Bengals vs. Buccaneers score, takeaways: Joe Burrow outduels Tom Brady as Cincy rallies for sixth win in row

Brady and the Bucs could not hold onto their 17-point lead

It was a tale of two halves Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals overcame sloppy first-half play and a 17-point deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-23. Joe Burrow threw four second-half touchdowns as the Bengals scored 34 unanswered points for their sixth straight win.

The Bucs got off to one of the best starts they've had all season and were on their way to bouncing back from last week's blowout loss to the 49ers. Tampa Bay jumped out to a 17-0 lead while its defense was playing lights out, making things difficult for Burrow and the Bengals offense.

After kicking a field goal to get on the board first, the Bucs capped off a long 13-play drive with a 1-yard pass from Tom Brady to Russell Gage. They extended their lead with a touchdown catch from Chris Godwin. With seconds to spare in the first half, the Bengals finally got on the board with a 41-yard field goal to trail 17-3 at the break.

That's when the game turned upside down for the Bucs. 

They fumbled a punt on their first drive in the second half, giving the Bengals excellent field position that set them up for another field goal, cutting the deficit to 17-6. From there, Cincy had all the momentum in the third quarter. Burrow found Tee Higgins for a touchdown, though they failed on the two-point conversion. Trailing just 17-12, the Bengals defense sacked Brady on the Bucs' next possession, forcing a fumble and setting themselves up with great field position again.

Capitalizing on a fumble for the second time in the game, the Bengals scored another touchdown, this time to Tyler Boyd, giving them their first lead of the game. They added a successful two-point conversion to go up 20-17.

Brady fumbled again on a handoff to Leonard Fournette as things went from bad to worst for Tampa Bay. This time, Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase on an 8-yard touchdown pass for a 27-17 lead in the fourth quarter. With the touchdown, Burrow passed Brady for the most fourth-down touchdowns passes this season with 15. 

The Bucs finished the game with four turnovers -- two fumbles and two interceptions.

The Bengals added salt to the wound with a Mitchell Wilcox touchdown with less than three minutes left in regulation. The game concluded with a Buccaneers touchdown and failed two-point conversion, but by then it was too late. Burrow was able to take a knee and run the clock down to take the 34-23 win.

Why the Bengals won

The Bengals started off slow, with just three points in the first half. Their offense did not get much time on the field and when they did they were unable to string together any good drives. The second half was a completely different story and it was a tale of takeaways. 

The defense showed up and not just slowed the Buccaneers offense, but took the ball from them time after time. The defense working hard is one thing, but if you can't capitalize on the turnovers it is a lot harder to win. The Bengals offense rose to the challenge and completely flipped the momentum, supplementing the defense with touchdowns. 

Burrow is now responsible for handing Patrick Mahomes (18-point lead in the 2021 AFC Championship) and Brady (17-point lead Sunday) their largest blown leads at home in their respective careers.

Why the Buccaneers lost

The Buccaneers looked like they were going to take this one, as they were off to one of their best starts of the season. The Bengals looked like a totally different team in the second half, and more like the team we've seen this year. Key mistakes turned into more mistakes and points for Cincy as Tampa Bay just could not stop the snowball of misfortune. 

They exposed their weaknesses and the Bengals took advantage and adjusted their game accordingly, while the Buccaneers were looking lost on all sides of the ball. Burrow is a quarterback more than capable of a comeback, so playing against him it's crucial to either get a comfortable lead and/or keep momentum through 60 minutes. The Bucs did have a 17-point lead, but it was not nearly enough and they just collapsed once the Bengals found their rhythm.

Before Week 15, Brady was 159-3 in his career when leading by 17-plus points, including the playoffs, and 89-0 at home. His biggest blown leads were a 21-point lead in 2011 against the Bills, an 18-point lead in the 2006 AFC Championship against the Colts and a 2009 regular-season game against the Colts when he blew a 17-point lead. 

