Winston looks at a losing scoreboard./CARMEN MANDATO
Tuesday, 3 a.m.
5 Observations
For all the talk about Jameis Winston, the thrower, the last two games would be enticing to any coach. Winston has his 48 of his last 62 passes for 666 yards, a rating of 132.9. It's enough to restore faith in his future, especially when you consider that Winston has played in one game -- Arizona -- in which he wasn't sacked. He was hurt in that game.
Winston, the ball-handler, still has work to do. He fumbled three times against Carolina, essentially costing his team the game.
The Bucs created a bit of unease when Doug Martin, the invisible man, carried on the last two attempts for the team. Martin has had a dreadful season, and added only seven yards on six carries Sunday. One question: Why is a back who can't run the ball, doesn't catch it and doesn't help on special teams still active.
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Evans’ numbers are significantly off./CARMEN MANDATO
Even if the Bucs split their seven one-score games, they'd be all the way up to mediocre.
If there has been a victim to trying to get DeSean Jackson into the offense, it's been Mike Evans, whose numbers are drastically down. Sunday, Evans had his first 100-yard game of the season (he had four last year, six of more than 97 yards). He had six catches. He hasn't had seven since Buffalo, nine games ago.
Koetter needs to be better in the red zone./CARMEN MANDATO
5 of the Best Takes
Leave it to the Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton to take something ugly and turn it into something memorable. And yes, cute. The Panthers’ most important player saved an ugly day against a bad Tampa Bay team, but not before first adding more drama to the Christmas Eve. Newton fumbled a shotgun snap, picked up the loose ball and surged into the end zone for a game-winning, 2-yard touchdown run on his son’s second birthday Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.
— Joseph Person, Charlotte Observer
The Carolina Panthers’ playoff berth hinged on a single yard – that much was clear. But whether or not running back Jonathan Stewart got that yard ... well, that’s up for interpretation. After a neutral-zone infraction penalty turned that fourth-and-3 into fourth-and-1, the Panthers needed just a single yard to keep everything – the drive, their chance at winning the game, and a playoff berth – on track. Carolina handed off to Stewart, who plowed into the middle of a pile. According to the referees, who gave Stewart the first down, he got that yard. But Tampa Bay’s defensive line, the ones who swallowed Stewart up, didn’t agree.
— Brendan Marks, Charlotte Observer
First, Jameis Winston lost a fumble. Then the Buccaneers quarterback lost his composure, and his mind. In fairness, Winston thought he had regained the football and that officials erred in awarding possession to the Panthers, a pivotal late-game moment in Tampa Bay’s 22-19 loss Sunday to Carolina. Still, such an angry display will likely bring admonitions from his team, if not the NFL, to do a better job of containing his emotions. Winston was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his initial reaction, and that was before he stormed back onto the field from the sideline, appearing to shove a Buccaneers or stadium employee out of the way in the process. He did make a point of approaching referee Jerome Boger when the game ended, shaking the official’s hand.
— Des Biesler, Washington Post
Jameis Winston really lost his cool at the end of this one. After being sacked by Kawann Short on a last-gasp drive, Winston lost the ball on a fumble to Julius Peppers to that put the game away. Winston was livid with the call, yelling at officials as he was held back by teammates. He continued to yell on the sideline and had to be restrained by coaches and players from running onto the field. After the game, TV cameras showed him apologizing to referee Jerome Boger. It remains to be seen if he'll face any discipline for his outburst, which resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Up until letting his emotions get the better of him, Winston was the primary reason why the Buccaneers (4-11) nearly pulled off the upset. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 367 yards and a touchdown. It's too bad he was sacked six times and the Buccaneers lost three fumbles against Carolina -- otherwise they might have won.
— Austin Knobloch, nfl.com
Luke Kuechly did something rarely seen by a linebacker – tackle a wide receiver 70 yards down field to prevent a touchdown. If not for Luke’s “never give up” effort, Godwin would have scored. Instead, Kuechly brought him down at the 10 yard line. The Buccaneers’ drive stalled from there and they had to settle for a field goal to tie the game 6-6 instead of taking an early 10-6 lead. Great effort by Luke.
— Mick Smiley, CatScratchReader.com
Koetter's four-win season is better than Morris'./CARMEN MANDATO
5 Years Ago
2012 2017
4-12 Record 4-11
Morris Coach Koetter
27 Offense 11
32 Defense 31
0-10 Streak 0-5
David makes one of his 11 tackles./CARMEN MANDATO
Game Burns
Offense: Mike Evans had his best day of the season, catching six passes for 107 yards.
Defense: Lavonte David had another strong day with 11 tackles for the Bucs.
Special teams: Bryan Anger punted only once, for 50 yards. It didn't take much to lead the special teams on Sunday
McCoy reflects on another lost afternoon./CARMEN MANDATO
Buc Pro Bowlers
Gerald McCoy 4 tackles, including a sack and two quarterback hits.
Lavonte David (second alternate) 11 tackles, 3 of them solos
Kwon Alexander (third alternate) 8 tackles, 1 interception
Cameron Brate (third alternate) 3 catches, 13 yards.
Winston slides after a short gain./CARMEN MANDATO
5 Quarterbacks
Quarterback Record TDS. Rating
Jameis Winston. 17-27 68 88.1
Josh Freeman 24-35 80 78.8
Trent Dilfer 38-38 70 69.4
Vinny Teastaverde 24-48 77 64.4
Doug Williams 33-33-2 73 66.2
Might Gruden rejoin the Bucs?/JEFFREY S. KING
5 Thoughts
If the Bucs get any worse close to the goal, they’re going to rename it “the Dead Zone.”
