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Recap: Tennessee Titans struggle mightily in road loss at Bucs

Nick Suss and Nick Gray, Nashville Tennessean
·10 min read

Two struggling teams will try to score wins on Sunday when the Tennessee Titans visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Titans (3-5) face the Buccaneers (3-5) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Sunday (noon, CBS). The Titans have lost three of their past four games and the Buccaneers have lost four in a row, but both teams have reasons for optimism, especially on offense. The Titans are heading into a new era with rookie quarterback Will Levis, who was officially named the Titans' starter going forward this week after throwing for 500 yards and four touchdowns in his first two games. And the Buccaneers scored 37 points their last time out, albeit in a losing effort.

Veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill has missed the Titans' past two games because of an ankle injury, leading to Levis' emergence. Tannehill returned to practice this week but will be Levis' backup if he's healthy enough to play.

Follow below for live score updates as the Titans battle the Buccaneers.

Tennessee Titans score updates vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

FINAL: Bucs 20, Titans 6

GENTRY ESTES: Tennessee Titans' offense goes missing in ugly loss to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

REPORT CARD: Tennessee Titans' grades reflect mostly inferior units vs. Bucs

Fourth quarter

42 seconds left: Titans offense turns the ball over on downs. Bucs will win 20-6 in a dominant performance to break four-game losing streak. A miserable performance by the Titans.

2:00 left: Titans defense forces a three-and-out. Bucs will punt after the two-minute warning.

3:32 left: Levis' 4th-and-17 deep throw to Hopkins is incomplete. That drive was again befallen by bad protection.

4:49 left: Kyle Philips quick screen reception goes for 30 yards. Philips leads the team with 61 receiving yards.

5:02 left: Harold Landry sack. Bucs will punt near midfield.

6:14 left: Levis is hit as he is throwing, and Antoine Winfield Jr. grabs the interception. Titans OL has been a real issue again.

6:50 left: Levis escapes the pocket and finds Philips for 22 yards.

Tampa Bay re-establishes 14-point lead

7:04 left: Titans defense finally gets off the field. But the drive ends with a 35-yard field goal after more than five minutes of possession and three Titans penalties.

Bucs 20, Titans 6

11:47 left: A very late defensive holding penalty turns 2nd and 19 into 1st and 10 for the Bucs.

Titans kick field goal to turn two-score game into... a two-score game

12:54 left: Titans settle for a 27-yard Nick Folk field goal. Not sure what use those three points will have in the final quarter. Tough goal-to-go sequence.

Bucs 17, Titans 6

14:31 left: Levis to Chig Okonkwo for 15 yards to create 1st and goal.

Third quarter

50 seconds left: Nice play call on third down to get Tyjae Spears free for 12 yards and a conversion. Tennessee driving.

2:36 left: Hopkins' first catch was the first play of the game. His second reception is late in the third quarter.

Mike Evans TD puts Bucs up by two scores

2:46 left: Mike Evans gets open again on third down, and he drags Kristian Fulton into the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown. PAT good.

Bucs 17, Titans 3

Tampa Bay is outgaining Tennessee 300-104. Mike Evans has 6 catches for 143 yards and a TD.

4:57 left: Mayfield up to 230 passing yards. Bucs are driving.

6:00 left: Mayfield to Evans for 27 yards on third down to move the chains. Bucs are 5-of-10 on third down conversions.

7:29 left: Levis is nearly intercepted on third down by Lavonte David. Titans will punt. Todd Bowles' defense has blitzed Levis all day.

9:44 left: Nifty YAC work by Tyjae Spears to pick up a first down.

Mike Evans drop leads to Bucs FG

10:42 left: Titans defense very, very fortunate in not allowing a TD. Mike Evans is wide open again on 2nd and goal, and Evans drops a perfectly good throw. 25-yard field goal is good.

Bucs 10, Titans 3

12:08 left: Next play on 3rd and 10, Mike Evans is wide open on a deep post. Mayfield underthrows him, but Evans makes the catch for 43 yards. 1st and goal.

12:21 left: Titans challenging a Trey Palmer catch on a chunk play working against McCreary. After review, pass is incomplete.

15:00 left: Bucs will receive the second half kickoff. Elsewhere, Houston leads Cincinnati 10-7 at halftime. San Francisco leads Jacksonville 13-3 after 30 minutes.

Second quarter

HALFTIME: Buccaneers 7, Titans 3

42 seconds left: Roger McCreary continues a good first half with nice coverage on Mike Evans to get the Titans defense off the field without allowing points.

1:09 left: Titans can't fall on a Baker Mayfield fumble. Tampa trying to drive late in the first half in Titans territory.

After review, no fumble. So no missed opportunity.

4:38 left: Denico Autry sack.

4:49 left: Levis pressured by the blitz and throws incomplete on third down. 3 and out.

Bucs on the board with screen pass TD

5:39 left: Rachaad White takes a screen pass 42 yards for a Bucs TD. PAT good. White had it pretty easy on the YAC, just having to beat McCreary to the pylon..

Bucs 7, Titans 3

12:39 left: Nick Folk's 51-yard field goal is short and wide right. His first miss of the season. Titans elect to kick on 4th and 2. Drive set back by a Devin White sack.

Andre Dillard being evaluated for a concussion, per team.

14:49 left: Eric Garror returns the punt to the Tampa 41-yard line.

Dillion Radunz in at left tackle, and Andrew Rupcich at right guard.

First quarter

End of the quarter: Bucs go three-and-out deep in their own territory, and the Titans should get good field position to start the second quarter.

