TAMPA, Fla. — The Bucs played one of their best halves of football this season against the red-hot Bengals on Sunday, building a 17-3 halftime lead.
But a botched fake punt and four turnovers in the second half helped lead to 34 unanswered points in a 34-23 loss to the defending AFC champions.
In order, the Bucs bobbled away what appeared to be a fake punt attempt while Tom Brady threw an interception, lost two fumbles and was picked off again.
Brady threw touchdown passes to Russell Gage and Chris Godwin in the first half before the wheels came off.
With the Bucs in punt formation to start the third quarter, running back Giovani Bernard, who was serving as the personal protector for punter Jake Camarda, appeared startled by the snap from Zach Triner and the bobble was recovered at the Tampa Bay 16-yard line by Bengals linebacker Markus Bailey.
Remarkably, the Bucs defense stiffened and limited the damage to a 21-yard field goal by Evan McPherson to cut the Bucs’ lead to 17-6.
Things didn’t get much better for the Bucs on their next drive when Brady was intercepted by Bengals cornerback Trey Flowers while trying to connect with tight end Cameron Brate at the Tampa Bay 31-yard line. Once again, the Bucs appeared to limit the damage.
Joe Burrow was sacked by Anthony Nelson on fourth down all the way back to midfield. But linebacker Lavonte David held Ja’Marr Chase on the play, giving the Bengals a first down at the Tampa Bay 19. A facemask penalty on Carlton Davis gave the Bengals a first down at the Tampa Bay 5.
On the next play, Burrow connected with Tee Higgins in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
The two-point conversion pass to Tyler Boyd was knocked away by cornerback Dee Delaney and the Bucs lead was cut to 17-12 with 5:42 left in the third quarter.
It only got worse from there. Brady was sacked and lost a fumble that was recovered at the Tampa Bay 13 by linebacker Joseph Ossai.
Five plays later, Burrow tossed a 3-yard TD pass to Boyd. The two-point conversion pass to Tee Higgins was good and the Bengals had their first lead 20-17.
On Tampa Bay’s next drive, Brady and running back Leonard Fournette lost the football on a handoff and the fumble was recovered by D.J. Reader at the Tampa Bay 39.
That led to Burrow’s 8-yard TD pass to Chase and a 27-17 lead with 12:45 to play. Burrow finished 27 of 39 passing for 200 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Then Brady was hit as he was attempting a pass and linebacker Germaine Pratt intercepted at the Bengals’ 47-yard line. Brady finished 30 of 44 passing for 312 yards, three touchdowns an the two picks.
It was the second loss in a row by the Bucs (6-8), who still maintained a one-game lead in the NFC South over Carolina and Atlanta, who both lost Sunday.
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