ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' season is getting away from them quickly, with no issue more glaring right now than their defense. Sure, the offense has struggled with consistency and slow starts, but defense was the backbone of their five-game win streak last season, and it's not coming through for them right now.
Here's why that's happening:
A complete 180 on third down
The Bucs have gone from a league-best 34.4 percent third-down conversion percentage last season to a league-worst 49.4 percent. It's making it harder and harder for them to stop opponents in the red zone, too.