Bucs Nation - Falcons vs. Buccaneers 2016: Thursday Night Football returns to TampaA Tampa Bay Buccaneers Blog - Fire Those Cannons!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48049/bucs-fave.png2016-11-06T08:57:35-05:00http://www.bucsnation.com/rss/stream/132794412016-11-06T08:57:35-05:002016-11-06T08:57:35-05:00DLT's Diatribes - Back to the Future
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<p>We've been here before haven't we Buc fans?</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> basically did what they always do, lost a game of any significance. They have been doing it since 2008, so by now we as Bucs fans should be used to it.</p>
<p>I think the disturbing thing about Thursday night's game wasn't the fact that the Bucs lost again. It's really how it happened. Jameis played a very good game, the offense put up 28 points, yet they still had their doors blown off at home (again).</p>
<p>1. Sometimes the football gods just have it in for you. Some years, you can go through an entire season without sustaining an injury to a position, other years, you're down to your third string running back. This season, the Bucs are down to their fifth string RB.</p>
<p>With Antone Smith lost for the season, it adds to the list of the gone, but not forgotten - <span>Doug Martin</span>, <span>Charles Sims</span>, <span>Jacquizz Rodgers</span> and now Smith.</p>
<p>2. Jameis continued his stellar play against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a>, turning in one of his best performances of the season. While he would still have his occasional Jameis erratic shot, he was mostly accurate, a playmaker and kept his football team in the ball game until the bottom fell out of the defense.</p>
<p>Yes, he fumbled once, but that turnover was a bit more on the offensive line, who failed to get surge on a quarterback sneak play and left Jameis trying to get that first down the Bucs desperately needed.</p>
<p>The truth is Tampa Bay cannot win by putting everything on Winston, but without him, this is a 2-14 team. The image of him taking that hit on the 2 point try and hobbling around on the sideline should have been terrifying for any Bucs fan.</p>
<p>You'll see some fans who saw Mike Glennon's garbage time drive start to call for him to start. Jameis isn't the issue here. The lack of development around him is.</p>
<p>3. Yes, of course we're disappointed this is yet another year the Bucs are out of it by the start of November. I know there might be some out there hoping for a miraculous turnaround, but it's time we faced it.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay is not a playoff team this year. If you can't win at home, you can't make the post season. So honestly, Buc fans will need to focus their gaze on lower goals. Let's see the Bucs win against Chicago on Sunday and finally send the Ray Jay faithful home with a smile on their faces.</p>
<p>Let's see the Bucs continue to play strong against the rest of the division. A 5-1 division record would be something to be encouraged about.</p>
<p>The playoffs are out but maybe the Bucs (for once) can have a strong finish and get to 7 or 8 wins. Now, of course, you're going to have the crowd that says they hope the Bucs tank the rest of the season to get a higher draft pick. How has that worked out thus far?</p>
<p>I'd rather have this team show us they're getting closer. going 4-12 or 5-11 won't do that. Get to 7 or 8 wins and if you squint, you can see the progress. Do you really want to see the Bucs in the NFC South cellar for a sixth consecutive season?</p>
<p>I don't. Progress would at least save us from yet another purge and we start all over again.</p>
<p>4. The most stunning aspect of the demise of the Bucs this season is the awful collapse of the defense. Tampa Bay has surrendered 73 points and over 1,000 yards to opposing offenses the last two weeks. The improvement we thought we saw in weeks 6 and 7 were a product of the opponents the Bucs were playing, more than solid, genuine progress on the defensive side of the ball.</p>
<p>You can say the offense wasn't playing complimentary football as the defense was on the field for 160 plays in the last two weeks, but the defense has a say in that number. Score a few 3-and-outs of their own or a couple more turnovers and that number decreases. Instead, long passing plays abound, running back charge through the center of the defense like a knife through hot butter.</p>
<p>The Bucs have one elite player on defense in Gerald McCoy. They have some good guys like Ayers and <span>Lavonte David</span>. They have some up-and-coming young guys who aren't there yet in <span>Kwon Alexander</span> and Vernon Hargreaves. The rest of the starting 11 is a collection of guys who wouldn't start for most other teams, who have reached their highest level and that's pretty average or are veterans collecting their last paycheck on their way to retirement.</p>
<p>Three years Bucs GM Jason Licht has had opportunities to improve this defense and in three years we're still seeing a defense surrendering over 1000 yds and 73 points in two weeks.</p>
<p>In front a collection of former Bucs stars like Ring of Honor inductee <span>John Lynch</span>, <span>Derrick Brooks</span> and <span>Warren Sapp</span>, its downright embarrassing to see the Bucs defense play like that.</p>
