Bucs Fall to Seahawks in Overtime Shootout, 40-34
Despite a two-score lead in the first half, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost a wild one against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, as Russell Wilson's fifth touchdown pass of the day gave the home team a dramatic 40-34 victory.
Wilson marched the Seahawks down the field after winning the overtime coin toss, hitting tight end Jacob Hollister for their second scoring connection of the day to give Seattle the win.
Tampa Bay opened the game with an impressive scoring drive, then built a 21-7 lead in the first half. After the Seahawks tied the game at 21 in the third quarter, the Bucs regained the advantage thanks to a Matt Gay field goal. The two teams traded scores throughout the second half, with Dare Ogunbowale giving the Bucs a game-tying touchdown run in the final minute. A missed field goal by Seattle sent the game to overtime.
The Bucs lost despite turning the ball over only once, while racking up over 400 yards of total offense in one of the NFL's most hostile environments.
Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston threw for 335 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while wide receiver Mike Evans went off yet again, hauling in 12 passes for 180 yards and a score.
For the most part, Winston avoided the turnover problems that plagued him in the last two games, but his lone fumble proved to be incredibly costly. After the Bucs had forced and recovered a fumble of their own in the fourth quarter, Winston lost control of the ball, which was scooped up and returned deep into Tampa Bay territory.
Sunday's road game marked the final game of a seven-week stretch without a true home game for the Bucs, who finally return to Raymond James Stadium to host the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.