The Buccaneers have put the league on notice. Short-handed, banged up, on the road in a hostile environment - none of it mattered. A complete team win in Detroit to upset the Lions and the Bucs are starting to get a little bit of the credit they deserve.
Let’s Pick Six.
1.) Signature Win For Todd Bowles. This might have been the biggest win of Todd Bowles’ coaching career. Facing a quarterback that he’s never really been able to figure out, against a team he hasn’t been able to beat - and it was without Antoine Winfield Jr., Calijah Kancey, and losing Vita Vea halfway through. Bowles had this defense ready to play and the “next man up” mentality was taken very seriously by all of the players that set foot on the field. They gave up yards - tons of yards - but the red zone defense was on another level. 1-for-7 for the Lions in the red zone on Sunday, 7-for-17 on third down, and this Bucs defense won the turnover battle for the first time in three games against this Lions team. In a game that could determine where a playoff rematch will take place, Bowles was at his absolute best - and had his defense at theirs.
2.) Chris Godwin Is Going To Cost A Lot Of Money. Through the first two weeks of the season, Chris Godwin has the second most yards in the league, the second most receptions in the league, the fifth most yards after catch, the most receptions for a first down, and he’s done it on the seventeenth most targets. Godwin reached his 2023 touchdown total in two games. He’s been absolutely phenomenal. Only one of his targets this season hasn’t been completed. We knew coming into the year that he was going to be playing the 2021 Cooper Kupp role in Liam Coen’s offense, but I’m not sure anyone thought it would start off this well. On top of that, Godwin is in a contract year and he’s raising his price every single week that he keeps dominating the opposition. There isn’t a slot corner in the league that can stop him and he’s going to eat defenses up all season long.
3.) Zyon’s Coming Out Party. A lot of people questioned the Buccaneers’ decision to trade away Carlton Davis and announce that McCollum would be the starter this season. He had a solid first game until he left with a concussion, then went through the week unsure of whether or not he would play. After being cleared on Saturday, McCollum stole the show on Sunday. His first career interception on the first offensive play for Detroit, shutting down Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams when lined up across from them, four passes defensed, and he allowed just four yards on one reception when targeted on Sunday. Performances like this one are why Jason Licht and Todd Bowles had so much confidence in him coming into the season and felt good enough to trade Davis away. McCollum was one of the best corners in the NFL in week two in yards allowed per snap and quarterback rating when targeted. Davis, on the other hand, was one of the worst.
4.) Guess It Wasn’t Dave After All. Baker Mayfield is good at football. Most of us knew that already, but there’s still a contingent that believes that Mayfield’s success last year should be credited to everyone but him. They point to Mike Evans, they crown Dave Canales as the quarterback genius that revived Mayfield’s career which is why he got a head coaching job. Well, Mayfield let that chip on his shoulder grow a little bigger and he’s out to prove those people wrong - and he’s succeeding. Through two weeks, Mayfield is top ten in yards and completion percentage while being second in touchdowns, yards per pass average, and quarterback rating. Meanwhile, the quarterback genius Canales - who was hired to fix Bryce Young - has benched Bryce Young and is rolling with Andy Dalton in Carolina. Maybe it’s time for people to start saying Mayfield is the reason Canales got a head coaching job rather than Canales being the one to save Mayfield’s career. Just a thought.
5.) These Injuries Are Becoming Too Much. First it was Kancey and Logan Hall. Then it was Bryce Hall, McCollum, Josh Hayes, and Antoine. Then they get McCollum back, but lose Luke Goedeke and then Vita Vea. Maybe the Bucs are just getting all their injuries out of the way before the bye week, but come on - give these guys a break. The defense is being held together by duct tape and prayers and they’re still getting the job done. Baker Mayfield was nearly killed by Aiden Hutchinson on Sunday without Goedeke on the field, but he was still getting the job done. I’m just asking whatever higher power it is that’s controlling all of these injuries to ease up a bit. There’s players dropping like flies all over the league, but the Bucs deserve a little bit of a break here.
