TAMPA -- In the biggest moment of a game against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, the Bucs trusted Ryan Miller to make the biggest play.
Needing a touchdown and extra point to send the game to overtime Monday night, Miller lined up on the right side and pretended to block down on Chiefs defensive back Trent McDuffie. Following a play-action fake, quarterback Baker Mayfield threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Miller in the flat.
What did it say that the Bucs had so much confidence in the 24-year-old undrafted free agent from Furman who had only four career receptions before scoring his first NFL touchdown?
"It shows we didn't think they would cover him," coach Todd Bowles said, laughing. "I think he's on the scouting report now, so we can't hide him anymore. He does all the right things, and he made a good play."
At 6-feet-2, 221 pounds, Miller is a converted tight end who moved to receiver late in his college career.
"For me, I think my junior year of college, we brought in a new coach," Miller said. "He was more receiver-minded, I guess, and helped me my last year of college develop."
Miller signed with the Bucs in 2023 and spent most of the season on the practice squad. He was elevated for the Week 13 game against the Panthers, when he made his NFL debut. He again started this season on the practice squad before being elevated for the Oct. 13 game against the Saints in New Orleans.
Miller's versatility set him apart from others trying to earn a spot in the crowded receiver room.
"My role in this offense is to understand every single (receiver) position: X, Z and F," Miller said. "I'm a plug-and-play player. I can do whatever. I pride myself on blocking, too. That's a big part of my game as well."
The Bucs entered Monday's game without their three top receivers. Chris Godwin is out for the season with a dislocated ankle. Mike Evans is not expected to return from a hamstring injury until after the bye week. Third-round pick Jalen McMillan was sidelined by a hamstring strain.
The Bucs have gotten big contributions from other receivers, including Sterling Shepard, Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett. Miller's emergence was welcome but unexpected.
"It's been a grind for him," Bowles said. "Not only that, he was a tight end in college. This wideout stuff is new for him. He's a worker. He's probably not the fastest, probably not the quickest, but he's one of the toughest. He understands every position, he plays the game the right way, he's always in the right spot, he has outstanding hands. The game is never too big for him."
Credit Mayfield for trusting his new receivers and continuing an outstanding season in which he leads the NFL with 23 touchdown passes. He developed some chemistry with Palmer a year ago and was teammates with Shepard at Oklahoma. But he had limited reps with Miller, who typically works on the scout team.
"He's another guy that's doing everything we ask of him," Mayfield said. "He's doing the right thing, he's doing it on time. I talked to him about it after the game, but he's a guy that last year (was) sitting behind on the (practice) squad the whole year, really trying to learn and grow physically as well.
"But he's taking advantage of his opportunities, and that's what it's about. You never know when your opportunity is going to come, and he's taken full advantage of it. That's credit to him of being locked in mentally, getting his body right and being ready to play."
Miller said the play on which he made his touchdown catch worked often in practice due to the play-action run fake at the 1-yard line that defenses must honor.
"I think we worked on it quite a bit, and I think if they studied me they know I'm really good at blocking," Miller said. "I think they thought we were going to run the ball, and that's how we got them."
Miller was pleasantly surprised the Bucs didn't add a receiver to the roster before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.
"They could've gone out and gotten anybody, but they chose to elevate me," he said, "and that showed they have a lot of trust in me."
After the game, Miller received more than 100 text messages and calls. His parents, who have missed only two games in his football career, were in the seats at Arrowhead Stadium.
"Man, they're so proud," Miller said. "My parents are super supportive. My brother, (Keith), we're like complete opposites. He does, like, shows and he wants to be on Broadway and stuff, and they try to go to as much of his stuff as they can (too)."
Being undrafted and buried on the practice squad is a tough way to make it in the NFL. But the touchdown catch Monday night is why Miller never let go of his dream. Why did he stick with it?
"For exactly this moment right here," he said. "I'm on the 53-man roster. That was a goal of mine. Obviously, I didn't achieve that last year. It takes guys years to do it. So, I'm just grateful for this opportunity to be in the spot I'm in now."
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