Who were the winners and losers from the Buccaneers game against the Saints?
Tampa BayBuccaneers24
New OrleansSaints31
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Welp. That is not what we hoped for from the Buccaneers today. The loss to New Orleans makes two in a row and the playoffs are going to be a lot tougher. It will take two losses by the Lions and one by the Redskins in addition to a Bucs win next week.
It’s never easy when you don’t control your own destiny.
Fact of the matter is that when you turn the ball over in this league, you aren’t going to win. The Saints won the turnover battle and they won the war. To their credit, the Bucs stayed in the ball game and fought back hard.
In the end, it wasn’t enough and they fell to 8-7 with a game against the Panthers at RayJay to finish out the 2016 campaign.
Let’s get to the winners and losers report.
Dec 4, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Jacquizz Rodgers (32) runs the ball during the second half against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Tampa Bay won 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Winner: Jacquizz Rodgers
Everyone was surprised in the pre-game when it was announced that Doug Martin was a healthy scratch. It has been a tough year for Doug, as he has been injured and ineffective for most of the season. With Martin out it meant that Dirk Koetter was going with Jacquizz Rodgers as the guy to get the majority of the carries, with Charles Sims serving his change of pace role.
Rodgers did not disappoint. The Bucs were playing from behind for most of the day, so the running attack was limited. However, on 15 carries Rodgers posted 63 yards and looked more explosive than any back the Bucs have sported all year long. He added two receptions for 15 yards, proving to be the right call.
Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) runs a route against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Winner: Mike Evans
We have been saying on the pages of this website for a long time that Mike Evans doesn’t get the respect he deserves. He is an elite receiver and deserves the national recognition as such. He once again performed to his star ability against the Saints.
Evans led the Bucs with five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown was a physical play made while jostling with the defensive back. Evans used every bit of his 6’5″ frame to make the play and put up six points for this team. He also showed his toughness, coming back into the game with a bandaged foot, making plays after his return
Evans is going to be a star in this league for a long time.
Dec 24, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) gestures after a third quarter touchdown against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Loser: Jameis Winston
Winston is an athletic quarterback that has all the tools. The throws he can make prove that to all of us. He has the ability to make plays with his legs and buy himself extra time in the pocket to make some wonderful plays. Don’t get me wrong, the Bucs have a franchise quarterback to take this team ahead for a decade.
But his decisions have to be better. His pocket awareness is weak, at times. He threw two more interceptions against the Saints and put his team in a bad position. The quarterback’s job is to take care of the football and put the team in a position to win. Winston has his moments where he doesn’t do that. He’s athletic and as tough as nails. He keeps fighting to the very end. But he has to get better, and his play earned him a spot on the loser board.
Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Brent Grimes (24) celebrates withTampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Keith Tandy (37) he after intercepted a pass to seal the win against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-11. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Losers: The Defensive Backs
The entire group makes the list in this one.
By all means, the defense was bad on several fronts. But, the pass defense was non-existent. There were some decent plays, particularly by Vernon Hargreaves and Brent Grimes. But everybody knows that the Saints throw the ball all over the stadium when they are at home. It’s been the same story since Drew Brees walked into the building.
And the Bucs couldn’t stop it.
The Saints had two receivers nearly post 100 yards, with Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas posting 98 yards each. Hargreaves showboating on one play not withstanding, he got torched most of the day. The safeties were late on multiple plays. It was a bad day for that group as a whole.
Back to work against Carolina next week to close things out.
