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Live blog: Washington sends Bucs to third straight loss, 16-3

Tampa Bay continually drives into the red zone but comes up mostly empty in falling for the sixth time in seven games.
 
Bucs running back Peyton Barber (25) breaks through a tackle in the first quarter. [JIM DAMASKE   |   Times]
Bucs running back Peyton Barber (25) breaks through a tackle in the first quarter. [JIM DAMASKE | Times]
Published Nov. 11, 2018|Updated Nov. 11, 2018

Bucs' red-zone failures produce 16-3 loss to Washington

Bucs kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) reacts after missing a second-quarter field goal. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]

TAMPA — This wasn’t the same come-from-behind script Bucs fans have become accustomed to seeing this season, but the result was the same, another loss in which the Bucs could count the ways they beat themselves.

In the Bucs' 16-3 loss to Washington — Tampa Bay's sixth loss in their last seven games — they put up big offensive numbers again, but one of the league's highest scoring offenses was held in neutral. They took the ball inside the opponent's 20-yard line six times, but had just three points to show for it.

Bucs quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick continued to come back to Earth, throwing two interceptions for second straight game since regaining the starting quarterback role, and losing a fumble. And kicker Chandler Catanzaro missed two field-goal attempts.

Read Eduardo A. Encina’s full story here.

Fourth quarter

Pass to Chris Godwin will end the game.

Bucs get the ball back, trailing by 13, with 17 seconds remaining.

Bucs stop Adrian Peterson on 3rd-and-6, and Washington will punt.

Bucs penalized for throwing the challenge flag when they were out of timeouts, resulting in a 15-yard penalty.

Adrian Peterson picks up a first down on 3rd-and-2. Bucs forced to use their final timeout with just over 3 minutes remaining.

Fitzpatrick sacked and fumbles and, of course, Washington’s Ryan Kerrigan recovers.

Mike Evans drops a pass in the end zone.

Fitzpatrick sacked from behind by Cassanova McKinzy, but it’s nullified by a defensive holding penalty, setting up first and goal from the 2.

Fitzpatrick eludes the rush and scrambles to the 4.

Chris Godwin falls down, but gets up and makes a reception at the 10.

Rodgers reception moves the ball to the Washington 22.

Jackson drops a pass and then Fitzpatrick throws incomplete, making it 3rd-and-5 from the Washington 31.

After overthrowing Jackson on a deep ball, Fitzpatrick connects with Chris Godwin. Godwin fumbles, but Jacquizz Rodgers recovers at the Washington 47.

DeSean Jackson catch gives the Bucs a first down at their 28.

Gerald McCoy sacks Smith, and the Bucs force a Washington punt with just over 6 minutes remaining.

Kapri Bibbs takes an option pitch for a first down on 3rd-and-7.

Wow. Alex Smith misses a wide-open Vernon Davis deep downfield.

Are you kidding me? Jacquizz Rodgers fumbles into the end zone, and Washington recovers.

Fitzpatrick finds Adam Humphries to the Washington 28.

Washington settles for a Dustin Hopkins field goal and leads 16-3 with 12:03 to play.

Smith forced to throw the ball away.

Smith connects with Michael Floyd to the 8, bringing up 3rd-and-4.

Uh-oh. Fitzpatrick is intercepted by Greg Stroman, and Washington is back inside the red zone.

Smith hits Josh Doctson in the back of the end zone for an apparent score, but the Bucs say it’s not a touchdown. The call stands after a replay review, and Washington extends its lead to 13-3 with 13:07 remaining.

Alex Smith scrambles to the Bucs 6, where it’s 3rd-and-5.

Third quarter

Smith hits Jordan Reed on a quick slant for a first down at the Bucs 10.

Lavonte David returns to the field.

Carl Nassib and Vita Vea combine to sack Smith. Washington faces 3rd-and-9.

And, the Bucs pay for the mistake, as Catanzaro misses wide right from 48 yards.

Oh, boy. Bad snap by Ryan Jensen on third down sends Fitzpatrick back to the Washington 30, where he falls on the ball.

Fitzpatrick sneaks for first down on 3rd-and-1.

Fitzpatrick hits Jackson for another nine yards.

Peyton Barber picks up the first down and more, bulling his way to the Washington 29.

Jackson, back on the field, pulls in a Fitzpatrick pass for nine yards.

Nice back shoulder throw from Fitzpatrick to Mike Evans, and the Bucs are near midfield.

Fitzpatrick, from his own end zone, hits DeSean Jackson for 17 yards and a first down to the 21. Jackson injured on the play.

Bucs pinned inside their own 5-yard line following Tress Way’s punt.

Josh Doctson stopped a yard short of a first down, and Washington will punt.

Lavonte David shaken up but leaves the field under his own power.

Adrian Peterson’s 11-yard run will be nullified by a holding penalty.

Adrian Peterson falls forward for a first down on 3rd-and-1.

Bucs outgaining Washington but trail at halftime, 6-3

Peyton Barber runs during the first half. [JIM DAMASKE | Times]

TAMPA — The Bucs have dominated Washington statistically but enter the locker room at halftime trailing, 6-3.

