Led by Zyon McCollum and Alex Anzalone, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an NFL-best 16 interceptions
CHICAGO (AP) — Led by Zyon McCollum and Alex Anzalone, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an NFL-best 16 interceptions.
Turning those plays into wins is an ongoing challenge.
Tampa Bay had four interceptions for the second straight week Sunday night. But the Buccaneers lost 27-24 on Cairo Santos' 38-yard field goal for the Bears on the final play of the game.
Ifeatu Melifonwu also recovered a fumble for Tampa Bay in the fourth quarter. But the Bucs only managed 11 points off those five turnovers, and Jaylon Johnson returned Baker Mayfield's interception for a touchdown for the Bears.
“We’ve got to capitalize on them,” coach Todd Bowles said of the turnovers. “We’ve got to score points, and we can’t give the ball back. We’ve got to be better on third down on both sides of the ball.”
McCollum and Anzalone lead the Buccaneers (3-6) with four interceptions apiece. McCollum has picked off four passes in the last three games. Anzalone has three interceptions in the last two games.
Tykee Smith also picked off Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams. But the Bucs went 2 for 12 on third down, compared to 7 for 13 for the Bears. And the Bucs were unable to stop Williams and Co. in the final minutes.
“Five (takeaways) is a lot,” Mayfield said. “Got to have more points off of those, and not just field goals, touchdowns. Got to be able to finish with seven down there.”
The last team to record four-plus interceptions in consecutive games was the Baltimore Ravens in September 2017.
Tampa Bay had won three of four, including a 16-0 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8. It has at least one interception in eight of its nine games this season.
Chicago was driving in the second quarter when Smith picked off Williams at the Tampa Bay 3 and returned the ball to the 26.
Mayfield was stuffed on fourth-and-1 at the 35 on the ensuing possession, but McCollum intercepted Williams on the next play. The Bucs ended up punting the ball away on the resulting possession.
Tampa Bay turned McCollum's second interception into Chase McLaughlin's 21-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.
“He fought," Bowles said about McCollum. "Like I said, the biggest thing that we talk about is the turnovers every day. If we get the turnovers, we’ve got to cash them in and Zyon got two of them.”
Following Williams' fourth interception, this one by Anzalone, Mayfield threw a pick-6 to Johnson that gave the Bears a 24-13 lead with 3:39 left in the third quarter.
“He had his mind made up, probably should’ve thrown it somewhere else," Bowles said. “That’s easy to say in hindsight.”
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