6.) Not Panicking Over The Run Game Quite Yet. These first two matchups were not great for the Bucs in terms of being able to run the ball. Two incredibly strong run defenses to open the season was not going to lend itself to huge production in the run game right out of the gate. Against Detroit, Rachaad White averaged less than two yards a carry - but there was really only one play where he could have picked up a chunk of yards by bouncing outside. Other than that, the Lions were in the backfield by time White was getting the ball and he stood absolutely no chance. That’s not on Rachaad. They did the same thing to Bucky. Mayfield was the only one that found success running the football but only eleven of his 34 yards were designed runs. This is an offensive line problem that was exacerbated by Godeke’s absence. Coen needs to figure out how to clear the way for these running backs so they can get into the second level and start to make plays. Or, get them involved in the passing game. One target for Rachaad on Sunday is not enough when you know what he can do once he starts to get the ball in space. Bucs have a couple of positive matchups coming up over the next few weeks in terms of run defenses. If they still can’t get things going, then it’ll be time to worry.
49 - Wins by the Bucs since 2020 - third most in the NFL and most in the NFC
50 - Games of 5+ targets and 50+ yards for Godwin since 2019 - fourth most in the NFL
83.9 - Percent of kicks made from 50+ yards by Chase McLaughlin - best in the NFL all time
10 - Godwin’s rank in receiving yards per game since 2019 with 74.6
183 - Games started by Lavonte David, now tied for third all-time in franchise history
14.3% - Lions’ red zone efficiency, leading to their third fewest points scored since the start of the 2023 season
1.) Kansas City Chiefs - To be the man, you gotta beat the man (and Bengals fans can stop crying, now. That was defensive pass interference)
2.) Buffalo Bills - Look as good as ever, even without all their receivers from last year
3.) San Francisco 49ers - Don’t overreact to the loss in week two. They’re still the team to beat in the NFC and they’ll get Christian McCaffrey back
4.) Green Bay Packers - Winning without Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs is a monster, and that defense is really good
5.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Why not?! The Lions were up there with the Niners as the team to beat and the Bucs did it in their house down five starters
6.) New Orleans Saints - I…I don’t understand what’s happening here. How are they on an all time record pace for points scored? Just…what is happening?
The Buccaneers have put the league on notice. Short-handed, banged up, on the road in a hostile environment - none of it mattered. A complete team win in Detroit to upset the Lions and the Bucs are starting to get a little bit of the credit they deserve.
Let’s Pick Six.
1.) Signature Win For Todd Bowles. This might have been the biggest win of Todd Bowles’ coaching career. Facing a quarterback that he’s never really been able to figure out, against a team he hasn’t been able to beat - and it was without Antoine Winfield Jr., Calijah Kancey, and losing Vita Vea halfway through. Bowles had this defense ready to play and the “next man up” mentality was taken very seriously by all of the players that set foot on the field. They gave up yards - tons of yards - but the red zone defense was on another level. 1-for-7 for the Lions in the red zone on Sunday, 7-for-17 on third down, and this Bucs defense won the turnover battle for the first time in three games against this Lions team. In a game that could determine where a playoff rematch will take place, Bowles was at his absolute best - and had his defense at theirs.
2.) Chris Godwin Is Going To Cost A Lot Of Money. Through the first two weeks of the season, Chris Godwin has the second most yards in the league, the second most receptions in the league, the fifth most yards after catch, the most receptions for a first down, and he’s done it on the seventeenth most targets. Godwin reached his 2023 touchdown total in two games. He’s been absolutely phenomenal. Only one of his targets this season hasn’t been completed. We knew coming into the year that he was going to be playing the 2021 Cooper Kupp role in Liam Coen’s offense, but I’m not sure anyone thought it would start off this well. On top of that, Godwin is in a contract year and he’s raising his price every single week that he keeps dominating the opposition. There isn’t a slot corner in the league that can stop him and he’s going to eat defenses up all season long.
3.) Zyon’s Coming Out Party. A lot of people questioned the Buccaneers’ decision to trade away Carlton Davis and announce that McCollum would be the starter this season. He had a solid first game until he left with a concussion, then went through the week unsure of whether or not he would play. After being cleared on Saturday, McCollum stole the show on Sunday. His first career interception on the first offensive play for Detroit, shutting down Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams when lined up across from them, four passes defensed, and he allowed just four yards on one reception when targeted on Sunday. Performances like this one are why Jason Licht and Todd Bowles had so much confidence in him coming into the season and felt good enough to trade Davis away. McCollum was one of the best corners in the NFL in week two in yards allowed per snap and quarterback rating when targeted. Davis, on the other hand, was one of the worst.
