Nov 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay’s defense stepped up and led the Bucs to their third straight win, upsetting the Seattle Seahawks with a 14-5 win Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Tampa Bay (6-5) forced a fumble from Jimmy Graham inside the Bucs’ 25, with Lavonte David returning the ball to Seattle’s 25 to burn off key minutes late in the game.
The Seahawks (7-3-1) missed on their first 10 third downs, unable to move the ball with any consistency against the Tampa Bay defense. Russell Wilson, who entered the game with two interceptions all season, was picked off twice, the latter by safety Bradley McDougald to seal the win in the final two minutes. Wilson finished 17 of 33 for 151 yards and was sacked six times.
The Bucs remain in the thick of the NFC wild-card chase as they go to San Diego next week.
Tampa Bay jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of touchdown passes from Jameis Winston to Mike Evans. The Bucs marched 78 yards on 14 plays on the opening drive of the game, capped by Winston finding Evans for a 3-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Tampa Bay got 28 yards on six carries from Doug Martin as it worked to establish the run game.
Winston completed a 27-yard pass to Cameron Brate to set up a 23-yard touchdown to Evans — beating Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman — for a 14-0 lead with 2:53 left in the opening quarter. Evans would finish with 104 yards on eight catches, moving back into a tie for the NFL lead with 10 touchdown receptions.
Winston completed 21 of 28 passes for 220 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Seattle cut into the lead in the second quarter, first getting a safety as Bucs tight end Luke Stocker was flagged for holding in the end zone. Steven Hauschka added a 43-yard field goal to cut the Bucs’ lead to 14-5 in the second quarter.
The Tampa Bay defense got a huge takeaway in the final minute of the first half as cornerback Alterraun Verner, who played just two days after his father Robert died, intercepted Wilson’s pass at the 15-yard line.
Seattle managed 133 yards of total offense entering the fourth quarter — it had to convert a fourth-and-14 from its 16-yard line to keep a late drive alive in the final three minutes.
NOTES: Bucs WR Mike Evans went over 1,000 yards for the season, just the second Bucs player ever to do so in the first 11 games of the season, following Joey Galloway. … The Bucs played without nickel DB Jude Adjei-Barimah, who began serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Alterraun Verner played outside corner in the nickel defense, with rookie Vernon Hargreaves sliding inside. … Seattle played without S Earl Thomas for the first time in his NFL career due to a hamstring injury. CB DeShawn Shead was also inactive with a hamstring injury and C Justin Britt didn’t play due to an ankle injury. … Wilson was held to just 20 passing yards in the first half on 3-for-8 passing.
