TAMPA, Fla. _ This wasn't the same come-from-behind script Bucs fans have become accustomed to seeing this season, but the result was the same _ another loss in which the Bucs could count the ways they beat themselves.
In Sunday's 16-3 loss to Washington _ Tampa Bay's sixth in their past seven games _ they put up big offensive numbers again, but one of the league's highest scoring offenses was held in neutral. They took the ball inside the opponent's 20-yard line six times but had just three points to show for it.
Bucs quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick continued to come back to Earth, throwing two interceptions for second straight game since regaining the starting quarterback role, and losing a fumble. And kicker Chandler Catanzaro missed two field-goal attempts.
The maligned Tampa Bay defense played better but lapsed during two key Washington drives that led to scores for the visitors.
The Bucs (3-6) outgained Washington (6-3) in total yards, had more first downs, and dominated time of possession.
But after committing four turnovers _ and extending their takeaway drought to 27 quarters _ the Bucs' league-worst turnover differential went to minus-20.
Fitzpatrick ended the Bucs' first offensive drive with an interception in the end zone, overthrowing rookie Shaun Wilson with a pass that sailed high but was caught by Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, who made a full-extension diving pick.
The Bucs drove to the Washington 12-yard line in the second quarter, driving moving 62 yards before Catanzaro missed a 30-yard attempt wide right. Catanzaro had missed four extra-points this season but was 9-for-9 on field goals inside 40 yards before the miss.
Catanzaro then converted a 33-yard field goal attempt on the next drive, tying the game at 3 just before the two-minute warning in the first half. Washington drove 50 yards down the field over the next 1:43, ending the half with a 43-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins to take a 6-3 lead.
Fitzpatrick showed the makings of another comeback in the second half. In the Bucs' first possession of the third quarter, he hooked up with DeSean Jackson three times and took the Bucs to the Washington 19. But a third-down low snap from Ryan Jensen that skipped past Fitzpatrick led to a 14-yard loss and forced Catanzaro into a 48-yard attempt that missed wide right.
Washington then scored on its next drive, going 62 yards on eight plays in a drive that ended with Smith sitting in the pocket for six seconds before finding Josh Doctson in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
Fitzpatrick was intercepted for the second time on the next Bucs possession, which led to another Washington field goal, and Tampa Bay lost the ball again on its next drive after Jacquizz Rodgers was stripped at the Washington 19 _ the ball punched out of his hands and skipping forward into the end zone, with Washington recovering for a touchback.
The Bucs landed in the red zone one more time, but Fitzpatrick fumbled under pressure on second and goal at the Washington 2-yard line with 3:36 remaining.
