The Arizona Cardinals closed out their home schedule in 2022 with another loss. They fell 19-16 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime.
They turned the ball over three times but the defense played well.
They held a 16-6 lead that they gave up in quarterback Trace McSorley’s first NFL start.
They fell to 4-11 on the season and the Buccaneers improved to 7-8.
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Buccaneers 3, Cardinals 0
The Cardinals won the toss and deferred to the second half, so the defense started on the field. Tampa picked up 30 yards on a pass interference penalty and Rachaad White ran for 18 yards on the next play.
But the Cardinals got off the field on third down and the Bucs got on the board first with a 38-yard Ryan Succop field goal to start the game.
Successful fake punt!
Santa brought us a fake punt 🎁 pic.twitter.com/0OeAzvA97A
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 26, 2022
The Cardinals extended their drive with a fake punt. Punter Andy Lee found linebacker Kamuy Grugier-Hill for a four-yard gain on fourth-and-2.
McSorley fumbles!
The Cardinals got into field goal range with the fake punt and then a 23-yard catch by Greg Dortch, but on third down, Anthony Nelson sacked Trace McSorley and knocked the ball out. Devin White recovered the fumble and returned to the Tampa 43-yard line.
It was exactly what the Cardinals could not afford in this game.
Turnover on downs!
JJ Watt has been BIG TIME this season. pic.twitter.com/tsCyUARYTH
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) December 26, 2022
After the turnover, the Arizona defense came up big. After a false start, Leonard Fournette gained 14 yards on first down but was stuffed on second, third and fourth downs to give the Cardinals the ball almost at midfield.
Cardinals 3, Buccaneers 3
The Cardinals got on the boards and tied the game 3-3 in the first quarter with a 56-yard field goal by Matt Prater. The key play in the drive was a 20-yard rush by Greg Dortch.
Through one quarter of play, Dortch had 23 rushing yards on two attempts and three receptions for 43 yards.
Trysten Hill carted off
Cardinals defensive lineman had to be carted off the field after Tom Brady picked up a first down in the second quarter on a QB sneak.
It appeared to be his left knee.
Buccaneers 6, Cardinals 3
The Bucs took a 6-3 lead in the second quarter on a 35-yard field goal.
They went 58 yards on 15 plays and knocked on the door of a touchdown. Tom Brady had a 10-yard touchdown pass to Julio Jones, but the Bucs were penalized on the play for an illegal shift and then again for holding, leading to a third-and-long that they did not convert.
Maroc Wilson INT!
The best kind of presents are the ones that just fall into your lap 🎁@MJW_era x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/lA9AKVTjtS
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 26, 2022
The Cardinals took the ball away with 5:09 left in the second quarter. Tom Brady attempted a deep throw down the left sideline intended for Mike Evans near the end zone.
Cameron Thomas hit Brady and Marco Wilson piked off the ball at the two-yard line. He got up and returned the interception 39 yards.
Cardinals 6, Buccaneers 6
Greg Dortch's toe tap gets the Cardinals closer to FG range. @_GDortch
📺: #TBvsAZ on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/3PGayaJdLH pic.twitter.com/ZrZEOVdMuk— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2022
The Cardinals tied the game with eight seconds left in the first half.
Greg Dortch’s receptions for 17 and four yards set up a 53-yard field goal that hit off the left upright and in for the score to tie the game.
DOINK!
Matt Prater doinks it in to tie the game!
📺: #TBvsAZ on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/3PGayaJdLH pic.twitter.com/cy1ptnDYr1— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2022
Matt Prater’s 53-yard field goal tied the game at the end of the second quarter. But it was close. It hit the left upright before going through. DOINK!
Marco Wilson's 2nd INT!
YOU'RE A MEAN ONE, MR.WILSON 😈@MJW_era x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/8Ls0pPtAKp
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 26, 2022
The second half began slowly. The Cardinals went three-and-out twice and the Bucs punted once.
But after the Bucs got into field-goal range, Tom Brady was picked off the second time by Marco Wilson.
The Cardinals took over at their own 19.
Trace McSorley throws a dime to Hollywood!
THROW IT ON A DIME! pic.twitter.com/A4Xhzo6hdv
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 26, 2022
The Cardinals got into scoring position with their longest pass play of the season. McSorley connected with Marquise Brown for 47 yards. It was Brown’s first catch of the night.
Cardinals 9, Buccaneers 6
The Cardinals didn’t get much after the Brown 47-yard play. They stalled and Matt Prater gave the Cardinals the lead with a 39-yard field goal.
On third down, Jalen Thompson broke up a pass to Chris Godwin in the end zone to force the field goal.
Cardinals 16, Buccaneers 6
James Conner makes it a two-possession game ‼️ @JamesConner_
📺: #TBvsAZ on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/3PGayaJdLH pic.twitter.com/QkTM6ihstA— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2022
The Cardinals scored a touchdown!
After forcing another punt, Pharoh Cooper got the Cardinals to the Tampa 33 with a 28-yard punt return. James Conner ran 22 yards for the touchdown to give the Cardinals a 10-point lead with 10:47 to go.
Cardinals 16, Buccaneers 13
The Buccaneers answered with their first touchdown of the game. It started with a 44-yard catch and run by running back Leonard Fournette. It ended with a three-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Rachaad White.
Turnover!
The Cardinals gave life to the Bucs with under five minutes to go. McSorley pitched the ball to rookie running back Keaontay Ingram, who dropped it for a fumble.
William Gholston recovered the fumble and the Bucs took over at their own 45.
Buccaneers 16, Cardinals 16
After the turnover, the Bucs only could get into field goal range but they tied the game 16-16 with 2:27 to go on Succop’s third field goal of the game, this time from 42 yards.
Cards go three-and-out
With a chance to go take the lead, they went three-and-out. The drive started with a penalty on Billy Price for being an ineligible receiver down the field.
Tom Brady and the Bucs had a chance to go for the win.
Bucs go three-and-out
The Bucs couldn’t get the game-winning drive and punted with under a minute left in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals took over at their own 20 with 43 seconds to go.
OVERTIME!
After a false start penalty, Trace McSorley’s Hail Mary was intercepted by safety Keanu Neal at the five-yard line to end regulation.
Cardinals punt
The Cardinals won the toss and elected to receive in overtime. after Marquise Brown picked up one first down, they were forced to punt and the Bucs took over at their own 12.
Buccaneers 19, Cardinals 16
Russell Gage had a 23-yard reception and then a 17-yard reception on Tampa’s drive in overtime.
After a pair of Leonard Fournette runs, Succop hit the game-winning field goal from 40 yards, his fourth field goal of the game.
