By james art Seven 7 in the NFL was a disaster for the Tampa Bay Bucs, losing their two best pass catchers within 60 minutes. All-Pro WR Mike Evans left with a hamstring injury. He is expected to be absent until the farewell. Pro Bowl receiver Chris Godwin left that game on the final drive with a sprained ankle. He will be out for the season.
Tampa played the Falcons for the second time this week, hoping for a different result than the previous 36-33 loss to TNF. Although the result was different, the result was the same. Tampa was unable to overcome self-inflicted mistakes and injuries, resulting in a 31-26 loss.
#1 – Bucs use a lot more RBs
After the injuries, Tampa was forced to play on the ground. The Bucs are using 11 personnel, the fifth-most in the NFL, at 64.5 percent, 12.1 percent more than the league average.
With the loss of Evans and Godwin, Tampa’s three RBs have taken on a bigger role. The trio of Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker gained 76 yards on 17 carries Sunday. The group’s biggest position contribution came in the air. The running backs totaled 90 yards on 13 receptions and a touchdown. Irving (40 yards) and White (38 yards) were the Bucs’ third and fourth receivers, respectively.
The rise in production is apparently by design. In Weeks 1-7, Tampa’s running backs averaged 68.42 snaps per game. This week against the Falcons, the trio combined for 78 snaps, 39 of which were lined up as a receiver.
The Bucs vs. Falcons live score is out. The RB split on Sunday was Rachaad White 41 shots, Bucky Irving 31, Sean Tucker 7. JTS played 39 shots without a game. pic.twitter.com/c5Gk58v1Eg
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) October 28, 2024
#2 – TE Cade Otton is rising
Cade Otten had a career-high 9 catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns. The TE stepped up, playing 68 snaps, the seventh most on the team and the most by someone not on the O-line or named Baker Mayfield.
Otten has the seventh-most yards and third-most targets by a TE this season and is behind Godwin in receptions and yards for the Bucs this season. The third-year pass catcher will need to continue to be a big part of Tampa’s scheme if the Bucs want to make a playoff push.
Happy #NationalTightEndsDay to @CadeOtton and his fantasy managers! pic.twitter.com/xUwGAnwTfE
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 27, 2024
#3 – Tampa’s defense has become a liability
Once a fearsome unit, Tampa’s defense has recently declined due to injury and a reliance on young players. The Bucs defense has been woeful this season, allowing the fourth-most points per game (26.6), the second-most yards per game (387) and the third-most yards per game (6.0).
“It starts with coaching. It starts with me,” head coach Todd Bowles said. “It starts with the defensive coaches and it starts with the players. We have to play better. We have to fix it. No one is coming to save us. We have to do a hell of a lot better job than we are now, and that starts with me.”
Even with the offense changing to make up for the loss of Evans and Godwin, Tampa won’t win games until the defense starts playing better.
Tampa Bay (4-4) now has a long week to figure out its mishaps before facing the Chiefs (7-0) on Monday Night Football.