The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' passing attack faces growing scrutiny after Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Chicago Bears. Baker Mayfield struggled, but the Buccaneers also failed to capitalize on several opportunities because of mistakes from their receiving corps.
Tampa Bay forced five turnovers but still couldn't secure the victory. The offense struggled to sustain drives despite receiving numerous chances from its defense.
Buccaneers insider Rick Stroud questioned the quality of Tampa Bay's wide receivers following the disappointing result.
“Time to talk about the quality of the Bucs WRs,” Stroud wrote.
He highlighted Ted Hurst's limited involvement after the rookie dropped his only target. Hurst played just one offensive snap, according to Stroud, before Tampa Bay benched him.
Emeka Egbuka also struggled to make a significant impact. He caught three of five targets for 38 yards after returning from a foot injury.
Meanwhile, Tez Johnson finished with 76 receiving yards on two catches. However, a 57-yard reception accounted for most of his production.
Stroud also suggested Johnson dropped two catchable passes, further illustrating the offense's problems with execution.
Mayfield wasn't blameless either. His two interceptions included a costly pick-six that helped Chicago maintain its advantage.
Still, the receiving struggles raise broader questions about Tampa Bay's offensive consistency. The Buccaneers previously entered the season evaluating their receiving depth following major roster changes.
The offense needs more reliable contributions from its pass catchers, especially during critical downs.
Tampa Bay now enters its bye week with several issues to address. Improving receiver execution could prove just as important as correcting Mayfield's mistake.