Oct 21, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) celebrates after making a game winning field goal against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium. Photo Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
TAMPA, Fla. – Sunday’s 26-23 win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Cleveland Browns proved there isn’t a parallel universe in the NFL. Most of the time this season, it has been the Bucs’ offense that has had to try to bail out the defense and put the Bucs in position to win. This time, it was the defense that had to stay in step with the Bucs’ offense.
In addition, normally reliable Chandler Catanzaro hit the longest field goal in overtime history – a 59-yarder with 1:50 remaining to boost the Bucs past the Browns, 26-23. He answered a missed extra point and a missed 40-yard attempt at the end of regulation which would have saved the need for the overtime heroics.
“Crazy to have two possessions from your minus-1; then hats off to Cleveland’s punter. We had him backed up and he booms that one all the way down,” said Tampa Bay head coach Dirk Koetter. “That safety, missed extra point, and then being minus-3 in turnovers. A lot of weird stuff.”
The Buccaneers had to survive to get back to .500 at 3-3 in a game that they would generally lose in the recent past. Cantazaro was a microcosm of that idea today with his ability to bounce back at the end. His heroics allowed quarterback Jameis Winston, who had his own tough moments, to reflect.
“I think that is why he did a great job is because we gave it to him again and because as professional football players, we live for that moment,” said Winston. “I think the more you can execute on those moments, the better you are as a player and the more success you have as a team.”
The Bucs’ offense hadn’t looked this rough all season as there was a spiraling myriad of miscues that helped bog down the Bucs. Inadequate pass protection, dropped passes and penalties were concrete reasons for offensive inefficiency.
Winston threw two interceptions amidst his 365-yard passing day where he also rushed for 55 yards and an early touchdown. He was particularly upset with himself because his two interceptions went into the arms of Browns linebackers Christian Kirksey and Jamie Collins.
“I think we played one of the ultimate team games and we could have played better in each phase, but a win is a win,” said Winston.
On the his fumble, Cleveland pass rusher Myles Garrett, who made a living off the left side of the Tampa Bay offensive line, had a strip sack on Winston at the outset of the second half. That ended in Baker Mayfield hitting David Njoku with a 15-yard touchdown pass which cut the lead to 16-9 and signaled that the Browns would also be in this one for the duration.
“I need to be smarter with the football,” said Winston. “Sometimes things happen. They are professionals and they make good plays. For me, I threw it straight to the guys. That’s an area I am never going to say that I am not working on.”
Defense Surges: The Buccaneers released Mike Smith as defensive coordinator on Tuesday and replaced him with Mark Duffner. Strangely enough, the defense kept Tampa Bay in position when they Buccaneers had so much offensive stagnation midway through the game.
Coming off of the 34-29 loss in Atlanta, the unit needed to have some success after the change to Duffner. Maybe the biggest moment was a goal line stand late in the fourth quarter when linebacker Adarius Taylor stopped Mayfield on the one-yard line on fourth-and-one.
Once again, the offense couldn’t move the football and had to punt on a three-and-out which led to a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield to Jarvis Landry after a 32-yard punt return by Jabril Peppers to the Bucs 16.
“Our defense played their tails off today because this day was about our defense,” said Koetter. “The good job they did on third down, getting five sacks and overcoming the loss of Kwon at halftime.”
Linebacker Kwon Alexander went down right before halftime with a torn ACL which ended his season and is another obstacle for the Buccaneers’ defense to hurdle.
“Guys like Kwon mean everything to this team and he is going to be one of the biggest forces on this team,” said Winston. “He said to us before he left at halftime, ‘Never take anything for granted.’ He will make an amazing comeback. There is no doubt about that.”
