Bucs frustrated after TNF collapse: 'I'm pissed'
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were left disappointed and frustrated after letting a prime-time victory slip through their grasp Thursday night in a crushing 36-30 overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Bucs had the football at the Falcons' 28-yard line with just under two minutes remaining and a 30-27 lead but were unable to score or kill the clock. Kirk Cousins then set up Atlanta for a game-tying field goal to force overtime before walking off Tampa Bay in the first possession of the extra session by hitting KhaDarel Hodge on a 45-yard touchdown pass.
Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs rued the missed opportunity to finish out the contest.
"We had an opportunity to close it out, and we didn't," Wirfs said, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "So, it sucks. We got three days to let it steep. It should hurt, it should suck. Just give it a couple weeks, we have the Saints next week and then (the Falcons) are coming to Tampa a couple weeks after that.
"Gotta move on. It sucks. I'm pissed. I'm not happy about it. It was right there. They gave it to us. They threw the Lavonte (David) pick and said, 'Here you go. you guys win.' And we shitted down our leg. So, what do you do? Just move on."
Tampa Bay's final two possessions ended in Atlanta territory without points. A Bucky Irving fumble destroyed the first drive, while a holding call on the second drive resulted in a punt.
"We just have to close out games," Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said postgame, according to team reporter Scott Smith. "We had opportunities on both sides of the ball. We didn't finish. We did some good things; we did a lot of bad things to lose the ballgame."
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield threw only five incompletions. He also had 180 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in the loss, which resulted in the 3-2 club being leapfrogged by the 3-2 Falcons for the division lead.
"All I care about is wins," Mayfield said. "We've got to find a way to finish that game out on offense. We have to make the plays when they're there. In the second half, we've got to take care of the football, and we've got to finish on offense."