Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tampa Bay Grades, Notes & Quotes

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped their third consecutive game, falling on Sunday to the Chicago Bears 26-21 in their final home game of the season.

As has been the story all season, turnovers, penalties and missed opportunities sent the Bucs to yet another loss. Tampa Bay now sits at 6-9 on the season, just a few weeks removed from a .500 record and legitimate playoff hopes.

Things got off to a good start with Jeremiah George's blocked punt leading to a Doug Martin touchdown run on the following play. But things would unravel for Tampa Bay over the rest of the game, beginning with a face-mask penalty that nullified an interception off a batted pass. Instead of having a key takeaway and possession deep in Bears territory, the Bucs gave the ball back to the visitors, along with the momentum for the rest of the game.

For a defense that is predicated on pressure and creating turnovers, Tampa Bay got very little in either department on Sunday, managing just one sack and failing to register a takeaway. The Bucs have now managed to force just one turnover over their last four games.

Jameis Winston nearly topped 300 passing yards for the second straight week, but he struggled with consistency throughout the afternoon. He wasn't helped by leaky pass protection and multiple drops, but he missed on multiple deep balls that could have easily gone for touchdowns.

Doug Martin's bid to claim the NFL rushing title took a bit of a hit, as he managed just 49 yards on the ground before being sent to the bench following two costly fumbles.

The Bucs clawed within a score thanks to a Hail Mary touchdown from Winston to Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the game's final seconds, but the Bears recovered the ensuing onside-kick attempt as time expired to secure the win.

Position Grades for Bucs

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Quarterback: C-

Jameis Winston had his positive moments, but he underthrew multiple deep balls that could have been touchdowns and made a poor decision in the red zone that led to a costly interception. He nearly posted 300 passing yards for the second straight week, but his overall performance simply wasn't enough this week.

Running Back: C+

Similar to Winston, Doug Martin flashed on multiple runs during Sunday's game, but it was his costly mistakes that drag this grade down. Martin fumbled twice, which earned him a trip to the bench in the second half. That said, backup Charles Sims had one of his best performances of the season, racking up 117 total yards on just seven touches, including a 50-yard touchdown reception.

Wide Receiver: C-

Dropped passes continue to plague this group, as they failed to take advantage of multiple big-play opportunities. Vincent Jackson's absence continues to be painfully evident, as Mike Evans and an inexperienced supporting cast struggled with consistency all afternoon.

Tight End: A

Easily the most impressive offensive unit this week, Tampa Bay's tight ends made the most of their few opportunities. Austin Seferian-Jenkins caught two passes for 60 yards—including a 43-yard Hail Mary touchdown in the game's final seconds—while Cameron Brate made an impressive play on a jump ball for 46 yards on his only catch of the game.

Offensive Line: C-

A quick look at the stat sheet shows just one sack, but Winston was pressured and knocked around all game long. The Bucs averaged over four yards per carry on the ground, but penalties bit this unit yet again this week, setting the offense back multiple times.

Defensive Line: D

The Bucs' defensive scheme doesn't work without consistent pressure from the front four, so it shouldn't be surprising that Jay Cutler had an extremely efficient afternoon. Tampa Bay managed just one sack all afternoon and wasn't much better against the run, giving up 174 yards on the ground.

Linebackers: C-

Like much of the team, Sunday's performance simple wasn't enough from the Tampa Bay linebackers. There were solid open-field tackles, pass breakups and the like, but there was little consistency. Too many Chicago runs got past the second level, and no takeaways from this unit yet again this week.

Secondary: C-

This group didn't give up a pass play of more than 25 yards all game, but it was the smaller chunks in key moments that they couldn't overcome. Even without Alshon Jeffery in the lineup, the Bears were able to move the chains through the air in clutch situations. The best performances in the defensive backfield came from safeties Bradley McDougald and Keith Tandy, who were particularly impressive in run support.

Special Teams: C

It was a game of highs and lows for these guys. On the plus side, there was an early blocked punt that led to a touchdown on the very next play, as well as a 60-yard punt from Jacob Schum. But Connor Barth missed his only field-goal attempt, which would have gotten Tampa Bay within a score in the fourth quarter, while Bobby Rainey fumbled twice in the return game.

Coaching: C-

Two of Tampa Bay's biggest issues this season have been discipline and mental toughness, and they struggled with both again this week. Penalties continue to hold them back considerably, and their inability to bounce back from deflating moments was debilitating. Both some of those problems stem from ineffectiveness on the part of the coaching staff, and it starts at the top with head coach Lovie Smith.

