Buccaneers Struggle to Find Offense, Fall to Jaguars

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered their first preseason loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-7 on Saturday night. After seeing each other closely for two joint practices earlier this week, it was the Jaguars offense who had the upper hand in Jacksonville.

The Bucs struggled to start the game strong when they came up empty on their first two possessions in the first quarter. The first couple of drives is where running back Bucky Irving saw most of his action, and recorded 26 yards on six carries.

The Jaguars kicked off the scoring in the first half after a 17-play drive spanning 80 yards resulted in a touchdown. It was a 25-yard pass from Mac Jones to receiver Parker Washington to put the Jags up 7-0.

The Bucs responded quickly with an impressive drive of their own. Sean Tucker ran for 21 yards early in the drive, and then a couple of minutes later Kyle Trask found Cody Thompson for a six-yard touchdown play to tie it at 7. Trask didn't see many snaps in the first half as the Jags dominated time of possession.

With 35 seconds left in the first half, Mac Jones led a 49-yard drive to set up a Cam Little 26-yard field goal to give the Jags the lead entering the half.

The Bucs defense allowed Jones to be very efficient as he passed for 144 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Bucs outside linebacker Jose Ramirez was a bright spot in the first half and the game as he recorded three sacks on the night.

The Jaguars received the second-half kickoff and set up Little again for a 44-yard field goal and a 13-7 lead to open the half. The Bucs' offensive struggles continued as they didn't score in the third quarter.

John Wolford was the Bucs' signal-caller for most of the second half. Tampa Bay had a chance with nine minutes left in the fourth to kick a field goal and put the game within three points, but kicker Chase McLaughlin missed from 42 yards out.

Wolford was replaced in the fourth by Trask who led a solid last possession for the Bucs but came up empty on points as time expired.

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After quarterback C.J. Beathard played the third quarter, Jones replaced him and continued where he left off in the first half slicing the Bucs defense. With 5 minutes left in the game, Jones dialed it up again and found receiver Brevin Easton for 31 yards and a touchdown to go up 20-7.

The Bucs' defense allowed Jones to throw for 210 yards and two touchdowns for the game. The offense would get a couple more possessions after the Jags went up 13, but not enough time remained to mount a comeback. The Bucs' offense punted seven times and lacked any production all night. The Bucs' defense has yet to record a turnover this preseason.

The loss for Tampa Bay puts them at 1-1 in the preseason with one game remaining against the Miami Dolphins next Friday.