<p>5. I don't know what to make of Atlanta. Are they an elite team? Are they the class of the division? Or are they just the better of a collection of bad football teams in a mediocre division? Offensively, <span>Matt Ryan</span> really is looking fantastic. The offense under the much maligned Kyle Shannahan is humming. Defensively, they're still the Falcons, but they're better than Tampa Bay.</p>
<p>I don't see another epic Falcons collapse in the offing. Their offense is deadly enough to keep them on the winning track. I think when the playoffs start, they're probably one-and-done. So, typical Falcons.</p>
<p>Of course, as Bucs fans, we'd love to at least get THERE.</p>
<p>6. <span>Mike Evans</span> showed the world what we all already know. He's Godzilla. He's one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Of course, with a couple more drops he also showed why he can sometimes be maddening for the Bucs. Still, the dynamic Tampa Bay wide out saved his best game of the season for National television.</p>
<p>That's how you make a Pro Bowl, folks. Lavonte David, no whining from you this year. You had two prime time performances and didn't come up with a memorable play.</p>
<p>7. I really hope Doug Martin can return this season. Without him, the Bucs offense hasn't made the leap in year two we all expected it to make. As the M*A*S*H unit in the running back room just continued to grow, the Bucs frankly don't have the running game to keep up with the NFL's top offenses.</p>
<p>8. We've talked about Jameis' progression this season. Some would say regression or stagnation. However, consider this - He's lost his number two wide out (again). The tight end who was supposed to be a playmaker is now injured and on the bench with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a>. Four running backs are injured. His LT is giving up more pressures this season than any other tackle in the NFL and he has a defense that can't keep an opponent under 30 points consistently.</p>
<p>Despite all that, Winston is on pace for another 4,000 yard season, 34 touchdown passes and 18 ints. If you would have given me those numbers at the beginning of the season, I'd say there was significant progress.</p>
<p>Progress though is measured in victories and as we all know, Winston is now 9-15 as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Until that number starts to get better, people are going to ask what's wrong. Why isn't he getting better?</p>
<p>Perception sometimes becomes reality. As the pressure builds on Winston, he will do things like he did on that two point conversion try of a lost football game, risking himself and his team's future on a meaningless play in a blowout loss.</p>
<p>9. Next up, another team that has its own share of problems in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a>. Unlike the Bucs, the Bears found a way to pull an upset of their division leading rival. Depending on what happens today, they'll head to Tampa with a little bit more confidence. Thankfully, the Bucs will get a bit of a mini-bye to lick their wounds and maybe give Martin a few more extra days to get himself ready. I wouldn't bet on it though. <span>Peyton Barber</span> may be carrying the load again for the Bucs.</p>
<p>Just for fan psyche, the Bucs really need to win this game. It's ridiculous they can't win home games. That trend needs to stop.</p>
<p>10. DLT's Game Tweet of the Week</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey, <span>Matt Bryant</span> makes another field goal. So glad we didn't keep him. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bucs?src=hash">#Bucs</a> <a href="https://t.co/mykOjAfm9i">pic.twitter.com/mykOjAfm9i</a></p>
— JC De La Torre (@jcdelatorre) <a href="https://twitter.com/jcdelatorre/status/794380546008895488">November 4, 2016</a>
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<p>Bonus: Apologies for the delay in delivering you this article. It just so happens I was traveling to Atlanta the morning after the game and I've been unavailable to get to a computer to get this one banged out. Of course, the censor editing Sander would have had to do with that next day article would have been extraordinary, so maybe it was a good thing. Never fear though, I'm back to my regularly scheduled diatribes next week.</p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/6/13539906/dlts-diatribes-back-to-the-futureJCDeLaTorre2016-11-04T10:34:54-04:002016-11-04T10:34:54-04:00One winner, four losers for the Bucs
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<p id="ORbU74">The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got blown out by the Atlanta Falcons, which means it’s time to talk winners and losers. Mostly losers, after an ugly result like that. </p>
<h1 id="3hHeyd">Winners</h1>
<h3 id="w5qIjn">WR Mike Evans</h3>
