Youth, Mistakes Keeping Bucs from Finishing Games

Four games ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were on fairly solid ground at 2-2, coming off a shocking 55-40 road win over the defending NFC champs.

As they finally return home for their first game at Raymond James Stadium since late September, the Bucs are reeling after losing four straight contests.

It's not like they're getting blown out. The Bucs have lost those four games by an average of just seven points, and they've carried fourth-quarter leads in each of the last two. They took one of the NFC's top teams, the Seattle Seahawks, to overtime in one of the league's most hostile road environments last Sunday.

But as has been the case far too often this season, the Bucs have simply lacked what it takes to finish games, especially on the road.

One of the biggest factors as been their forced reliance on young players. At one point during Sunday's loss to Seattle, the Tampa Bay defense was playing five rookies on the field at once. It's no wonder MVP front-runner Russell Wilson tossed five touchdown passes.

That lack of experienced depth is canceling out strong performances from some of the team's more established players. Mike Evans has been unstoppable over the past two weeks, while Lavonte David has constantly made plays all over the field. Jameis Winston played some of his best football of the season Sunday, while the Bucs' top-ranked run defense barely allowed their first 100-yard rusher of the season.

Self-inflicted wounds have also been a huge problem for the Bucs lately. From costly penalties wiping out big plays, to turnovers at the worst possible times, Tampa Bay can't seem to get out of their own way, especially late in games when they have a chance to seal the deal.

If the Bucs want to right this ship anytime soon, the rookies will need to grow up real fast, and the entire roster will have to eliminate the mental errors that are costing them in key moments.

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