2:55 left: Levis trips (himself up?) and is sacked by Shaq Barrett. That'll end up forcing Tennessee to punt.

3:31 left: Levis to Kyle Philips for a first down on third and long.

Roger McCreary intercepts Baker Mayfield

5:02 left: Mayfield is picked off by Roger McCreary near the end zone. Bucs could have managed a field goal; the Titans defense has a turnover instead.

5:48 left: Teair Tart sack. (With help from Jeffery Simmons.)

8:30 left: Baker Mayfield's first pass is a strike to Chris Godwin for 16 yards.

Nick Folk kicks another road first half field goal

9:08 left: Vita Vea beats Andre Dillard and yanks Levis down for a third-down sack. Nick Folk's 38-yard field goal is good.

Titans 3, Bucs 0

12:00 left: Levis to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a first down inside the red zone.

14:52 left: First play is a Levis strike to Hopkins for 15 yards.

15:00 left: TItans receive the opening kickoff. Here comes Will Levis.

Chance Campbell injured in warmups, out for game

Titans linebacker Chance Campbell is active for Sunday’s game but has already been ruled out with an injury suffered during pregame warmups.

Kickoff coming soon.

Colts win in Germany, but Titans could make up ground on rest of AFC South

Indianapolis held on for a 10-6 win against the New England Patriots in Frankfurt, Germany despite being outgained 340-264.

Vanderbilt alum Dayo Odeyingbo sacked Mac Jones three times, and Julian Blackmon’s fourth quarter interception of Jones at the goal line was the deciding play in the game.

The Titans can make some ground up on the rest of the AFC South today. Jacksonville hosts San Francisco, while Houston plays Cincinnati. If Tennessee has plans to sneak into the playoff picture, two wins over the next seven days could do the trick. Some help will be beneficial too.

Ryan Tannehill inactive; Malik Willis QB2 today vs. Bucs

Ryan Tannehill is inactive on Sunday as he continues to recover from an ankle injury suffered last month. Tannehill was throwing before inactives were announced, 90 minutes before game time. And he will be the team’s emergency third QB.

Malik Willis will continue to serve as Will Levis' backup. No other surprises for a Titans team still banged up after the long week following the TNF loss last Thursday.

The Titans inactives:

FULL INACTIVES: Tennessee Titans inactives vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Is QB Ryan Tannehill available?

What channel is the Titans-Buccaneers game on today?

Tennessee Titans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers will broadcast live on CBS, with streaming options available on Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Andrew Catalon will handle play-by-play duties for CBS, with Tiki Barber and Matt Ryan as the color commentators and AJ Ross as the sideline reporter.

More: Watch Titans vs. Buccaneers live on Fubo (free trial)

Titans vs. Buccaneers series history

Series record: The Titans lead the all-time series 10-2.

Last time: The Titans beat the Buccaneers 27-23 on Oct. 27, 2019

Last Buccaneers win: 13-10 on Oct. 14, 2007 (four in a row)

Last Titans win: 27-23 on Oct. 27, 2019

Titans vs. Buccaneers start time

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 12

  • Time: Noon CT

  • Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa)

The Titans and Buccaneers will kick off at noon CT at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Titans vs. Buccaneers betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 10

  • Spread: Buccaneers (-1)

  • Over/under: 39.5

  • Moneyline: Titans -105 | Buccaneers -115

Titans 2023 schedule

All times CT

  • Sept. 10: at New Orleans (L, 16-15)

  • Sept. 17: L.A. Chargers (W, 27-24 OT)

  • Sept. 24: at Cleveland (L, 27-3)

  • Oct. 1: Cincinnati (W, 27-3)

  • Oct. 8: at Indianapolis (L, 23-16)

  • Oct. 15: Baltimore (L 24-16)

  • Oct. 29: Atlanta (W, 28-23)

  • Nov. 2: at Pittsburgh (L, 20-16)

  • Nov. 12: at Tampa Bay, noon, CBS

  • Nov. 19: at Jacksonville, noon, CBS

  • Nov. 26: Carolina, noon, Fox

  • Dec. 3: Indianapolis, noon, CBS

  • Dec. 11: at Miami, 7:15 p.m., ESPN

  • Dec. 17: Houston, noon, CBS

  • Dec. 24: Seattle, noon, CBS

  • Dec. 31: at Houston, noon, Fox

  • TBD: Jacksonville, TBD, TBD

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Buccaneers 2023 schedule

all times CT

  • Sept. 10: Minnesota (W, 20-17)

  • Sept. 17: Chicago (W, 27-17)

  • Sept. 25: Philadelphia (L, 25-11)

  • Oct. 1: at New Orleans (W, 26-9)

  • Oct. 15: Detroit (L, 20-6)

  • Oct. 22: Atlanta (L, 16-13)

  • Oct. 26: at Buffalo (L, 24-18)

  • Nov. 5: at Houston (L, 39-37)

  • Nov. 12: Tennessee, noon, CBS

  • Nov. 19: at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m., FOX

  • Nov. 26: at Indianapolis, noon, CBS

  • Dec. 3: Carolina, noon, CBS

  • Dec. 10: at Atlanta, noon, CBS

  • Dec. 17: at Green Bay, noon, FOX

  • Dec. 24: Jacksonville, 3:05 p.m., CBS

  • Dec. 31: New Orleans, noon, FOX

  • TBD: at Carolina, TBD, TBD

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nickusss.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans-Buccaneers score updates: Tennessee woeful on offense in loss