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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3 Biggest takeaways from loss in Week 3 vs. Steelers

By Nick Sparrow

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 24: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs out of the locker room during the end of halftime in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 24, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 24: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs out of the locker room during the end of halftime in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 24, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 26: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 26: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

2. Tampa’s defense isn’t going to be winning any games

It has been clear over the early stretch of the season that the Tampa Bay defense just isn’t where fans were hoping it would be at the start of this season. What Monday night proved was that the defense just isn’t going to win any games on their own.

In the first two weeks, the defense was showing just enough to win combined with the spectacular Tampa offensive performance. If Tampa’s offense struggles, it just doesn’t look like this defense is able to step up its game to compensate.

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That isn’t to say that the defensive performance was dreadful, though. The team was able to shut down the Steelers offense on a few key possessions, especially in the fourth quarter when the Buccaneers were trying to come back. Considering Chris Conte, the team’s starting safety, left the game with an injury, the defense’s ability to not crumble despite being down was encouraging.

Despite holding to a talented Steelers offense to no points in the second half, giving up 23 points in the first half and failing to stop the offense on their final drive just isn’t going to cut it against the elite teams in the NFL.

Of course, narratives change quickly. If DeSean Jackon’s punt return touchdown had not been called back due to a completely unncessary holding call and Tampa’s defense held the Steelers on the following drive (which they did), the Buccaneers would have had the ball back with a lot more time on the clock and more flexibility in their offense.

It is easy to say if that were the case, the story could just as easily be about Tampa’s defense stepping up when it counted most. However, as it stands, fans are just looking for a little more consistency out of Mike Smith’s unit and it is hard to blame them.

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