The Bucs played their worst game of the season in London, compiling a long list of miscues. Tampa Bay couldn’t get out of their way en route to seven turnovers and even more missed opportunities in their 37-26 loss.
Here were the most disappointing players from the game.
QB Jameis Winston
This game was ugly from the beginning for Winston, who threw an interception on literally the first play of the game. Winston looked out of sorts all game and once again did not have rhythm for the second straight week. It didn’t help that he had defenders in his face all game, but Winston made some throws that were just head scratching. Winston threw five interceptions in what was by far his, and the Bucs, worst game of the season. His most egregious play in the game happened at the end of the second quarter when the Bucs were in the red zone. Exactly one play after Winston was hit and fumbled the ball, he scrambled once again and waited way too long before he got hit and fumbled once more, this time with Carolina recovering. It was absolutely inexcusable by Winston to not get rid of the ball or run forward, and the fact that he just fumbled a play before made it even worse. Winston had six turnovers on the day with five interceptions and one fumble. He was also inaccurate on a lot of throws during the game and just seemed lost at times. Winston did have pass for one touchdown but it was mostly with the game out of reach. Winston’s final stat line was 30 completed passes on 54 attempts for 400 yards with one touchdown, five interceptions and two fumbles.
CB Vernon Hargreaves
Hargreaves has had a tough time in recent weeks defending the opposing team’s top receivers and that continued in London. Hargreaves is the Bucs number one corner, but he’s more of a number two, but the Bucs don’t have any better options. He continuously gets beat on plays both down the field and over the middle, which is why D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel combined for 143 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The Offensive Line
I know we normally single out an individual, but the whole offensive line deserves to be on this list. It was going to be an uphill battle with Demar Dotson and Alex Cappa out, but the entire line was dominated from beginning to end. Jameis Winston was sacked six times in the first half, and that’s not a typo. Some of it was certainly on Winston, but the offensive line did not help him out at all. They looked overmatched through the whole game. Even Ali Marpet, the Bucs best offensive lineman, gave up a sack to Gerald McCoy and had a holding penalty. It was a bad, bad day for the Bucs offensive line on a day where they were already behind the eight-ball with two starters out.The Bucs allowed seven sacks in the game, and while they were better in the second half, it didn’t stop the Panthers from creating pressure and causing issues for Wilson.
WR Bobo Wilson
Wilson has been a non factor in the punt return game for the entire season and the only effect he had in this game benefitted the Panthers. Wilson muffed two punts in a row, including one that was recovered by Carolina that eventually led to a touchdown that put the Bucs too far out of reach. When actually catching the punt, Wilson failed to make any significant returns despite having room to run, and even went for a negative gain on another one. Wilson’s second muffed punt essentially cost the Bucs game, and it may have cost him his punt return role.