Jon Gruden woke up this morning and decided to ask for more money.
Can the Bucs get four No. 1 draft picks.
Sunday’s game showed a major flaw in the quarterback ratings formula, which doesn’t consider fumbles. It also doesn’t consider weather, comebacks, injuries, running or red zone efficiency. Or winning.
The Bucs are in this mess because they need offensive linemen, runners and corners. Primarily, the need defensive ends. Maybe two of them.
Evans fights to make a catch for Bucs./CARMEN MANDATO
Comparing Mike Evans
(Through 15 Games)
2016 2017
162 Targets 123
91 Catches 66
1256 Yards 946
11 TDs 5
13.8 Per Catch 14.3
Comparing Adam Humphries
70 Targets 72
45 Catches 54
528 Yards 529
2 TDs 1
11.7 Per Catch 9.8
Barber led the Bucs in rushing once again./CARMEN MANDATO
Comparing RBs
Martin Barber
8 Starts 3
135 Attempts 91
409 Yards 352
3 TDs 2
3.0 Ave. 3.9
Ward makes a tackle on McCaffrey./CARMEN MANDATO
Grades
Quarterback: When he threw the ball, Winston was sharp. But he had three fumbles and couldn’t lead the team to the end zone often enoughGrade: B-.
Wide Receivers: Evans is a star, and Godwin may be one soon. Grade: A.
Offensive line: Gave up six sacks and had 51 yards on the ground. Grade: D.
Defensive line. Two sacks, but gave up a crucial fourth and inches. Grade: B.
Linebackers: Once more, the best part of the defense. Grade: B-plus.
Secondary: A rare day with no touchdowns surrendered. Grade: B-minus.
Coaching: Koetter deserves a bit of credit for the Bucs playing hard, which is like a gold star on a failing exam. Grade: D.
Murray has missed two two kicks in two weeks./CARMEN MANDATO
5 Goats
1. New England: Nick Folk missed a 31-yard field goal late.
2. Carolina: Chris Baker jumps offsides on fourth and three.
3. Buffalo: With the score tied at 27, Adam Humphries fumbles after an eight yard catch to set up the Bills’ winning field goal.
4. Green Bay: Another Jameis Winston fumble, this one returned for a touchdown by Dean Lowery.
5. Atlanta: Patrick Murray missed a 54-yard field goal that would have forced overtime.
Alexander had a solid day for Tampa Bay./CARMEN MANDATO
Leading Bucs Tacklers
Player NFL Rank Tackles
1. Lavonte David 22 95
2. Kwon Alexander 37 86
3. Chris Conte 72 74
4. Kendell Beckwith 91 70
5. Justin Evans 110 66
Newton seals the game with a touchdown./CARMEN MANDATO
5 Positions of Need
1.Defensive end
2. Running Back
3. Offensive lineman
4. Cornerback
5. Kicker
5 Mock Drafts
1. Bleacher Report 4 Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State
2. SEC Country 6 Bradley Chubb, DE N.C. State
3. Tankathon 4 Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Alabama
4. CBSsports.com 7 Chubb
5. NFLdraftgeek.com 7 Arden Key, LSU
McCoy enjoyed the effort against Carolina./CARMEN MANDATO
NFL Bottom 5
1. Cleveland
2. New York Giants
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Tampa Bay Bucs
5. Houston Texans
Winston makes a face on the Bucs' bench./CARMEN MANDATO
Bucs' Penalty Leaders
Player Penalties Yards
1. Donovan Smith 8 70
2. J.R. Sweezy 6 45
3. Demar Dotson 6 42
4. Jameis Winston 6 34
5. William Gholson 5 34
Brees has been tough on Bucs./JEFFREY S. KING
Looking Ahead
5 Greatest Saints
1. Drew Brees
2. Rickey Jackson
3. Willie Roaf
4. Archie Manning
5. Morten Andersen
Alstott was big against the Saints./JEFFREY S. KING
5 Favorite Saints
1. Danny Abramowicz
2. Tom Dempsey
3. Joe Horne
4. Doug Atkins
5. Paul (the apostle)
5 Good Games by Bucs vs. Saints
1. 2007. Luke McCown won the game with a four-yard touchdown pass to Jerramy Stevens with 14 seconds to play. For the day, McCown hit 19 of 37 for 313 yards.
2. 2011. Josh Freeman had a big day, hitting 23 of 49 passes for 303 yards and two scores.
3. 1999. Mike Alstott ran the ball 25 times for 117 yards.
4. 2011. Earnest Graham ran 17 times for 109 yards.
5. 1989. Mark Carrier caught five passes for 120 yards in a win.
Best Game
Can there be any other than the Bucs' first victory ever back in 1977, a 33-14 win that left Saints coach Hank Stram talking about how embarrassed he was? It came after 26 straight losses.
"I can't wait to get into the dressing room so I can cry," said linebacker Richard (Batman) Wood. "A grown man ought not to cry out here in front of these people."
The Bucs returned three interceptions for touchdowns and had six for the day. Lee Roy Selmon had three sacks.
Gary Huff got the win for the Bucs. He was Tampa Bay's sixth starting quarterback in two seasons.
Ryan Russell and the Bucs' defense finally had teeth./CARMEN MANDATO
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