Notes and highlights from the Bucs’ 27-21 victory over the Eagles

FITZMAGIC

- QB Ryan Fitzpatrick finished today’s game going 27-of-33 (81.8 pct.) for 402 yards and four touchdowns with a passer rating of 144.4.

- Fitzpatrick, who threw four touchdowns in Week 1 against New Orleans, is just the third player in NFL history to throw at least four touchdowns in each of his team’s first two games of the season, joining Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (2018) and New England’s Drew Bledsoe (1997).

- Fitzpatrick joins New England’s Tom Brady (2011) and Carolina’s Cam Newton (2011) as the only players in NFL history to record at least 400 passing yards in each the first two games of the season.

- Fitzpatrick is the third player since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger to record consecutive games with 400 yards passing and four touchdowns, joining Miami’s Dan Marino (12/2/84 vs. L.A. Raiders-12/9/84 at Indianapolis) Tennessee’s Billy Volek(12/13/04 vs. Kansas City-12/19/04 at Oakland). He is the first player since the merger to do so in the first two games of the season.

- Fitzpatrick has four touchdown passes of 50+ yards through the first two games of the season, tying N.Y. Jets QB Joe Namath(1972) for the most 50+ yard touchdown passes through the first two games of the season in NFL history.

- Fitzpatrick is the first player in the NFL to post consecutive games with a passer rating of 140 or higher since 2015 (Seattle’s Russell Wilson, 11/29/15 vs. PIT-12/6/15 at MIN). He is the first player in Buccaneers history to do so.

- Fitzpatrick is the 10th player since 1950 to record eight or more passing touchdowns through the first two games of the season, joining Patrick Mahomes (10 - Kansas City, 2018), Drew Brees(9 - New Orleans, 2009), Charley Johnson (9 - St. Louis Cardinals, 1965), Peyton Manning (9 - Denver, 2013) Drew Bledsoe (8 - New England, 1997), Lynn Dickey (8 - Green Bay, 1983), Jim Kelly (8 - Buffalo, 1991), Dave Krieg (8 - Seattle, 1985), and Carson Palmer (Cincinnati, 2007).

- Fitzpatrick is the eighth player since 1950 to record at least 800 passing yards through the first two games of the season, joining Tom Brady (940 - New England, 2011), Cam Newton (854 - Carolina, 2011), Kurt Warner (827 - St. Louis Rams, 2000), Frank Tripucka (823 - Denver, 1962), Aaron Rodgers (813 - Green Bay, 2013), Eli Manning (812 – New York Giants, 2013) and Drew Bledsoe (801 - New England, 1994)

- Fitzpatrick’s 402 yards passing mark just the seventh time in franchise history that a player has thrown for at least 400 yards in a single game. He is the only player in franchise history to accomplish the feat twice.

400-YARD PASSING GAMES (Single Game – Team History)

1. Doug Williams at Minnesota, 11/16/80 486

2. Vinny Testaverde at Indianapolis, 10/16/88 469

3. Josh Freeman vs. New Orleans, 10/21/12 420

4. Ryan Fitzpatrick at New Orleans, 9/9/18 417

5. Brian Griese at Chicago, 9/21/08 407

6. Jameis Winston vs. L.A. Rams, 9/25/16 405

7. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Philadelphia, 9/16/18 402

- Fitzpatrick’s passer rating of 144.4 is the seventh-highest single-game mark in team history (min. 20 attempts).

HIGHEST PASSER RATING (Single Game – Team History, Min. 20 Att.)

1. Craig Erickson vs. Indianapolis, 9/11/94 158.3

2. Ryan Fitzpatrick at New Orleans, 9/9/18 156.2

3. Trent Dilfer at New Orleans, 11/7/99 151.5

4. Brad Johnson vs. Minnesota, 11/3/02 148.3

5. Shaun King vs. Minnesota, 10/29/00 148.0

6. Vinny Testaverde vs. Green Bay, 9/13/92 145.4

7. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Philadelphia, 9/16/18 144.4

8. Josh Freeman vs. Seattle, 12/26/10 144.2

9. Brad Johnson vs. Atlanta, 12/8/02 140.6

10. Brad Johnson at Washington, 10/12/03 140.0

- Fitzpatrick’s completion percentage of 81.8 is the fifth-highest single game mark in team history (min. 20 attempts).

HIGHEST COMPLETION PERCENTAGE (Single Game – Team History, Min. 20 Att.)

1. Vinny Testaverde vs. Green Bay, 9/13/92 88.0 (22-25)

2. Mike Glennon vs. Atlanta, 11/17/13 87.0 (20-23)

3. Steve DeBerg at Detroit, 10/14/84 86.2 (25-29)

4. Jeff Garcia at Detroit, 10/21/07 82.2 (37-45)

5. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Philadelphia, 9/16/18 81.8 (27-33)

- Fitzpatrick’s 12.18 yards per attempt are the seventh-highest single game mark in team history (min. 20 attempts).

HIGHEST YARDS PER ATTEMPT (Single Game – Team History, Min. 20 Att.)

1. Ryan Fitzpatrick at New Orleans, 9/9/18 14.89

2. Vinny Testaverde vs. Green Bay, 9/13/92 14.52

3. Jameis Winston at Carolina, 12/24/17 13.59

4. Craig Erickson vs. Indianapolis, 9/11/94 13.04

5. Josh Freeman vs. Kansas City, 10/14/12 12.62

6. Josh McCown at Washington, 11/16/14 12.52

7. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Philadelphia, 9/16/18 12.18

8. Doug Williams vs. Chicago, 12/20/80 12.07

9. Mike Glennon at Detroit, 11/24/13 11.76

10. Shaun King vs. Minnesota, 10/29/00 11.59

GAME NOTES

- On the opening play of the game, QB Ryan Fitzpatrickconnected with WR DeSean Jackson on a 75-yard touchdown pass. The 75-yard touchdown reception is the longest opening play from scrimmage in franchise history.

