The Buccaneers were unequivocally dominated by the Los Angeles Rams Sunday night, losing 34-7 in a completely one-sided affair. The Bucs looked competitive for the first five minutes of the game, right before they had to put their defense on the field. Matthew Stafford was unstoppable, completing 71.4% of his passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns, most of which came in the first half.
Even without doing much in the second half, the Rams were unbothered by Tampa Bay's offense for much of the night. While the Bucs had some success running the ball, they managed just 70 pass yards, in no small part due to Baker Mayfield leaving the game at the end of the first half with a shoulder injury.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEven with all of their injuries, Tampa Bay was simply outmatched by a Los Angeles team with its sights squarely on the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Bucs are now in real danger of losing the NFC South and missing the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.
Here are the studs (hint: there aren't any) and duds from the Bucs' Week 12 loss to the Rams:
DUD: Todd Bowles
Nov 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles walks off the field during halftime against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesA beatdown like this can always be traced to one person: the head coach. Bowles was very plainly outcoached by Sean McVay, who had his team firing on all cylinders. After two losses in which the Bucs allowed a total 72 points and 849 yards, the Bucs came in completely flat and allowed 31 points and 224 yards in just one half. The offense looked its worst all year, failing to protect Baker Mayfield or help him move the ball. The loss exposes the Bucs as pretenders and possibly casts doubt on the decision to extend Todd Bowles' contract this summer.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDUD: Cade Otton
The usually sure-handed tight end has had problems catching the ball this season, and it seriously cost the Bucs in Los Angeles. On Tampa Bay's second offensive drive, Mayfield hit Otton with a short pass that he bobbled for a few yards before falling forward into Rams CB Cobie Durant, who took the ball from Otton and ran it into the endzone. The play gave the Rams an early 14-0 lead and took away any momentum the Bucs had on offense.
Otton is in a contract year, and while he remains a valuable piece of Tampa Bay's offense, he appears to have reached his ceiling as a playmaker. The Bucs may be in the market for a receiving weapon at tight end after this season.
DUD: Zyon McCollum
Nov 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams (17) catches a one-yard touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Matthew Stafford (not pictured) against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27) during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesWith Jamel Dean and Benjamin Morrison out, Zyon McCollum was Tampa Bay's top cornerback. The problem was that he did not play like it. The Rams picked on him throughout the first half, with both of Davante Adams' touchdowns coming with McCollum in coverage. He also allowed a 24-yard reception to Puka Nakua. Earlier this season, the Bucs signed McCollum to a three-year, $48 million extension. Since he signed the deal, McCollum has done anything but play up to the expectations of it.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDUD: Baker Mayfield
Not to kick a man when he is down, but before leaving the game, Baker Mayfield simply was not playing well. He completed just nine of 19 pass attempts for 41 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. The interceptions were not really Mayfield's fault, but the lack of completions and yards speaks to his continuing struggles with accuracy and timing. Even his touchdown pass to Tez Johnson was late enough that it was nearly broken up. His uneven play is offset only by his shoulder injury, as it was made abundantly clear that Teddy Bridgewater cannot run the offense. The Bucs can only hope Mayfield can return quickly and recapture his MVP magic from early in the season.
DUD: Mike Johnson
While the injuries to Mike Evans and Bucky Irving receive a lion's share of the attention, the rotating injuries on the offensive line have arguably impacted Tampa Bay's offense more. With left guard Ben Bredeson missing his second game, the Bucs turned to Mike Johnson, who was a major source of pressure for Baker Mayfield. Johnson was utterly victimized by the Rams' defensive front, particularly when they ran stunts. Johnson's inability to keep Mayfield clean consistently was a major reason why the Bucs managed just 70 pass yards against Los Angeles. Like all of the other injured Bucs, Tampa Bay needs Bredeson back at left guard as soon as possible.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Winners and losers from the Bucs' Week 12 loss to the Rams
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