Notes and highlights from the Buccaneers’ 30-27 loss to the Steelers

- QB Ryan Fitzpatrick finished the game going 30-of-50 for 411 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

- Today’s game marked Fitzpatrick’s third consecutive contest with at least 400 passing yards. He’s the first player in NFL history to post three consecutive games of 400 or more passing yards.

- Fitzpatrick has thrown for 1,221 passing yards through the first three games of the season. That is tied for the second-most passing yards through the first three games of a season in NFL history.

MOST PASSING YARDS THROUGH FIRST THREE GAMES OF A SEASON

(NFL History)

1. Tom Brady (NE) 2011 1,327

2. Ryan Fitzpatrick (TB) 2018 1,221

2. Kurt Warner (STL) 2000 1,221

4. Drew Bledsoe (NE) 1994 1,166

5. Peyton Manning (DEN) 2013 1,143

- Fitzpatrick has 11 passing touchdowns through the first three games of the season. That is tied for the third-most passing touchdowns through the first three games of a season in NFL history.

MOST PASSING TOUCHDOWNS THROUGH FIRST THREE GAMES OF A SEASON

(NFL History)

1. Patrick Mahomes (KC) 2018 13

2. Peyton Manning (DEN) 2013 12

3. Ryan Fitzpatrick (TB) 2018 11

3. Tom Brady (NE) 2011 11

5. Eight tied 10

NFL RECORDS

- Per NFL Communications and Ellias Sports Bureau, Mike Evans (367 yards, three touchdowns) and DeSean Jackson(312 yards, three touchdowns) are the first pair of teammates in NFL history to each record at least 300 receiving yards and three touchdown catches through their team’s first three games of a season.

- The Buccaneers now have 1,420 yards of offense this season, the seventh-most through the first three games of a season in NFL history.

MOST YARDS THROUGH FIRST THREE GAMES

(NFL History)

1. New England 2011 1,621

2. San Francisco 1998 1,599

3. St. Louis 2000 1,518

4. Denver 2013 1,460

5. L.A. Rams 1951 1,456

6. Buffalo 1991 1,423

7. Tampa Bay 2018 1,420

8. San Diego 1984 1,418

9. New England 1994 1,386

10. Philadelphia 2013 1,385

- The Buccaneers now have 1,202 passing yards this season, the second-most through the first three games of a season in NFL history.

MOST PASSING YARDS THROUGH FIRST THREE GAMES OF A SEASON

(NFL History)

1. New England 2011 1,313

2. Tampa Bay 2018 1,202

3. St. Louis 2000 1,201

4. Denver 2013 1,184

5. New England 1994 1,154

- The Buccaneers have scored 102 points through the first three games, a team record for the most points scored through the first three games of a season.

- Dating back to last season, the Buccaneers have totaled at least 425 yards of offense in each of their past four games, extending their franchise record. They join the L.A. Chargers (11/19/17-12/10/17) as the only two teams to post at least four consecutive games with at least 425 yards of offense since 2015.

- The Buccaneers have totaled at least 390 net passing yards in each of their past three games. They join the Pittsburgh Steelers (11/8/15-11/29/15) as the only teams in NFL history to post three consecutive games with at least 390 net passing yards.

GAME NOTES

- After the two teams traded three-and-outs, the Buccaneers recorded an interception on Pittsburgh’s second drive of the game, picking off Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger at the Tampa Bay 45-yard line, returning it two yards to the Buccaneers 47-yard line.

- 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 during that span.

NFL MOST TAKEAWAYS (2016-18)

1. Baltimore Ravens 65

2. Kansas City Chiefs 61

3. Philadelphia Eagles 60

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 59

4. Los Angeles Chargers 59

- On the ensuing Buccaneers possession, QB Ryan Fitzpatrickdrove the team 53 yards in five plays, lasting 2:34, finishing with a four-yard touchdown pass from Fitzpatrick to TE Cameron Brate.

- The touchdown reception was the 18th of Brate’s career, passing Gerald Carter and Keyshawn Johnson for the 10th-most in Buccaneers history (CHART BELOW)

- Brate has 15 touchdown receptions since the start of the 2016 season, the third-most among NFL tight ends during that span.

