Fitzpatrick keeps job but can’t help Bucs avoid hole

Ryan Fitzpatrick played well enough to retain the starting quarterback job in Tampa Bay for another week.

Now if “Fitzmagic” can only figure out how to keep the Buccaneers from digging themselves such a big hole early in games.

Fitzpatrick replaced the struggling Jameis Winston and threw for 243 yards and four touchdowns, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the Buccaneers to overcome a 28-point first-half deficit as they lost 42-28 to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. Fitzpatrick threw two interceptions, including one in the first quarter to Eric Reid that led to Carolina’s first touchdown.

“Ryan did some good things today,” said Coach Dirk Koetter, who confirmed Fitzpatrick will start against Washington on Sunday. “We’ve got to play better across the board.”

That includes on defense, where the Buccaneers have gone five games this season without forcing a turnover. They haven’t had an interception since Week 3.

Fitzpatrick didn’t get much help from his top receivers Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson, who were non-factors.

Sad sack Lions

The Detroit Lions were at a disadvantage, playing in a deafening stadium against a daunting Minnesota defense that’s rounding into form at midseason.

The departure of their leading pass-catcher in a trade earlier in the week left the Lions with one less way to attack the Vikings, but the absence of Golden Tate became an afterthought while the team struggled to protect its quarterback. Matthew Stafford was culpable, too, often hanging on to the ball too long.

Danielle Hunter had 3½ of Minnesota’s franchise-record 10 sacks plus a fourthquarter fumble return for a touchdown, making for a miserable afternoon for Stafford and the Lions in a 24-9 victory by the Vikings on Sunday in Minneapolis.

“That’s a very, very, very, very talented front,” left guard Frank Ragnow said. “Dudes on every single position. So credit to them, but it’s all on us. I think we all know we need to play better than that.”

The Vikings limited the Lions to a season-low 214 total yards and stopped their run of 14-plus points at 25 straight games.

Vikings mourn great ‘Boom Boom,’ 80

Bill Brown, the Minnesota Vikings fullback who was a four-time Pro Bowl pick in 14 seasons in the NFL, has died. He was 80.

The Vikings observed a moment of silence for Brown prior to the game vs. Detroit. Brown’s son-in-law, former Vikings QB Rich Gannon, said on Twitter that Brown “passed away peacefully.”

Nicknamed “Boom Boom” for his punishing style, Brown is fourth in Vikings history with 5,757 rushing yards. His best season was 1974, with 1,569 total yards and 16 TDs.