Starting slow against good teams makes it tough to win, but starting slow against elite teams? That’s a completely different level of difficulty. The Buccaneers dealt with that firsthand on Sunday, falling behind the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs 17-0 at Raymond James Stadium before eventually falling short of a comeback and losing 27-24.
With its second consecutive loss—both by scores of 27-24—Tampa Bay dropped to 7-5 on the year, meaning it would head into the bye week with a bad taste in its mouth. With a playoff berth still well within range, there’s plenty for this team to figure out during the time off.