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Best and Worst from Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers

Finding the good, and not hiding the bad, in Tampa’s third win of the season

Los Angeles Chargers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

Two straight wins after starting the season with a loss has helped quell some of the early panic setting in among Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans. Still, some came into Week 4 skeptical as Tom Brady and his Bucs got set to host the Los Angeles Chargers.

Coming out of it with a 38-31 win should calm a little more of the unrest, but we know it won’t put it all to bed just yet. There are always going to be things to point out that are negative and positive.

In fact, this very column is dedicated to it. So here we go, with another best and worst! This time following the Bucs’ third-straight win of the 2020 NFL Season.

THE BEST

THE FANS

For the first time this year fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were allowed into their home stadium to watch their team in-person.

I’m sure it meant a lot to those who were fortunate enough to score tickets, and it’s one step closer to all of Bucs Nation getting their shot at seeing this unit in action.

SCOTTY MILLER

The more opportunities he gets, the more his teammates and the fans love him.

Miller came down with five of seven targets for 83-yards and a crucial touchdown catch to help the Buccaneers send Los Angeles back to the west coast with a firm “L” packed in their carry-ons.

With Chris Godwin out for the game and Mike Evans injured early, it became clear early on Miller and Justin Watson would each have to step up their production.

The result for Miller was another career-best performance. Something he’s achieving on an almost weekly basis it seems.

Have you heard the story about the GOAT and the Scooter? Well, take a seat, because its developing into a pretty good one so far.

TRISTAN WIRFS

Here is who Tristan Wirfs has faced to start his career: Cameron Jordan (New Orleans Saints), Brian Burns (Carolina Panthers), Bradley Chubb (Denver Broncos), and Joey Bosa (Los Angeles Chargers).

Talk about a murderer’s row of opponents to start a career, and while we don’t have the firm ratings just yet the fact Bosa leaves this game with one tackle and nothing else is a testament to what Wirfs and his line-mates were able to do on Sunday afternoon.

THE WORST

NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

OUT ROUTES TO JUSTIN WATSON

Maybe it’s the fact Watson doesn’t threaten defensive backs into turning their hips soon enough. Perhaps its the fact he rounds his cuts. Maybe its because the quarterbacks who throw this pass have usually left it behind the receiver and too high. Yes, yes, and yes.

All of the above. Stop. Throwing. This. Route. Just don’t even call it anymore. We saw Brady and Watson talking on the sideline after this latest pick six, and if there’s a quarterback who can make it work then it’s Brady.

When it works though, it’s a first down at best. When it fails, it’s six points the other direction. I’m all for risking it for biscuits, but this is insanity. Like play-action with Charles Sims on third-and-long type insanity.

PENALTIES

I see this is just going to be a mainstay here. Eight penalties for 90-yards on Sunday for the Bucs. Two of the penalties came on the 97-yard touchdown drive by the Los Angeles Chargers and gave away 35-yards of field position.

Defensive penalties are always the worst because it’s very rare a defensive unit can make up the yards given for a 15-yard penalty. Those two penalties helped the Chargers score another touchdown, and in a one-score game, could have been the difference between winning and losing.

BLOWN COVERAGE

The Buccaneers have names like Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints), D.J. Moore (Carolina Panthers), and Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons) in their division. Their secondary practices against guys like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and more.

So why is it guys like Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson are striking against them for 50+ yard strikes with a rookie at quarterback?

Distracted by fans, believing their own hype, not enough material to study on unknown players, or just a bad day? The players would probably say it was the latter, and Bucs Nation is certainly hoping that’s the case.

Either way, seeing a guy who was on the practice squad last week torch what was looking like a top secondary in the NFL doesn’t exactly incite a whole lot of confidence. Especially when the hardest stretch of the schedule is still yet to come.

That’ll do it for our Week 4 Best and Worst from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers! Vote below to tell us which was the best of the best, and worst of the worst.

Poll

Which of these was the BEST part of Week 4?

This poll is closed

  • 6%
    Return of the Fans
    (39 votes)
  • 56%
    The GOAT and the Scooter
    (322 votes)
  • 36%
    Tristan Wirfs
    (206 votes)
567 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Which of these was the WORST part of Week 4?

This poll is closed

  • 23%
    Out Routes to Justin Watson
    (117 votes)
  • 21%
    Penalties
    (109 votes)
  • 54%
    Blown Coverage
    (271 votes)
497 votes total Vote Now