Tampa Bay came into this Week 6 matchup 5-0, and one of the last two undefeated teams. This would not change. Winning in a blowout game, (60-14) Mick Wynn played his 2nd game on the season, coming back from a dislocated ankle attained in the preseason. His strong play would continue, firing 2 long TDs to star wideout Angelo Silva. Those would be all of Silvas catches, but each longer than 70 yards.
The Dolphins came in with a dangerous rushing game, lead by Demarco Murray. Murray would not top 100 yards on the day, on 23 carries. The biggest story was the big day by Gareef Golden, who had a 200+ yard performance, propelling him back into the Top 5 rushing on the year. The Bucs jumped to a early lead, up 30+ points at half, but the more the Dolphins fought to get back, the more they got stuck in the net that is the Bucs defense.
The rookie QB, Kris Jordan had a day that he would like to forget, being intercepted 7 times, pick sixed once by DJ Swearinger. The defence of the Bucs, which has made a 360 this year, from being 32nd in the league, to the 14th overall defense. With this win, they move to 6-0 and a even larger lead on the NFC.
The Bucs pulled out a narrow win in the legendary Lambeau Field. Missing their QB for a 3rd straight week, they fought hard, early to gain up a lead. On the 1st possession of the game, the Buccaneers methodically marched down the field, completing small passes for 1st downs. Ending the drive with a FB dive fake and a pitch outside to Lance Dunbar, the team’s leading rushing scorer. A few 3 and Outs later, the Bucs punter Marquette King kicked a beautiful ball, falling inside the 3. Backed up on their own goal, on 2nd down,Teddy Bridgewater took a sack in the end zone from star RE acquisition Marcus Dobbins. Dobbins had 2 sacks on the day. The Bucs would kick a field goal on the following drive to take a 12-0 lead before the 2nd quarter.
Teddy Bridgewater and the offense targeted A.J Green quite often, catching 6 passes, for 91 yards and a TD. The Buccaneers defense showed no mercy in the run game, only allowing 27 yards on 12 carries to the reigning TSL OPOW Giovanni Bernard. Teddy Bridgewater threw an early pick to Xavier Rhodes, as he would later throw 3 more to Maualaga, Bruce Irvin, and Bradley Mcdougald.
Once the Packers offense got kicked into high gear, throwing a slant and AJ Green going all the way, and a short TD run by Bernard, they were up 18-15. With 3 minutes left, the Buccaneers drove, wasting clock all the way down, and kicking a field goal with 45 seconds remaining. With two timeouts left, the Packers decided overtime was not an option, coming out in 5 wide for the 1st play of the last possession. After throwing a slant and being tackled inbounds they called one of their TO to think about their next move. Next play, Bridgewater takes a shot deep on an in post for Green, and is INTERCEPTED by Mcdougald and returned to set the Bucs up for the game winner. 12 MPH to Tuckers back, he looks up at the 48 yarder. As he lines up, the Packers call a timeout, icing the kicker. Following the timeout, Tucker lined up again, gaining his bearings. The Lambeau field crowd roared, trying to disrupt Tuckers thoughts. With 3 seconds left, Tucker drives his leg into it, and IT IS GOOD. The Bucs move to 3-0 on the year, with a thriller.
After a disappointing finish to last season, and narrowly missing playoffs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are off to a racing start. With a 3 point win against fellow NFC South team the Atlanta Falcons, the Bucs showed us something that had not been there last year: defense. Forcing 3 INTS of the sophomore QB Michael Reed, as well as stopping new starting RB Javontae Allen. Allen was only allowed 32 yards on 15 carries.
With the new additions and replacements on the defensive side, they showed up, hurrying and chasing down Reed all day. Joe Haden, the veteran CB presence for the team, read a pass in the early 3rd quarter and took it 70 yards for a score. Xavier Rhodes, the new addition to the secondary, had an interception that went for 6 also, to add to a 7 point lead. The offense is not quite what the coaching staff expected, with Mick Wynn out for a few more weeks. Andy Dalton will be starting in his place. Until the offense is healthy, the offense will be focused on the up and coming star in TSL, Gareef Golden.
Golden has been a star since entering the league last year, rushing for 1300 yards in his rookie season. Here in week 2, he rushed for a career high 191 yards and a TD. He also caught 3 passes, one going for a long TD. All in all, the Bucs look to keep stride in the NFC South, at 2-0, they jump to a good start. Up next, the Green Bay Packers.
Gareef Golden post-game interview:
"It was a good day on offense, for me, and my teammates. Defense was lock down, and we look to go out there every game and do the same." -
We know there were rumors in the offseason of you being shipped around, but here you are, what do you know about that?
"I wouldn't know anything about that, I’m here to ball, as well as to help my team get to the Promised Land, no matter what team I'm on. No further questions." "