The Tampa Bay Buccaneers concluded their preseason with a concerning 19-0 shutout loss to Jacksonville, raising questions about offensive performance heading into the regular season. Through three exhibition games, the team accumulated just 350 passing yards and one passing touchdown, with quarterbacks averaging 4.8 yards per attempt while absorbing nine sacks. The final game against the Jaguars proved particularly troubling, with Tampa Bay managing only 120 total yards and converting just two of twelve third-down attempts.
Head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged the shortcomings following the loss, emphasizing deficiencies in pass protection and rushing efficiency. Even when the starting lineup took the field against Kansas City, the results proved unencouraging, with Baker Mayfield completing just two of four passes for ten yards before the offense stalled entirely in the first half. These early warning signs warrant attention, though context matters significantly.
The preseason limitations complicate any definitive assessment of Tampa Bay’s offensive capabilities. Mayfield saw minimal action across the three games, while key contributors received limited opportunities. The offensive line depth issues that emerged may prove more problematic than the starter group’s actual performance. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s system should ultimately be evaluated based on regular-season results with the intended roster in place, not performance from reserve players in exhibition contests.
Concern is reasonable but premature panic unwarranted. If identical offensive struggles persist when Tampa Bay opens against Cincinnati with their standard lineup intact, then alarm becomes justified. Until then, judgment should remain restrained pending evidence from meaningful competition.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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