Tampa Bay Buccaneers Drop to 1-7
Nov 2, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon (8) celebrate Evans
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to find ways to lose.
Two Mike Glennon interceptions, a blocked field goal and punt all contributed to a 22-17 defeat to the Cleveland Browns Sunday.
After heading into the fourth with a 17-16 lead, Michael Koenen’s blocked punt set up the game-winning score with 8:59 left when Brian Hoyer hit Taylor Gabriel for a 34-yard touchdown. Cleveland (5-3) couldn’t convert the two-point conversion.
The Bucs (1-7) didn’t mount much of a threat to re-take the lead late in the fourth and their chances were officially over when Mike Evans was called for a pass interference call, negating a third down conversion. Glennon threw incomplete on the next play.
Evans had a big game, hauling in two touchdown passes and a career high 124 yards, the first of which gave the Bucs a 7-6 lead in the second quarter after Billy Cundiff had kicked Cleveland to an early lead.
Evans’ second touchdown grab, also of 24 yards, gave the Bucs a one-point, 17-16, lead with 2:49 left in the third quarter.
Patrick Murray added a field goal to make it 10-6 Bucs in the second quarter, before Cundiff added another field goal as time expired in the half to give the Bucs a 10-9 half time lead.
Terrence West ran in from two yards out 5:50 into the third to put the Browns ahead 16-10 before Evans’ second score of the afternoon.
Glennon’s two picks could have been avoided: the first was on a severely under thrown ball to Evans in the first quarter, the second came in the red zone as his pass was tipped and hauled in by Tashaun Gipson. That came two plays after Johnthan Banks had picked off Hoyer to give Tampa Bay good field position.
Glennon threw for 260 yards but his position could be under threat from week 1 starter Josh McCown.
Bobby Rainey started in the place of the inactive Doug Martin and ran for 87 yards and also had one catch for 34 yards.
Clinton McDonald also had an interception for Tampa Bay, while Major Wright made 13 tackles. Gerald McCoy had two sacks.
The Bucs were 4-of-12 on third down but generated 365 yards of offense.
Tampa Bay host Atlanta next Sunday.