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Jenna Laine, ESPN Staff Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo.– Tampa Bay Buccaneers teacher Todd Bowles safeguarded his option to kick an added issue and never try a two-point conversion after his group racked up a aim with 30 secs persevering with to be in coverage in Monday night’s final 30-24 additional time loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“We wanted to get into overtime with the wet conditions on the field, we thought we had to go into overtime instead of going for two. We had our shots. We lost the game,” Bowles claimed.
The Bucs gave up a 5-yard aim to DeAnd re Hopkins with 4:20 to enter coverage that, with the issue after, provided the Chiefs a 24-17 lead. After the teams traded quick three-and-outs, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield led an 11-play drive that completed in a 1-yard aim go to receiver Ryan Miller.
But versus choosing 2, which may have positioned Tampa Bay prematurely by one issue with 27 secs persevering with to be, out got here Bucs twist Chase McLaughlin.
“We went for one,” Bowles claimed. “We took our shots. We had our chances all game. We just lost the game. It didn’t come down to that.”
In Week 9, 4 teams that racked up objectives within the final 2 minutes of coverage decided to kick added point out join their video video games. ESPN Analytics modeling concurred with the selection to kick the added consider all 4 circumstances, nonetheless all 4 of these teams shed.
The Miami Dolphins have been linked with 1:38 left and after that shed on a 61-yard basket in coverage at theBuffalo Bills The New England Patriots linked their online game with out time left and after that shed on a 25-yard basket in additional time at theTennessee Titans The Seattle Seahawks linked with 0:51 left and after that shed on a 39-yard aim come on additional time versus theLos Angeles Rams And after that the Bucs shed on a 2-yard aim by Chiefs working again Kareem Hunt.
Asked concerning putting the spherical within the safety’s palms, Bowles claimed, “We were going to take our punches. We were playing OK defensively. We thought we were moving the ball offensively. We thought we had a good shot in overtime. We didn’t make the plays.”
The Chiefs boosted to 8-2 in additional time video video games, consisting of the playoffs, contemplating that 2018, when Patrick Mahomes got here to be the complete time starter, which is the best doc of any form of group as a result of interval.
For the Bucs, this was their 2nd additional time loss in prime-time tv when touring this era wherein the safety gave up a aim on the preliminary possession. The Bucs likewise shed to the Atlanta Falcons 36-30 in additional time on Thursday night in Week 5. Since 2012, when the NFL embraced the present regular-season additional time pointers, there have truly been simply 4 teams to shed quite a few prime-time video video games in additional time in the very same interval, in keeping with ESPN Research: the 2015 Cowboys, 2021 Chargers, 2022 Broncos and 2024 Buccaneers (all 0-2).
“It’s tough. You don’t take anything from it but a loss,” Bowles claimed. “And we can’t get used to losing, and that’s the biggest thing. We’re not going to get used to losing. We had some good plays. We took our swings. They connected more than we did. We fought, but it wasn’t good enough, so we got to get ready next week for another one.”
The Bucs have truly received the NFC South title the earlier 3 intervals, and earlier than that, they beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV as a wild card, nonetheless they at present have truly shed 3 straight video video games, sliding to 4-5 and listed under.500 for the very first time this era.
It started with their 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens 2 weeks again wherein receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin each have been harmed. Miller was phoned from the method workforce rapidly after, and Monday night’s aim was the preliminary of his NFL occupation. However, Mayfield was lacking out on a third receiver versus the Chiefs in novice Jalen McMillan, that was thought of not wholesome and balanced sufficient to play because of a hamstring harm.
Mayfield revealed somewhat little bit of irritation when the Bucs shed the coin throw in additional time.
“Against a team with an offense like that, you can only give them so many chances,” Mayfield claimed. “They win the coin toss, and that’s what happens. I’m proud of our guys on offense that stepped up. Coach had a good message … ‘We’re that close. Don’t get used to losing but just turn this thing around. We’ve got a home game next week against an NFC opponent, and we’ve got to find a way to win. That’s it.’”
Mayfield claimed virtually ripping off the NFL’s solely unbeaten group when touring was no alleviation reward.
“Right now, it’s about us,” Mayfield claimed. “It doesn’t matter who we play. We need to focus on doing our job and finding ways to win. That’s all that matters. We just have to stop the skid. We have to look at the things of why we lost when we look at the tape and go from there.”
