The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will hold kicker workouts after veteran booter Nick Folk missed three field goals in their 19-14 loss to the New England Patriots Thursday at Raymond James Stadium. Folk missed a 56-yard attempt in the second and followed it with a 49-yard blunder in the third. Folk’s woes continued in the fourth as he missed an easy 31-yard kick with Tampa Bay trailing by nine points, earning him boos from Buccaneers fans. In an interview with Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times, Folk blamed himself for the loss, saying if he only made two of his three field goals, the Buccaneers could have won the game, 20-19.
Buccaneers to bring in other kickers
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network Insider, the Buccaneers are arranging kicker workouts after Folk’s performance. Rapoport’s source, former Miami Dolphins kicker Andrew Franks and former Cincinnati Bengals booter Mike Nugent, will attend the workout. The Buccaneers brought in Folk to provide competition with second-year kicker Roberto Aguayo, a second-round pick by Tampa Bay who struggled in his rookie year.
After Aguayo’s struggled in the preseason, the Buccaneers released him and handed Folk the kicking duties. However, Folk also struggled in the regular season, making just six of 11 field-goal attempts and seven of nine extra points in four games.
Head coach Dick Koetter said he didn’t expect Folk’s struggles because he’s been solid in practice. Last season with the New York Jets, Folk missed just four field goal attempts in 31 tries. In his career, Folk has made 80.3 percent of his field-goal attempts.
Buccaneers had chance vs Patriots
Quarterback Jameis Winston struggled in the first three quarters, compiling just 109 yards as the Buccaneers (2-2) failed to convert on their first seven third-downs.
However, Winston found his groove in the fourth, going 13 for 21 for 225 yards. He tried to spark a game-winning drive but his pass to rookie tight end O.J. Howard went incomplete, allowing the Patriots (3-2) to escape with the close win.
Overall, Winston completed 26 of 46 passes for 334 yards and a touchdown while rusher Doug Martin carried the ball 13 times for 74 yards and a score for the Buccaneers.
DeSean Jackson caught five passes for 106 yards while Cameron Brate received five throws for 68 yards and a touchdown. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady completed 30 of 40 passes for 303 yards and a touchdown with one interception as he tied Peyton Manning and Brett Favre’s record for most regular-season wins with 186.