Turnovers Kill Bucs' Chances to End Losing Streak

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Turnovers are never good, but the Bucs picked the worst possible times to hand the ball over to the Bears on Sunday.

Martin fumbled twice, one of which gave Chicago a short field that led directly to a score. After mounting an impressive drive, Winston made an awful decision to toss a ball up for grabs under pressure, which turned into a costly interception. It was the rookie's first red-zone pick of the season, and it kept Tampa Bay from putting much-needed points on the board.

Martin and Winston have been Tampa Bay's most valuable players this season, but their mistakes on Sunday led directly to the team's third consecutive loss.

Blocked Punt Leads to Early Score, but Offense Stalls After

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Halfway through the first quarter, Tampa Bay fans were all smiles.

A blocked punt by Jeremiah George had set up a four-yard Martin touchdown run on the very next play, giving the Bucs an early 7-0 lead. The defense had held Cutler and the Chicago offense in check up to that point, giving Tampa Bay all the momentum.

But offensively, the Bucs did very little after that to excite their home crowd. They turned the ball over three times and would only score one more time before a meaningless Hail Mary in the game's final seconds made the score look somewhat respectable.

In reality, the Bears dominated Tampa Bay for most of this game, despite the Bucs' fast start.

Tide Turned on Key Penalty, Nullifying Interception

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Tampa Bay controlled the first quarter, and not long into the second, it looked to have tightened its grip with a huge play on defense.

Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy had gotten his paw on a screen pass, batting it up into the air and into the waiting arms of defensive lineman William Gholston. It looked like the Bucs would be knocking on the door of the end zone thanks to another big play.

Not so fast, my friend.

A face-mask penalty on cornerback Alterraun Verner—nowhere near the play—nullified the interception. Instead of having the ball deep in Bears territory, the Bucs handed it back to Chicago, along with favorable field position. The Bears promptly marched the ball the rest of the way, tying the game with a touchdown and seizing momentum for the rest of the game.

The Bucs have struggled with mental toughness all season long, and their inability to overcome that moment in the game was their biggest failure on Sunday.

DT Gerald McCoy on Failing to Finish Strong at Home

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After failing to win a home game last season, the Bucs have been much-improved at Raymond James Stadium so far this year, winning three games in Tampa heading into Sunday.

But they fell flat in their last game in front of their home crowd in 2015, and Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy knows the loss shows how much improvement the team still needs to make, per Eric Horchy of PewterReport.com:

"

It’s not how we wanted to finish. We definitely wanted to finish with momentum. We have an opportunity to finish next week with a win. But you get one more home game, get the chance to give the fans a good taste in their mouth and that’s how you finish? It just goes to show we are not where we want to be yet.

"

McCoy had a solid outing, but Sunday's overall performance by the Bucs sent the home-field fans back down Dale Mabry Highway disappointed for the fifth time in eight tries this season. The Bucs have been improved at home this year, but they're still a good way off from being consistent winners, at home or otherwise.

RB Doug Martin on Costly Fumbles

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Heading into Sunday's game, Martin was having a pretty good week. Having just been named to his second Pro Bowl, he was just nine yards away from leading the race for the NFL's rushing title.

But a pair of costly fumbles played a huge role in Tampa Bay's loss, something Martin took full responsibility for after the game, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times:

"

It feels like a bad dream right now. That's out of character for me to fumble the ball twice in one game. I'm embarrassed. The stage was set for the rushing title, Pro Bowl and all that. I feel like I let the team down.

The two fumbles I had were helmet to ball. I have to keep (the ball) tight to my body. (The Bears are) doing what defenses do, strip the ball. I am in shock. I feel like I let the team down. Tough one to swallow. The people who are hurting us are ourselves.

"

Martin's resurgence has been one of Tampa Bay's best storylines this year, as he's bounced back from two injury-riddled seasons and returned to his rookie-year form. While Sunday's performance shouldn't detract from his body of work over the whole season, it was a painful chapter in an otherwise impressive 2015 campaign.

LB Lavonte David on Lack of Takeaways

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For the third time in four games, the Bucs defense failed to register a single takeaway.

Defensive captain Lavonte David knows his unit needs to be more consistent when it comes to making big plays, per Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune:

"

It’s frustrating because we pride ourselves as a unit in getting takeaways and it’s not happening. We’re a good football team and we’re getting better, but we’re not consistent. We’ve got to go up to Carolina next week, finish strong and give our fans something to cheer about heading into next season.

"

Tampa Bay had an interception waved off due to a penalty but otherwise was unable to muster much in the way of "splash" plays on Sunday. It's become a frustrating trend for the team over the last month and a huge contributor to its three-game losing streak.