<p id="EcFDJr">Evans caught 11 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns, and was basically the only consistently productive player the Bucs put on the field yesterday. He made a <a href="http://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/3/13516668/watch-mike-evans-make-an-amazing-one-handed-catch">spectacular one-handed catch</a>, and <a href="http://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/3/13516188/thursday-night-football-sloppy-bucs-trailing-falcons-at-halftime">his second touchdown catch</a> was a sight to behold as well. Of course, he also had to leave the game as he was evaluated for a concussion, and it’s unclear whether he actually had a concussion and at what point he might return. </p>
<p id="HzYCGN">And erm, that’s about it for winners. There’s a case to be made for Jameis Winston, who completed 23 of 37 attempts for 261 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, but he did fumble away the ball twice, and much of his production came when the game was already out of reach. </p>
<p id="ij8nuD">Oh, and Roberto Aguayo hit both of his kicks. Hurray. </p>
<h1 id="2BCtGq">Losers</h1>
<h3 id="9TMSV5">Defensive coordinator Mike Smith</h3>
<p id="K2hCJM">The defense is mostly healthy, missing only Jacquies Smith and Clinton McDonald at this point. Despite that, the Bucs defense continues to struggle, and the Falcons just embarrassed their former head coach. The Bucs could not stop the Falcons at all, especially not after Kwon Alexander left with a shoulder stinger (he should be fine for next week’s game). </p>
<p id="zsku1x">Matt Ryan racked up 344 passing yards and four touchdowns on just 34 attempts, and that’s just a few days after Derek Carr passed for over 500 yards against the Bucs. This is embarrassing, and it needs to stop — but the Bucs may simply not have the talent at safety to do better than this. Which is pretty pathetic. Louis Riddick continues to argue the main problem is simply the Bucs not playing press at the line of scrimmage with their cornerbacks, and he may have a point — in which case, this looks even worse for Mike Smith. </p>
<h3 id="r9bMFt">Tackles Donovan Smith and Demar Dotson</h3>
<p id="WUrpx5">Donovan Smith and Demar Dotson both got beaten by Vic Beasley on several occasions, which does not make them unique in the NFL. Smith, though, looked downright embarrassing at times, and even allowed Adrian Clayborn — who was never more than lackluster pass rusher in Tampa — to beat him repeatedly. Smith has had some good games this season, but performances like this are far too common — and Dotson, the veteran, should be consistently better than this as well. </p>
<h3 id="Hl6CAd">Head coach Dirk Koetter</h3>
<p id="K6CmfY">The Bucs are now 3-5, which is exactly the record Lovie Smith had last year, a record that ultimately got him fired. Sure, there was more to his firing than that, but the Bucs hired Koetter because they wanted better results. So far, it’s just more of the same old Bucs. Yes: same old Bucs. We’re now using the phrase that everyone uses for the Cleveland Browns. That’s how bad it’s gotten. </p>
<h3 id="EzwwOU">Bucs fans who buy tickets</h3>
<p id="58Y8Ei">The Bucs are a league-worst 3-17 at home since the start of the 2014 season. The last time they won in Tampa was December of last, when they narrowly beat the Atlanta Falcons, so quite unlike this past game. They’ve been blown out repeatedly. The Bucs can worry and complain about a lack of fan support at home, though I genuinely don’t think they have much reason to, maybe they can start by playing games the fans actually want to watch. </p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/4/13521702/buccaneers-vs-falcons-one-winner-four-losers-for-tampa-baySander Philipse2016-11-03T23:43:03-04:002016-11-03T23:43:03-04:00Bucs blown out on Thursday Night Football
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> got blown out on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2016/10/6/13167818/thursday-night-football-live-stream">Thursday Night Football</a>, again, losing by massive numbers to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a>. The final score was 43-28, as the Bucs just couldn't stop the Falcons offense.</p>
<p>Prime time games are supposed to be special. When there's no other games going on, all eyes around the football world are on you. Prime time games are also a good way to judge where you team is when it comes to adjusting on a non-regular schedule. Whether it's playing on a short week, or adding an extra day of rest and preparation, how you come out of the gate on Thursday or Monday night is telling.</p>
<p>For Tampa, their opening drive versus the Falcons was methodical. The Bucs were without <span>Doug Martin</span>, <span>Charles Sims</span> and <span>Jacquizz Rodgers</span>, so it was up to <span>Antone Smith</span> and <span>Peyton Barber</span> to carry the rock. On that first drive, the duo averaged more than four yards per carry which included a couple seven and eight-yard runs that kept the drive moving and made Atlanta respect the run.</p>
<p>This opened up the passing game and allowed for Tampa to get creative. Thankfully, they did, and the team capped off a 12-play, 75-yard opening drive with touchdown to <span>Mike Evans</span>.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">An opening-drive touchdown?<br>An opening-drive touchdown! <a href="https://t.co/iRaez50y0A">pic.twitter.com/iRaez50y0A</a></p>
