The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' journey in the 2023-24 NFL playoffs ended as they were ousted by a resurgent Detroit Lions team, who are making their first postseason appearance in over 30 years.
Despite a commendable effort, the Buccaneers fell short in their battle against the Lions on Sunday, January 21, at Ford Field in Detroit, concluding with a final score of 31-23. The game remained closely contested throughout, but the Lions managed to pull away during the fourth quarter.
Despite their elimination, the Buccaneers had a commendable season, securing the top spot in the NFC South division with a 9-8 record. Many predicted them to be a losing team this season following the retirement of Tom Brady.
Tampa Bay notably achieved an upset victory over Super Bowl contenders Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round of the playoffs more than a week ago, adding a significant highlight to their season.
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3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers players to blame for NFL Playoffs loss vs Detroit Lions
1. Chase McLaughlin
Tampa Bay's placekicker, Chase McLaughlin, missed a crucial 50-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter, which could have contributed additional points for the Buccaneers and alleviate the pressure for a fourth-quarter comeback.
In his overall performance, McLaughlin successfully connected on another 43-yard field goal attempt and made two extra-point attempts. He had a combined 33-for-36 on field goals and a perfect 38-for-38 on PATs for the season.
2. Tampa Bay's defense
In the first half, the Buccaneers showcased an impressive defensive performance, limiting one of the league's better offenses to just 134 yards and 10 points. This strong showing hinted at a potential upset victory.
However, the Bucs could not maintain the same level of defensive prowess in the second half. The Lions managed to pull away later in the game, scoring 21 points in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter, while the Bucs had no answer.
Lions star quarterback Jared Goff played a pivotal role, throwing for 257 yards and three touchdowns during this period.
3. Baker Mayfield
Bucs star quarterback Baker Mayfield concluded the game with a spectacular performance, accumulating 349 passing yards and delivering three touchdowns.
However, the shine was dimmed by two interceptions, notably the one on the final drive that ultimately led to the team's loss.
The 28-year-old did not hesitate to shoulder the responsibility for the loss, openly acknowledging that his mistakes played a role in the outcome.
"Football is a complex game but also simple, it comes down to taking care of the ball. Just a bad mistake by me. And it sucks because I know what kind of group we've had all year. We fought to get to this point; we fought to be in that game ... this one is going to weigh on me for a while," the former first-overall pick said after the game.
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