4.) Guess It Wasn’t Dave After All. Baker Mayfield is good at football. Most of us knew that already, but there’s still a contingent that believes that Mayfield’s success last year should be credited to everyone but him. They point to Mike Evans, they crown Dave Canales as the quarterback genius that revived Mayfield’s career which is why he got a head coaching job. Well, Mayfield let that chip on his shoulder grow a little bigger and he’s out to prove those people wrong - and he’s succeeding. Through two weeks, Mayfield is top ten in yards and completion percentage while being second in touchdowns, yards per pass average, and quarterback rating. Meanwhile, the quarterback genius Canales - who was hired to fix Bryce Young - has benched Bryce Young and is rolling with Andy Dalton in Carolina. Maybe it’s time for people to start saying Mayfield is the reason Canales got a head coaching job rather than Canales being the one to save Mayfield’s career. Just a thought.
5.) These Injuries Are Becoming Too Much. First it was Kancey and Logan Hall. Then it was Bryce Hall, McCollum, Josh Hayes, and Antoine. Then they get McCollum back, but lose Luke Goedeke and then Vita Vea. Maybe the Bucs are just getting all their injuries out of the way before the bye week, but come on - give these guys a break. The defense is being held together by duct tape and prayers and they’re still getting the job done. Baker Mayfield was nearly killed by Aiden Hutchinson on Sunday without Goedeke on the field, but he was still getting the job done. I’m just asking whatever higher power it is that’s controlling all of these injuries to ease up a bit. There’s players dropping like flies all over the league, but the Bucs deserve a little bit of a break here.
6.) Not Panicking Over The Run Game Quite Yet. These first two matchups were not great for the Bucs in terms of being able to run the ball. Two incredibly strong run defenses to open the season was not going to lend itself to huge production in the run game right out of the gate. Against Detroit, Rachaad White averaged less than two yards a carry - but there was really only one play where he could have picked up a chunk of yards by bouncing outside. Other than that, the Lions were in the backfield by time White was getting the ball and he stood absolutely no chance. That’s not on Rachaad. They did the same thing to Bucky. Mayfield was the only one that found success running the football but only eleven of his 34 yards were designed runs. This is an offensive line problem that was exacerbated by Godeke’s absence. Coen needs to figure out how to clear the way for these running backs so they can get into the second level and start to make plays. Or, get them involved in the passing game. One target for Rachaad on Sunday is not enough when you know what he can do once he starts to get the ball in space. Bucs have a couple of positive matchups coming up over the next few weeks in terms of run defenses. If they still can’t get things going, then it’ll be time to worry.
49 - Wins by the Bucs since 2020 - third most in the NFL and most in the NFC
50 - Games of 5+ targets and 50+ yards for Godwin since 2019 - fourth most in the NFL
83.9 - Percent of kicks made from 50+ yards by Chase McLaughlin - best in the NFL all time
10 - Godwin’s rank in receiving yards per game since 2019 with 74.6
183 - Games started by Lavonte David, now tied for third all-time in franchise history
14.3% - Lions’ red zone efficiency, leading to their third fewest points scored since the start of the 2023 season
1.) Kansas City Chiefs - To be the man, you gotta beat the man (and Bengals fans can stop crying, now. That was defensive pass interference)
2.) Buffalo Bills - Look as good as ever, even without all their receivers from last year
3.) San Francisco 49ers - Don’t overreact to the loss in week two. They’re still the team to beat in the NFC and they’ll get Christian McCaffrey back
4.) Green Bay Packers - Winning without Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs is a monster, and that defense is really good
5.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Why not?! The Lions were up there with the Niners as the team to beat and the Bucs did it in their house down five starters
6.) New Orleans Saints - I…I don’t understand what’s happening here. How are they on an all time record pace for points scored? Just…what is happening?
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