Tampa Bay has trouble converting on third and fourth down, especially in the first half.
GLENDALE, Arizona ― Wins and points are hard to come by for the Bucs these days. So are yards. In fact, the smaller the distance, the bigger the problem.
Take the first half of Sunday’s 19-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
The Bucs had good field position midway through the first quarter at the Arizona 48-yard line, where they faced second and 1.
Running back Leonard Fournette, who had just ripped 14 yards off right tackle, was stopped for no gain by Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt.
On third and 1, the Bucs gave the ball to back Fournette. Again, he ran into the arms of Watt for no gain.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles, who has shown more of a tendency to take chances of late, gambled a bit. Read more.
