Studs and duds from the Buccaneers' Week 13 win over the Cardinals

The Buccaneers broke their losing streak with a close 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Though they led the Cardinals nearly the entire game, the Bucs were far from consistent on either side of the ball. The offense struggled to find rhythm, particularly in the air, but a returning Bucky Irving helped make everything right. On defense, missed tackles were a serious problem for just about everyone. However, a few big plays and key fourth-down stands kept Arizona from truly threatening Tampa Bay's lead.

Here are the studs and duds from the Bucs' Week 13 win over Arizona:

STUD: Bucky Irving

The Bucs offense missed Bucky Irving. Badly. Back after missing eight games with shoulder and ankle injuries, Irving looked very much like his old self, recording 81 yards and a touchdown on 19 touches. There was little evidence of rust as Irving looked as slippery as ever, forcing six missed tackles per PFF. While the Arizona defense largely stymied the run game overall, there is no question that Irving provided a spark to the Bucs offense that it has missed in his absence.

DUD: Jacob Parrish

The rookie cornerback had arguably his worst game as a Buc against Arizona. He struggled to tackle and to cover, missing two tackles and allowing six receptions on six targets for 57 yards per PFF. He also failed to record any splash plays that he has become known for this season. His struggles were emblematic of the defense as a whole. Missed tackles were endemic all day, and Jacoby Brissett still managed to eclipse 300 passing yards.

STUD: Tristan Wirfs

Everyone loves to see a big man score. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs recorded his first NFL touchdown against the Cardinals on a trick goal-line play in the second quarter. On 3rd-and-goal, Wirfs declared eligible, which apparently escaped Arizona's defense, as not one defender was anywhere near him when he caught the touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield. Wirfs was also nearly perfect in pass protection, allowing just one pressure per PFF. The only other possible blemish was a highly questionable second-quarter holding call in which Wirfs was so effective in his snatch-and-trap technique that the referees threw a flag.

DUD: Tykee Smith

Coming into Week 13, Smith was Tampa Bay's best and most consistent defender. Against the Cardinals, Smith was nearly a liability. He missed two of his four tackle attempts and gave up a touchdown to Arizona tight end Trey McBride. Smith did fall on a fumble forced by Logan Hall, but that was about the only positive play Smith had on Sunday. The Bucs defense has been in a funk since the bye week. Though the schedule will continue to soften, Smith and the Bucs defense need to find some consistency if they want to get to the playoffs and make a difference once they are there.

STUD: SirVocea Dennis

The often maligned Bucs linebacker came up big for Tampa Bay in a close win over the Cardinals. With less than two minutes remaining, the Cardinals faced fourth-and-two on their own 17-yard line. QB Jacoby Brissett targeted WR Michael Wilson over the middle, only for Dennis to break the pass up. The Cardinals turned the ball over on downs, and the Bucs assumed the victory formation. Dennis was not perfect on Sunday, missing a tackle and four receptions for 38 yards, but his game-sealing pass breakup, along with his team-leading 11 tackles, were essential to Tampa Bay coming out with a narrow win.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Studs and duds from the Bucs' Week 13 win over the Cardinals