Bucs' struggles in short-yardage continue in win over Cardinals - Tampa Bay Times

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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 off 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.

Showing undying loyalty to the Bucs’ 245-pound running back, the Bucs gave the ball to Fournette once again. This time, he lost a yard.

Instead of maintaining possession, the three short-yardage failures highlighted the Bucs’ inability to move people with their offensive line.

Late in the first half, with the Bucs backed up deep in their own territory, Tom Brady completed a 7-yard pass to Fournette for a first down. But on third and 1 from the 30, Brady threw behind Russell Gage and the Bucs were forced to punt.

“We got going, but we had costly turnovers,” Bowles said. “Whether it was costly turnovers or we had a fourth and 1, two third and 2s. The short-yardage stuff got us just like it got us earlier in the year, and it stops drives and that part is frustrating. That’s what we need to work on.”

Complicating matters are injuries to the Bucs’ offensive line. While right guard Tristan Wirfs returned after missing three games with an ankle injury, tackle Josh Wells tore the patellar tendon in his left knee and could be lost for the year.

The Bucs already were without left tackle Donovan Smith, who did not play Sunday due to a foot injury.

Tampa Bay was only 6-of-17 in third-down situations, for 35.3-percent efficiency.

Fournette had the bulk of the work at running back, and the Bucs’ offense started moving in the fourth quarter and overtime. Fournette finished with 162 total yards (72 rushing, 90 receiving).

“He got going early, so it was kind of an inside game,” Bowles said. “It was more of a power game, and he showed some inside runs even though they were hitting him, so we left him in there longer.”

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