— Trevor Sikkema (@TrevorSikkema) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrevorSikkema/status/794338156367794176">November 4, 2016</a>
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<p>The drive had a good dose of Evans to it, but also gave targets and catches to <span>Cameron Brate</span> and Adam Humphries. With the Bucs receiving options as limited as they are, Mike Evans is going to get force fed. However, getting those guys involved early is important. I would rather have the Bucs pull out their creative plays early on and move the ball down the field to keep the defense guessing than keeping plays like wide receiver screens and wheel routes to tight ends in the back pocket. If you're creative often, you'll score often.</p>
<p>Unfortunately the first quarter wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. A fumble on the Bucs second and third drives led to points of turnovers on both occasions. Luckily for Tampa it was only a field goal each time. One of the fumbles was a miscommunication on a handoff between Winston and <span>Smith</span>, the other was Winston diving for a first down and losing it on the tackle.</p>
<p>Following the Falcons' second field goal and a Buccaneer punt, Tampa's favorite franchise defensive tackle to complain about made his primetime play with a great strip sack of <span>Matt Ryan</span>.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">GERALD McCOY READS YOUR TWEETS <a href="https://t.co/p6p4xxSW1d">pic.twitter.com/p6p4xxSW1d</a></p>
— Trevor Sikkema (@TrevorSikkema) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrevorSikkema/status/794351043702161408">November 4, 2016</a>
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<p>Other than that play, Tampa's pass rush was pretty pedestrian. <span>Noah Spence</span> flashed at times, and <span>Akeem Spence</span> can blow up a few blocks here and there, but most of the time the front four makes the opposing offensive line's job way too easy. They're not as disruptive as they need to be, and for whatever reason, defensive coordinator <span>Mike Smith</span> refuses to get creative in how he pressure the pocket.</p>
<p>I remember during training camp and during the preseason, I was so encouraged by how agressive the Bucs defense was when attacking the pocket and making offensive lineman uncomfortable with stunt and delayed blitzes. I don't see any of that anymore. There was a play this game where Atlanta had the ball in the red zone on 3rd & 12 and instead of getting in the face of Matt Ryan, Smith called a play that only sent three players total after the pocket. Atlanta converted it and scored two plays late. This has to stop. Tampa does not have the safeties to play this soft up front. If anything, this secondary needs less time to cover, not more time to cover with more people.</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LikeMike?src=hash">#LikeMike</a> <a href="https://t.co/xgZ6cnD8Bj">pic.twitter.com/xgZ6cnD8Bj</a></p>
— Trevor Sikkema (@TrevorSikkema) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrevorSikkema/status/794351872421281792">November 4, 2016</a>
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<p>Following the <span>Gerald McCoy</span> forced fumble, the Bucs went down the field and with one big bomb took the lead as shown above. When i watched that play live i just started laughing because when Evans wants to be and when Winston can hit him high, there's no 5-foot-10 corner who can stop that.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Can't teach 6'5" <a href="https://t.co/MHIw68UaL5">pic.twitter.com/MHIw68UaL5</a></p>
— Trevor Sikkema (@TrevorSikkema) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrevorSikkema/status/794352047218900992">November 4, 2016</a>
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<p>Simply put, you can't teach 6-foot-5.</p>
<p>Evans was the lone bright spot in tonight's game, but man, was he shining bright. He finished the game with 11 catches on 17 targets for 150 yards and two touchdowns which included one of the best catches you'll see this side of <span>Odell Beckham Jr.</span> in the second half.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mike Evans is an alien. He is not of us. He was born outside of our solar system. <a href="https://t.co/dL30uHwRGd">pic.twitter.com/dL30uHwRGd</a></p>
— Trevor Sikkema (@TrevorSikkema) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrevorSikkema/status/794371812868112385">November 4, 2016</a>
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<p>Unfortunately, the creativity Tampa showed in the early stages of the game (or at least the success of it) stalled.</p>
<p>For the most part, the second half was, to be frank, awful; just awful. I don't know what happened to the <span>Mike Smith</span> defense I saw glimpses of before, but it has sure been a Halloween ghost for the past two weeks gone. For the second week in a row -- and even, second half in a row -- Smith did not make a single adjustment despite giving up plenty of points. It's hard for me to say his philosophy doesn't work, because the philosophy I saw early on was much different. But, if this is his philosophy from now on, yes, it doesn't work.</p>
