At SoFi Stadium, the Buccaneers fell to the Rams, 34-7. In Week 12, the Rams imposed their will and came out firing on all cylinders. The Bucs first drive culminated in a punt following an incompletion to Chris Godwin Jr. on third down and the Rams answered with a score on their opening 10-play, 80-yard drive. Receiver Puka Nacua became the catalyst on the drive, with savviness at the top of routes and gains of 31 and 18 yards. Davante Adams capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown catch off a lethal outside release, giving the home team a 7-0 lead.
On the Bucs’ ensuing possession, Mayfield’s pass to Cade Otton was caught, bobbled, then was punched out by Cobie Durant. He returned the interception 50 yards for a Rams’ score, providing the Rams with a 14-0 advantage. Tampa Bay’s following drive ended with a third-down sack of Mayfield by Kobie Turner off a delayed stunt.
To begin the second frame, the Rams marched down the field again and Stafford found Colby Parkinson in the back of the end zone off a no-look, five-yard touchdown pass, extending their lead 21-0. The Bucs reached the end zone late in the second, finishing off a 10-play, 65-yard drive with a Mayfield 14-yard touchdown pass to Tez Johnson in the back of the end zone, trimming the deficit, 21-7. The Rams came right back and Stafford’s connection to Puka Nacua set up the touchdown pass to Davante Adams. Stafford dropped the ball in front of Adams to give the Rams a 28-7 lead. Just before the half, Harrison Mevis drilled a 40-yard field goal to give the Rams a 31-7 cushion heading into the intermission. Every drive for the Rams in the first half culminated in points and Los Angeles outgained the Bucs 224-109 in net yards during the first two frames.
Following a left shoulder injury to Mayfield, Teddy Bridgewater started the third quarter at quarterback for Tampa Bay. He led the team into the red zone but an incompletion to Egbuka and fourth-down sack halted the scoring attempt. The Bucs’ defense prevented the Rams from scoring, holding the unit to a 52-yard Mevis field goal early in the fourth to make it, 34-7. A fourth-down sack by Verse for a loss of 12 on fourth down on Bridgewater ended the Bucs next drive.
TOP PERFORMERS 🏈
- Passing: QB Teddy Bridgewater: 8/15 for 62 yards
- Rushing: RB Sean Tucker: 12 rushes for 42 yards
- Receiving: WR Tez Johnson: 3 catches for 21 yards – 1 TD
- Defense: OLB Yaya Diaby: 2 total tackles, 1.0 sack
- Passing: QB Matthew Stafford: 25/35 for 273 yards – 3 TDs
- Rushing: QB Kyren Williams: 12 rushes for 46 yards
- Receiving: WR Davante Adams: 5 catches for 62 – 2 TDs
- Defense: DE Kobie Turner: 6 total tackles, 2.0 sacks
TAP HERE TO VIEW THE FULL BOX SCORE