- Jackson now has 23 career touchdowns of 60 or more yards, tying Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most such touchdowns in NFL history. Jackson also now has 28 receiving touchdowns of 50 or more yards, passing Hall of Famers Lance Alworth and Terrell Owens for the third-most in NFL history.

MOST 50+-YARD TOUCHDOWNS IN NFL HISTORY

1. WR Jerry Rice* 36

2. WR Randy Moss* 29

3. WR DeSean Jackson 28

4. WR Lance Alworth* 27

4. WR Terrell Owens* 27

*Hall of Fame

- Jackson, who has a 58-yard touchdown at New Orleans in Week 1, is the first Buccaneers player to record touchdowns of 50 or more yards in consecutive games since 2012 (Doug Martin, 10/25/12 at Minnesota-11/4/12 at Oakland). He is the first Buccaneers player to record receiving touchdowns of 50 or more yards in consecutive games since 1999 (Jacquez Green, 11/7/99 at New Orleans-11/14/99 vs. Kansas City).

- Jackson finished the game with four catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. It marks his 35^th career 100-yard receiving game. He has recorded 120 receiving yards in each of the first two games, joining Mark Carrier, Mike Evans (twice) and Keyshawn Johnson as the only players in team history with back-to-back games of at least 120 receiving yards.

- Jackson has 275 receiving yards through the first two games of the season, the most ever by a Buccaneers player through two games and the most in the NFL through two games since 2016 (Minnesota’s Stefon Diggs, 285).

- Later in the first quarter, LB Kwon Alexander registered an eight-yard sack of Eagles QB Nick Foles, forcing a fumble that was recovered by CB Carlton Davis. Alexander now has two forced fumbles this season and six in his career. He now has 7.0 career sacks. The fumble recovery was the first of Carlton Davis’ career.

- Over the past three seasons (2016-18), Tampa Bay’s defense has been one of the best in the NFL at taking the ball away, ranking fourth in the NFL in takeaways, third in forced fumbles and leading the league in fumble recoveries.

NFL MOST TAKEAWAYS (2016-18)

1. Baltimore Ravens 64

2. Kansas City Chiefs 61

3. Philadelphia Eagles 60

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 59

5. Los Angeles Chargers 57

NFL MOST FORCED FUMBLES (2016-18)

1. Arizona Cardinals 40*

1. Dallas Cowboys 40*

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37

4. Carolina Panthers 36

4. Oakland Raiders 33*

4. San Francisco 49ers 33*

*Does not include Week 2 game

NFL MOST FUMBLE RECOVERIES (2016-18)

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29

2. Kansas City Chiefs 26

3. Oakland Raiders 23*

4. Baltimore Ravens 22

4. Carolina Panthers 22

4. Dallas Cowboys 22*

4. Philadelphia Eagles 22

*Does not include Week 2 game

- On the final play of the first quarter, Tampa Bay DE Jason Pierre-Paul notched his first sack as a Buccaneer, bringing down Nick Foles for a four-yard loss. He now has 59.5 career sacks.

- In the second quarter, Ryan Fitzpatrick connected with TE O.J. Howard on a 75-yard touchdown pass, a career-long reception for Howard and the third-longest touchdown by a tight end in team history. It is the fourth-longest catch by a tight end in team history.

LONGEST RECEPTION BY A TIGHT END (Single Game – Team History)

1. Tyji Armstrong vs. L.A. Rams, 12/6/92 81 (TD)

1. Jimmie Giles vs. Chicago, 11/1/81 81 (TD)

2. Jimmie Giles at Dallas, 10/9/83 80

4. O.J. Howard vs. Philadelphia, 9/16/18 75 (TD)

5. Jimmie Giles vs. Detroit, 9/1/79 66 (TD)

- On Tampa Bay’s next drive, Fitzpatrick drove the Buccaneers 70 yards in six plays, taking 1:44, ending in an eight-yard touchdown pass to WR Chris Godwin. Godwin has two touchdown catches this season and has caught a touchdown pass in each of the past three games.

- On the Buccaneers’ first drive of the second half, the team went 54 yards in seven plays, taking 3:17, finishing with a four-yard touchdown pass from Fitzpatrick to WR Mike Evans.

- Evans now has two touchdown catches this season and 34 in his career, tying TE Jimmie Giles for the most touchdown receptions in team history.

MOST RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS - (Team History)

1. WR Mike Evans, 2014-Pres. 34

1. TE Jimmie Giles, 1978-86 34

3. WR Kevin House, 1980-86 31

4. WR Joey Galloway, 2004-08 28

5. WR Mark Carrier, 1987-92 27

- In the third quarter, DT Gerald McCoy notched his first sack of the season, bringing down Eagles QB Nick Foles for a nine-yard loss. McCoy now has 49.5 career sacks.

- LB Lavonte David – who led the team in tackles, with nine – recorded a fumble recovery on the final play of the game. Since entering the league in 2012, David has 12 fumble recoveries, the most in the NFL

MOST RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS - (Team History)

1. LB Lavonte David (TB) 12

2. DE Julius Peppers (CAR) 11

2. DE J.J. Watt (HOU) 11

4. S Mike Adams (CAR) 10

5. DT Fletcher Cox (PHI) 9

5. LB D’Qwell Jackson (FA) 9

5. LB Craig Robertson (NO) 9