benenoch and try to accelerate his learning curve. Start Benenoch at right tackle, which was the position he played in college as well as down the stretch last year in place of the injured Dotson.

It’s time for the Bucs to see what the future might hold for the offensive line. Can Cappa play inside at guard after playing left tackle in college? Is Benenoch a better tackle than guard, or is he simply not a starting-caliber lineman in the NFL? Can Wester play more consistently than Smith? If these three moves fail, it’s time to search for three new starters next year to play alongside guard Ali Marpet and center Ryan Jensen, whose $10 million base salary next year is guaranteed.

QUESTION 2: How Did The Bucs’ Passing Attack Get Shut Down?
The Saints typically play a lot of Cover 1, which features a single high safety and man coverage across the board. But after giving up long touchdown passes to DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans in Tampa Bay’s 48-40 victory in New Orleans in Week 1, the Saints played that coverage sparingly, especially after Evans caught a 36-yard pass in single coverage on the first drive of the game, which ended in a Bucs touchdown.

When the Saints go to Cover 2, it’s typically zone, which was what the Bucs were expecting. But on Sunday, the Saints played Cover 2 with man coverage underneath and that prevented Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston from hitting shots down the field due to double coverage, and the Bucs receivers, backs and tight ends didn’t do a great job of separating from man coverage underneath.

Bucs WRs Mike Evans and Adam Humphries – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

“They did a good job defensively,” Bucs wide receiver Adam Humphries said. “The secondary did a great job of disguising coverages and making it tough on our receivers to recognize what they were running. They did a good job of getting pressure on Jameis, too. Overall, they did well defensively in the second half.

“Some of those big shots that we hit on [in Week 1], they weren’t given us those looks. They weren’t going to have those shots be successful today. They were taking those away. We had a different game plan today than we did in Week 1 and it started well. We just didn’t respond well in the second half.”

Evans was the Bucs’ leading receiver with four catches for 86 yards, while Humphries had four catches for 42 yards. Evans’ 36-yard gain was the only play over 20 yards by Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Running back Jacquizz Rodgers had four catches for 38 yards, while tight end Cameron Brate had two catches for 12 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Chris Godwin, who was starting in place of the injured Jackson, was targeted a team-high 10 times, but only had one catch for 13 yards.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1: Brate Will Lead The Bucs In TDs
With Jameis Winston at quarterback the rest of the way, Bucs tight end Cameron Brate will wind up leading Tampa Bay in touchdown receptions. Brate, who had two catches for 12 yards accounted for both of the Bucs’ scores on Sunday. Brate came into the game with 23 catches for 221 yards and four touchdowns, and now has a team-high six TDs. That’s one score ahead of wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Adam Humphries.

Bucs TE Cameron Brate – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With three games left, Brate could catch a couple more touchdowns down the stretch. Brate had a career-high eight scores in 2016 and could match or surpass that total with a big finish, especially since he’s Jameis Winston’s favorite target in the red zone.

PREDICTION 2: Tampa Bay Will Have Another Losing Season
With its eighth loss of the year, the best the 5-8 Bucs can finish is 8-8, but that won’t happen with two road games at 7-6 Baltimore and at 8-5 Dallas, in addition to a 4-9 Atlanta team that is still a threat to beat Tampa Bay. The Bucs will almost assuredly lose at least one more, which would make 7-9 the best possible finish in that scenario.

Since the Bucs are just 1-5 on the road this year, and allowing 38 points per game away from Raymond James Stadium, winning at either Baltimore or Dallas seems like a tall order. It’s very likely that the Bucs finish 6-10 or even 5-11 – and that puts the jobs of both Dirk Koetter and general manager Jason Licht in jeopardy in that scenario.