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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost their fourth game of the season in excruciating fashion, falling in overtime to the Oakland Raiders, who set an all-time NFL record for number of penalties accepted in a game.
Both side seemed to be so preoccupied with handing the game to the other team, that they couldn’t be bothered to pick up the win even when it was right in front of them. Still, somehow, the Raiders ended up on top after a couple of missed tackles led to a long overtime touchdown. Oops.
With the loss and a dismal performance, especially on offense, the Bucs had plenty of poor performances, and a few good ones. Let’s talk losers and winners.
Losers
QB Jameis Winston
Winston completed just 16 of 32 passes for a measly 180 yards. He did, however, have two touchdowns and no turnovers, and was sacked just twice. He also had three runs for 16 yards. Those are still miserable numbers against any team, but especially against one of the worst defenses in the league.
For once, Winston’s struggles did not come at the beginning of the game, as he actually played well early on. He was just inaccurate and after the team’s first touchdown. In fact, he threw for just 89 yards after the team’s first touchdown drive early in the second quarter. That’s 89 passing yards in almost three full quarters, plus overtime. Ew.
Mike Evans
Here’s what Evans said after the game, on the team’s final three possessions, all three-and-outs:
“Two of them were my fault. [Quarterback] Jameis [Winston] threw me great balls on third down and I didn’t make the play that I could make easily and I didn’t make those, so that’s on me.”
Which is correct. Evans has been very good this season, but this was easily his worst game. Four catches for 50 yards, a two-point conversion, and a few drops and/or catches that should have been made but weren’t make for a bad game, especially by the standard Evans has set this season.
Dirk Koetter
Still no home win for the Bucs’ head coach, and that despite being gifted an NFL-record 23 penalties by the most undisciplined opponent I have ever seen. Koetter couldn’t get the Bucs offense going, seemed to go conservative when he had chances to put the game away (though that may have just been offensive incompetence, too), and
CB Vernon Hargreaves
Amari Cooper is a tough matchup for any cornerback, and Vernon Hargreaves is an undersized rookie to boot — this was never going to look great. And Hargreaves even made a few plays early on in the game. In the end, though, Cooper beat him over and over again, and Crabtree got a few catches on Hargreaves as well. Carr threw for 513 yards in total, so that really tells you all you need to know about the secondary in general.
Winners
WR Russell Shepard
I’m still not sure as to why Cecil Shorts is getting more playing time than him. Shepard had two catches for 24 yards and a touchdown — not a dominant performance by any means, but he continues to outperform Shorts at every step. Slot receiver Adam Humphries also had a good day, with a 42-yard catch-and-run to set the Bucs up for their second touchdown as one of the most important plays on the day.
DE Noah Spence
Spence got his third sack of the season, forcing a fumble in the process. That’s pretty good, and the move looked really solid as well.
Noah Spence with the sack fumble. Look how violent his hands were on that right tackle. No chance. pic.twitter.com/Im07SD3pzh
— Trevor Sikkema (@TrevorSikkema) October 30, 2016
I would have liked to have seen more consistent pressure, but it’s good to see Spence progressing as a pass-rusher.