The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Miami Dolphins in Preseason Week Three, 24-14. The Bucs got off to a fast start on both sides of the ball, and had several players make a mark throughout the preliminary exhibition.
The Buccaneers fed the ball to Rachaad White early on the opening possession and he carried the first three plays for 12 yards. A screen by Chris Godwin and an acrobatic leaping grab by Jalen McMillan moved the Bucs into favorable field position. White cashed in on a seven-play, 70-yard drive with a four-yard rush around the right guard, giving the home team an early 7-0 advantage.
The Bucs' defense followed suit, forcing a quick three-and-out. Vi Jones and K.J. Britt flew downhill on third down, tackling Jeff Wilson for a loss of a yard. The goal throughout the week for the Bucs was to start fast, set the tone and the team accomplished the goal on Friday at Raymond James Stadium. On the next defensive series for Tampa Bay, rookie safety Marcus Banks delivered a teeth-rattling hit on Malik Washington over the middle of the field to force an incompletion, but a defensive offside penalty negated the play on first down. A few plays later, Chris Braswell Jr. fired off the left edge for a sack of Mike White on third down, forcing a Dolphins' punt.
After the Dolphins gained positive field position after a Washington return to the Tampa Bay 49-yard line, Rashad Wisdom forced an incompletion for a turnover on downs. The Bucs subsequent six-play drive culminated in a Chase McLaughlin 51-yard field goal.
On the next drive, the Bucs' defense came up big. C.J. Brewer batted down a pass, which set up third-and-10. Tavierre Thomas then made a timely open-field tackle on third down, but the Dolphins went for it on fourth. To cap things off, defensive lineman Earnest Brown IV knocked the ball out of White's hands, forcing a quick incompletion. The Bucs' offense responded with a score. An 11-yard jet sweep by Kameron Johnson moved the sticks and Ryan Miller cashed in with a 10-yard touchdown. Trask hit Miller in the back corner of the end zone, giving Tampa Bay a 17-0 advantage.
The Dolphins answered with a score of their own. After Brewer stuffed Wright at the line for a loss of one on second down, Skylar Thompson connected with Hayden Rucci on a 20-yard touchdown. Their seven-play, 70-yard drive helped trim their deficit to 10, as the Bucs led 17-7 with 2:22 to go in the second quarter.
Coming out of the half, back-to-back penalties for Miami – delay of game and a false start – put the Dolphins behind the chains at third-and-23. After a two-yard run, the Dolphins punted it away. The Bucs had a quick three-and-out following an incompletion to Cody Thompson on third-and-six. The Dolphins then marched down the field with a successful screen game, including a 23-yarder by Wright and a nine-yarder by Hayden Rucci down the perimeter. The Dolphins capitalized on the 11-play, 76-yard drive with a one-yard Kyric McGowan touchdown. Tampa Bay answered with a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive as the offense found its rhythm. Trask hit Tanner Knue crossing over the middle of the field in-stride for a 22-yard gain and Sean Tucker picked up 27 yards off a quick screen to bring the Bucs to first-and-goal. Knue scored a two-yard touchdown with a back-shoulder catch on a fade. With 11:46 on the clock in the fourth, the Bucs extended their lead, 24-14. Both offenses then stalled, with Bucs' Antonio Grier nabbing an interception on third down right before the two-minute warning at the Tampa Bay 49. He returned it four yards to the 44, setting Trask and company up with positive field position.
