Tampa Bay loses its second game in a row, falling to an explosive Buffalo Bills offense 44-32. The Bucs appear to have lost the magic that propelled them through the first half of the season. The offense is no longer able to overcome all of its injuries. The defense is suddenly giving up multiple big plays a game. Special teams coverage is a disaster. All three phases have serious issues that led to Tampa Bay’s first consecutive losses of the season.

The one thing that kept the Bucs in the game against Buffalo was a few outstanding individual defensive performances and the resurgence of the run game. Tampa Bay will need to figure out a way to replicate these highlights across the team before their playoff aspirations go further off the rails.

Here are the studs and duds from the Bucs’ Week 11 loss to the Bills:

DUD: Tampa Bay’s defense

After a stellar start to the season, the Bucs defense is beginning to look a lot like it did last season. Against Buffalo, Tampa Bay gave up 44 points and 414 total yards. Josh Allen averaged 10.6 yards per attempt and was unstoppable on the ground inside the 10-yard line, scoring three times with his legs. Even two interceptions were not enough to slow down Allen. The Bucs also failed to record a sack for just the second time this season.

What must concern the Bucs the most is their inability to stop explosive plays. After giving up three touchdowns of over 50 yards against the New England Patriots last week, the Bucs gave up eight plays of at least 20 yards to Buffalo. Despite winning the time of possession battle by over 10 minutes, Tampa Bay gave up big plays so easily that it did not matter how long they held onto the ball. If the Bucs defense cannot figure out how to prevent explosive plays, their season is in real jeopardy.

STUD: Sean Tucker

The lone bright spot on offense was running back Sean Tucker, who had a career day. He scored three touchdowns, including Tampa Bay’s two longest plays of the game of 43 and 28 yards. Tucker averaged 5.6 yards per carry, exploiting a vulnerable Buffalo rush defense that ranks last in the NFL in yards per attempt allowed. Leading the Bucs’ best rush performance this season, Tucker has earned a place in Tampa Bay’s running back rotation even as Bucky Irving nears a return to the field.

DUD: Bucs kickoff coverage

For as bad as the Bucs’ defense was against Buffalo, their kickoff coverage set them up for failure. The Bills averaged 39 return yards on six returns, and four of Buffalo’s six returns went for at least 40 yards. Surrendering nearly half the field on over a third of Buffalo’s offensive drives before the offense actually takes the field is a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what Tampa Bay got in Buffalo.

DUD: Baker Mayfield

With his MVP candidacy all but over, Baker Mayfield is just not playing well enough to keep the offense competitive amid all their injuries. Mayfield completed 16 of 28 passes for 173 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He used his legs for the first time in almost a month, adding 39 yards and a touchdown on five carries.

However, Mayfield’s ineffectiveness as a passer is the primary issue holding the offense back. He missed on several key throws and has not rediscovered the magic that kept the offense churning in the first month and a half of the season. Getting more offensive starters healthy should help, but the Bucs are not able to lean on Mayfield as they once thought they could.

STUD/DUD: Jacob Parrish

The Bucs’ third-round rookie cornerback is everything they hoped he would be and more, but the fact remains he is still a rookie. Parrish snagged Josh Allen’s first interception on an ill-advised two-hand push pass and was active in run defense, leading the Bucs with two tackles for a loss.

Unfortunately, Parrish was responsible for the play that broke Tampa Bay’s back late in the fourth quarter. In tackling Khalil Shakir on a key third-down stop, Parrish was flagged for a facemask personal foul, keeping Buffalo’s offense on the field and leading to their final, game-clinching touchdown. It was one play, but it was a critical play that all but ended Tampa Bay’s chances to win the game.