The Buccaneers have outgained Washington 279-136, have more first downs by a 16-6 margin, and have dominated time of possession, 19:53 to 10:07.

They’ve been in the red zone three times in the first half but have just three points to show for it.

Read Eduardo A. Encina’s full story here.

Second quarter

Dustin Hopkins converts from 43 yards, and it’s 6-3 Washington with 20 seconds to play in the half.

Gerald McCoy pressures Smith into an incompletion, and they’ll be forced to try for a field goal on 4th-and-4.

Short pass to Jordan Reed takes it to the 25.

Michael Floyd with a nice catch, keeping his feet inbounds for a first down at the 31.

Washington now inside the Bucs' 40 with less than a minute left in the half.

Smith hits Josh Doctson on a crossing pattern for a first down across midfield.

Washington quickly moves to its 39-yard line before a pass to Michael Floyd is reversed following a replay review.

Kapri Bibbs takes a screen pass 40 yards, but the play is nullified by a holding penalty.

Catanzaro good from 33 yards, and the Bucs and Washington are tied at 3-3 with 2:03 remaining in the half.

Third-down pass for Adam Humphries is broken up.

Fitzpatrick throws low for Shaun Wilson, and Bucs face 3rd-and-13 from the 15.

And now Fitzpatrick finds Adam Humphries on a crossing route for another first down to the Washington 12.

Bucs advance to the Washington 37 on a Fitzpatrick pass to Chris Godwin.

Wow. Fitzpatrick scrambles, then flips a pass to Jacquizz Rodgers and throws something of a block during a 24-yard gain on 3rd-and-8.

Alex Smith’s pass to Kapri Bibbs on 3rd-and-15 is several yards short of a first down, and the Redskins will punt.

And here we go again. Chandler Catanzaro misses wide right on a 30-yard field goal attempt.

Brate can’t hang onto a high pass on 3rd-and-4.

Fitzpatrick scrambles to within a yard of the first-down marker, then inexplicably cuts back sideways and is tackled four yards short of the sticks.

Fitzpatrick drills a pass to Cameron Brate, who bobbles the ball but hangs on for a first down at the 18.

Short pass to Jacquizz Rodgers picks up six yards.

Ugh. Holding penalty on Ryan Jensen pushes the Bucs back 10 yards to the 38.

Chris Godwin reception gives the Bucs a first down at the Washington 28.

Fitzpatrick throws deep (and late) for Mike Evans, but the pass is broken up by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

Fitzpatrick rolls right and dives forward for what appears to be a first down at the Washington 40.

Peyton Barber picks up 12 yards on back-to-back carries, and the Bucs move out to midfield.

First quarter

Dustin Hopkins good from 43 yards, and Washington takes a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Wide receiver screen to Maurice Harris short of the first down, so Washington will try for a field goal.

False start penalty makes it 3rd-and-16.

Alex Smith throws incomplete, and Washington now faces 3rd-and-11 from the Bucs 27.

Now Adrian Peterson finds some running room, taking the ball 16 yards to the Bucs 26.

Alex Smith connects with Jordan Reed, who beats Brent Grimes on a crossing route, for 24 yards and a Washington first down.

Kapri Bibbs finds a huge hole up the middle for 15 yards.

Pass ruled an illegal forward pass, and the Bucs will have to punt on 4th-and-16.

Fitzpatrick escapes the pressure and laterals to Adam Humphries past the line of scrimmage for a 30-yard gain, but it sure looks like a forward pass on replay.

A penalty and a screen pass to Shaun Wilson loses nine yards, and the Bucs face 3rd-and-19.

Fitzpatrick finds DeSean Jackson for a first down on 3rd-and-3.

Nice grab by Mike Evans along the right sideline for 17 yards, and the Bucs have a first down at their 31.

Bucs defense forces a three-and-out, and Tampa Bay will get the ball right back.

Oh, no. Fitzpatrick overthrows a receiver, and Josh Norman intercepts the errant pass at the goal line.

Fitzpatrick hooks up with Chris Godwin for another first down to the Washington 21.

The Bucs move to the Washington 35 on Ryan Fitzpatrick’s pass to O.J. Howard.

Peyton Barber picks up a Bucs first down on 3rd-and-1 near midfield.

William Gholston starting for injured Vinny Curry

Bucs defensive end William Gholston (92) runs a drill during practice earlier this month at One Buc Place. [MONICA HERNDON | Times]

TAMPA — Bucs defensive linemen William Gholston will start at defensive end today against Washington for injured end Vinny Curry, who is out for the third time in the past four games.

Rookie offensive lineman and Alex Cappa, defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches are among the seven Bucs inactives against Washington.Vinny Curry (ankle), running back Ronald Jones (hamstring),offensive lineman Evan Smith (hip/wrist) and cornerback M.J. Stewart (foot) are also inactive, out with injuries. Ryan Griffin is inactive as the team’s third quarterback.

Read Eduardo A. Encina’s full story here.

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Countdown to kickoff