Buccaneers Struggle As Brady Loses To Rookie Quarterback

By Lily Belcher

In a Sunday afternoon loss, the Buccaneers fell to 6-7 and dropped below .500, once again showcasing the lack of offensive chemistry and the unreliable defense that Tampa Bay has begun to accept as the new norm for the Buccaneers. Quarterback Tom Brady lost to 49ers' rookie Brock Purdy, who made his debut as a starting quarterback. Brady entered the game 6-0 against rookie quarterbacks, but Purdy broke the veteran’s record, leading the 49ers to their ninth win of the season.

Brady's offense has struggled all season, but the veteran quarterback is going through an obvious slump since the November 13 win over Seattle. His Passer Rating has fallen for the fourth straight week, he threw a single-game, season-high of two interceptions and suffered this season's biggest deficit in the 35-7 loss to the 49ers.

The 45-year-old did make his second highest pass attempts this season, but was largely unsuccessful as rumors of Brady playing with an injured hand continue to circulate.

"We played bad in all phases. We coached bad. We got out-coached," admitted head coach Todd Bowles. "We got our ass kicked on offense and we got our ass kicked on defense."

The Buccaneer’s coaching failures were apparent in the first quarter as kicker Ryan Succop attempted a 55-yard field goal while the Bucs were already trailing by a touchdown on the road. Succop had made a 51-yarder in practice, leading fans to question why Bowles’ attempted his kicker’s career high field goal in the game.

Bowles admitted to a failure on the field and the sidelines, placing equal blame on the coaching staff and the players. Still, he called for his team to focus on next Sunday's game and pleaded for his players to step up when their number is called.

"We coached bad, we played bad. We got out-coached, we got out played. [It's] as simple as that," reiterated Bowles.

The 49ers sit comfortably in first in the NFC West and are on a six-game winning streak, despite losing starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a season-ending foot injury.

Looking ahead, Bowles indicated they would be tweaking their game plan, but said it was too late in the season to make major changes. The Buccaneers have maintained their first place spot, but still have to face NFC South rivals Panthers at home and Falcons on the road before the end of the season.

Tampa Bay will host the Cincinnati Bengals on December 18 at 4:25 p.m. with hopes to even out their record before Christmas.