2016-18 NFL MOST TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS - Tight Ends

1. Kyle Rudolph MIN 17

2. Jimmy Graham GB 16

3. Cam Brate TB 15

4. Travis Kelce KC 14

5. Zach Ertz PHI 12

5. Rob Gronkowski NE 12

5. Hunter Henry LAC 12

- In the second quarter, the Buccaneers sacked Steelers QBBen Roethlisberger twice on the same drive. On first down, DE Vinny Curry and DT Gerald McCoy teamed up to drop Roethlisberger for a 10-yard loss. Then, one third-and-11, DEJason Pierre-Paul brought Roethlisberger down for a six-yard loss. Curry now has 1.5 sacks this season and 23.0 in his career. McCoy now has 1.5 sacks this season and 49.0 in his career.

- McCoy has 41.5 sacks dating back to 2013, tied for the most among defensive tackles during that span.

2013-18 NFL SACK LEADERS – Defensive Tackles

1. Gerald McCoy (TB) 41.5

2. Geno Atkins (CIN) 41.5

3. Aaron Donald (LAR) 39.0

4. Jurrell Casey (TEN) 36.5

5. Kawann Short (CAR) 31.5

- Pierre-Paul added his second sack of the game in the third quarter, bringing down Roethlisberger for a seven-yard loss on third-and-three, and forcing a fumble that was recovered by Pittsburgh. This marks Pierre-Paul’s 17th career game with multiple sacks and his first such game with the Buccaneers. The forced fumble was his first this season and the 14th of his career.

- In the fourth quarter, Fitzpatrick threw his second touchdown of the game, connecting with WR Chris Godwin on a four-yard score to end a 12-play, 63-yard, 5:00 drive.

- Dating back to last season, Godwin has now caught a touchdown pass in each of the past four games, matching a franchise record for consecutive games with a touchdown reception.

- Fitzpatrick’s third touchdown pass of the game came on Tampa Bay’s next drive, when he threw a 24-yard touchdown to WR Mike Evans to finish a nine-play, 92-yard drive lasting 2:57.

- Evans finished the game with six catches for 137 yards and the touchdown reception. This is his 15th career 100-yard game, tying Mark Carrier for the most such games in Buccaneers history.

- Evans now has three touchdown catches this season and 35 in his career. His 35 touchdown receptions are a new Buccaneers record, passing Jimmie Giles.

MOST RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS – Team History

1. WR Mike Evans, 2014-Pres. 35

1. TE Jimmie Giles, 1978-86 34

3. WR Kevin House, 1980-85 31

4. WR Joey Galloway 2005-07 28

5. WR Mark Carrier, 1987-92 27

6. WR Mike Williams, 2010-13 25

7. TE Dave Moore, 1992-01, 2004-06 24

8. WR Bruce Hill, 1987-91 23

9. WR Vincent Jackson, 2012-Pres. 20

10. TE Cameron Brate, 2014-Pres. 18

- Evans’ now has 4,946 career receiving yards, passing Kevin House for the second-most receiving yards in franchise history.

MOST RECEIVING YARDS - (Team History)

1. WR Mark Carrier, 1987-92 5,018

2. WR Mike Evans, 2014-Pres. 4,946

3. WR Kevin House, 1980-86 4,928

4. WR Vincent Jackson, 2012-2016 4,326

5. TE Jimmie Giles, 1978-86 4,300

- Evans’ 367 receiving yards are the most ever by a Buccaneers player through the first three games of the season. He currently ranks second in the NFL in receiving yards, while teammate DeSean Jackson ranks seventh.

2018 NFL RECEIVING YARD LEADERS

1. Michael Thomas (NO) 398

2. Mike Evans (TB) 367

3. Juju Smith-Schuster (PIT) 356

4. Adam Thielen (MIN) 338

5. Brandin Cooks (LAR) 336

6. Julio Jones (ATL) 329

7. DeSean Jackson (TB) 312

8. Tyreek Hill (KC) 310

9. Alvin Kamara (NO) 289

10. Jarvis Landry (CLE) 278

2018 NFL RECEIVING TOUCHDOWN LEADERS

1. A.J. Green (CIN) 4

1. Calvin Ridley (ATL) 4

3. Mike Evans (TB) 3

3. Chris Godwin (TB( 3

3. DeSean Jackson (TB) 3

3. Davante Adams (GB) 3

3. Stefon Diggs (MIN) 3

3. Tyreek Hill (KC) 3

3. Tyler Lockett (SEA) 3

3. Kenny Stills (MIA) 3

3. Michael Thomas (NO) 3

3. Mike Williams (LAC) 3