Turning point

The Bengals did not have a lead through two quarters and well into the third quarter, but a touchdown followed by a fumble that set them up for another touchdown completely changed the tone of the game. The two touchdowns in just about three minutes put the Bengals ahead for good.

Play of the game

There were many touchdowns and takeaways to choose from, but I'm giving the play of the game honors to the fourth takeaway for the Bengals defense, when Brady's pass attempt for Mike Evans was picked off by Germaine Pratt.

What's next

The Buccaneers will visit the New England Patriots (7-7) next week. The Patriots have struggled all season offensively, and they're coming off one of the most shocking endings to a game in NFL history.

The Buccaneers will pack up and head to the desert next week to face the Arizona Cardinals (4-10). The Cardinals have been led by Colt McCoy as of late, with starting quarterback Kyler Murray out with an ACL tear he suffered against the Patriots. McCoy, however, left Sunday's game with a concussion and was replaced by Trace McSorley. 

[Dec 18, 2022 at 7:30 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS: Brady and Co. get in the end zone, but it is too late to make a difference. The two-point conversion is unsuccessful. 34-23 Bengals

[Dec 18, 2022 at 7:04 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

The Buccaneers are losing and are starting from well into their own territory. They need to make something happen here to flip the script.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 6:57 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

INTERCEPTION: Brady throws a pick on a pass intended for Evans, intercepted by Pratt.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 6:48 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

TOUCHDOWN BENGALS: Burrow now passes Brady with the most fourth down touchdowns passes with 15 this season. Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase for eight yards for the TD. The extra point is good. 27-17 Bengals.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 6:39 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

FUMBLE: Brady's handoff to Fournette ends with a fumble, recovered by the Bengals. The Buccaneers offense started off strong, but now mistake after mistake puts them in a tough spot as we approach the fourth quarter.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 6:32 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

TOUCHDOWN BENGALS: Cincinnati takes the lead with a Boyd pass and once again their two-point conversion attempt is successful. 20-17 Bengals

[Dec 18, 2022 at 6:29 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

SACK AND FUMBLE: Brady is sacked for a loss of 5 yards and fumbles the ball, recovered by Cincinnati.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 6:28 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

TOUCHDOWN BENGALS: The Bengals shrink the lead with a 5-yard Higgins reception. The two-point conversion attempt is successful. 17-12 Bucs

[Dec 18, 2022 at 6:16 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

A holding penalty on the defense takes away what would've been a 23-yard sack on Burrow. Instead of a turnover on downs, the Bengals now have a first down.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 6:15 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

The Bengals once again fail on third down. They are now 0-for-5 on third downs today. Cincinnati has the worst fourth down percentage of the league, but are going for it here on fourth down.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 6:10 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

FIELD GOAL BENGALS: The Bengals capitalize on the punt fumble with three points. 17-6 Bucs

[Dec 18, 2022 at 6:04 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

Bernard fumbles on a direct snap in punt formation and the mishap sets the Bengals up with great field position at the Tampa 16 yard line.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 5:40 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS: The Buccaneers extend their lead with a Godwin touchdown. The extra point is good. 17-0 Bucs.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 5:23 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

MISSED FIELD GOAL: The Buccaneers miss a 50-yard field goal. The score remains 10-0 Bucs

[Dec 18, 2022 at 5:14 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

The Bengals offense goes three-and-out as the defense continues to sideline Burrow and Co.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 5:10 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

It appears Burrow has an issue with the pinky on his throwing hand and it is being addressed on the sideline. He is now entering the game on offense and we will see how this impacts his play.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 5:08 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS: On fourth-and-goal, Brady finds Gage in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point is good. 10-0 Buccaneers.

[Dec 18, 2022 at 5:06 pm ET · Shanna McCarriston]

During the quarter change, Tampa Coach Todd Bowles said the Bengals are a team you need to score touchdowns against and not just get field goals. After emphasizing the importance of getting seven more points on the board, the Bucs go for it on fourth and goal and score the first TD of the game.