<p>Trench play wins football games. Success starts there so it can end somewhere else. Without dominance in the trenches, you will lose football games, end of story. On the offensive line, <span>Donovan Smith</span> is proving to the fans (and hopefully the coaches) more and more each week that he is a guard. He is not a tackle, let alone a left tackle -- and all that is OK, Tampa just needs to get a left tackle to be able to move him inside. Smith struggled against <span>Vic Beasley</span>, <span>Adrian Clayborn</span>, <span>Brooks Reed</span> and if old man <span>Dwight Freeney</span> would have been active for this game, he probably would've given Smith all he could handle, too.</p>
<p>On defense, for the past three or four games, this front four has not been what we thought it would be. The defensive line continues to show a lack of ability to set the edge, and it's starting to negate the play of the Bucs linebackers since they have to travel so far to get the ball carrier instead of the defensive line funneling running backs towards them in the middle. Tampa somehow drops seven of their 11 defensive players back into coverage, yet can't cover anyone in the process. Smith is calling this defense as if it has an <span>Earl Thomas</span> or an <span>Eric Berry</span> back at safeties, but it doesn't. The bottom line is this: the trade deadline has passed and this roster is what it is. Either Smith starts putting pressure on the pocket or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will lose a lot more games this season. This roster is much closer to its reconstruction than it is seeing production.</p>
<p>Up next for the Bucs is the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> in the last game of their three-game home stand. The Bears are a team with limited playmakers and a 2-6 record. If Tampa can't end their home skid against them, I'm not sure when they will.</p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/3/13516366/falcons-vs-buccaneers-final-score-tampa-bay-blown-out-on-thursdayTrevor Sikkema2016-11-03T23:36:00-04:002016-11-03T23:36:00-04:00Winston, Evans suffer injuries against Falcons
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<p id="e1xjFG">The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to get more and more dinged up in every single game they play.</p>
<p id="efCid6">Having already lost center Joe Hawley, defensive end Howard Jones and linebacker Kwon Alexander during the course of the game against the Atlanta Falcons, the Bucs finished Thursday Night Football without quarterback Jameis Winston and star wide receiver Mike Evans. </p>
<p id="6LJcNY">Winston suffered what appeared to be an ankle injury on a vicious hit on a late two-point attempt, when the game was already out of reach. The injury kept him out for the rest of the game, though it didn’t look overly serious. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This makes me cringe <a href="https://t.co/ABAsgLK4Vs">pic.twitter.com/ABAsgLK4Vs</a></p>— Trevor Sikkema (@TrevorSikkema) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrevorSikkema/status/794378853535858688">November 4, 2016</a>
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<p id="2ZIkGm">Meanwhile, Mike Evans was evaluated for a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet hit on <a href="http://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/3/13516668/watch-mike-evans-make-an-amazing-one-handed-catch">one of the best catches of the year</a>. The Bucs only took him to the locker room after a few more catches, though. He finished the game with 11 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns. </p>
<p id="yZBlJM">With a long week before the team’s next game, the Bucs at least have a little extra time to allow these players to get fully healthy.</p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/3/13516936/jameis-winston-mike-evans-suffer-injuries-against-falconsSander Philipse2016-11-03T22:59:54-04:002016-11-03T22:59:54-04:00Watch Mike Evans make an amazing one-handed catch
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<figcaption>Photo by Joseph Garnett Jr. /Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="EdiKGk">Mike Evans is really good at football. He leads the NFL in touchdowns with eight, more than any other Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver has had through eight games, and just keeps racking up highlight-reel play after highlight-reel play. </p>
<p id="VP82Zh">Evans also came to play on Thursday Night Football, even if the rest of the Bucs did not. He has nine catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns through three quarters, while every other Buccaneer has combined for 67 receiving yards. </p>
<p id="JbxHmi">His best catch, though, came on a play late in the third quarter. Look at this!</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/MikeEvans13_">@MikeEvans13_</a>. ONE HANDED.<br><br>Wow. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATLvsTB?src=hash">#ATLvsTB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TNF?src=hash">#TNF</a> <a href="https://t.co/zveZCu8k3V">https://t.co/zveZCu8k3V</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/794371814000508928">November 4, 2016</a>
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<p id="NMAW3g">That catch is amazing. Ridiculous. Ludicrous. Beyond any catch I’ve seen this entire season, I think. Especially so because Evans gets hit hard as he comes down — right in the head. Without a flag. Because apparently that whole head-to-head defenseless receiver penalty thing was a fiction we dreamed up, at least when it comes to Keanu Neal?</p>
<p id="utXTCf">Anyway, this was an awesome highlight in an otherwise pretty depressing game for Bucs fans, who still haven’t seen a Bucs team win in Tampa this season. </p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/3/13516668/watch-mike-evans-make-an-amazing-one-handed-catchSander Philipse2016-11-03T22:32:57-04:002016-11-03T22:32:57-04:00Buccaneers suffer more injuries against Falcons
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<img alt="NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dWaF8dJ_PLeCbzDX9vyd1qtZjAo=/0x0:2962x1975/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51669003/usa_today_9600712.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="XEAepm">The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t been lucky on the injury front, and things haven’t gotten better during the game against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football. </p>
<p id="IICysA">The Bucs lost center Joe Hawley early in the second quarter to a knee injury, and he was ruled out for the game after the half. He was shown with icepacks on his knee, sitting on the bench. Evan Smith came in for Hawley, and shouldn’t represent a huge downgrade — Smith was pretty close to winning the starting job in preseason. </p>
<p id="Z4W0Qq">Making matters worse, the Bucs also lost Kwon Alexander to a shoulder injury. He was said to be probable to return, but has yet to take the field. At least Alexander’s injury shouldn’t linger beyond this game. </p>
<p id="AuQX4x">The team also lost backup pass-rusher Howard Jones to a knee injury. Jones was ruled out very quickly, which may indicate his knee injury is fairly serious. </p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/3/13516496/buccaneers-suffer-more-injuries-against-falconsSander Philipse2016-11-03T22:10:14-04:002016-11-03T22:10:14-04:00John Lynch inducted into Buccaneers Ring of Honor
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<figcaption>Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="KExgBQ">The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have inducted John Lynch into their Ring of Honor today, at half-time during the game against the Falcons on Thursday Night Football. </p>
<p id="J5OuBA">Lynch played 11 seasons for the Bucs after being drafted in the third round of the 1993 NFL draft. It took the safety a few years to adjust to the NFL, but he flourished under Tony Dungy and became a key part of the Bucs’ dominant defense and eventual championship team, winning a Super Bowl in the 2002-03 season. </p>
<p id="QMEVFj">With the Bucs, Lynch was an enforcer at safety, playing in and around the box and being a force over the middle of the field and against the run. Lynch made it to five Pro Bowls as a Buc, and was named a first-team All-Pro three times, and a second-team All-Pro once. </p>
<p id="1A23XD">Lynch joins Lee Roy Selmon, John McKay, Jimmie Giles, Paul Gruber, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Mike Alstott and Doug Williams in the Ring of Honor. </p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/3/13516130/john-lynch-inducted-into-buccaneers-ring-of-honorSander Philipse2016-11-03T22:07:55-04:002016-11-03T22:07:55-04:00Open thread 3
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<img alt="NFL: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Qw-3RYGghbM5L8U1oxwmKyco3xY=/0x0:3300x2200/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51668803/usa_today_9651561.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="7Aowk7">The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are down 20-14 to the Atlanta Falcons midway through a sloppy but exciting Thursday night game. </p>
<p id="tiB10p">The Bucs have been playing an extremely sloppy games. They have eight penalties for 64 yards, lost two fumbles, had numerous blown coverages, and <a href="http://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/3/13515874/buccaneers-falcons-thursday-night-football-screw-ups">even their opening touchdown</a> to Mike Evans came on what looked like a broken play.</p>
<p id="WPda0n">Aside from all those mistakes, though, Tampa Bay is playing competitive football. After all, they’re only down 20-14, and they’ve made plenty of big plays. Mike Evans has a pair of touchdowns, Jameis Winston has been sharp outside of two fumbles, both coming on broken plays, and the defense —- well, it got a turnover.</p>
<p id="cL02d9">The key play for the Bucs was this sack by Gerald McCoy, who also forced a fumble in the process. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Geraldini93">@Geraldini93</a>!<br><br>The Bucs force a Matt Ryan fumble and have the ball in the red zone! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATLvsTB?src=hash">#ATLvsTB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TNF?src=hash">#TNF</a> <a href="https://t.co/JOoQvEVQZ4">https://t.co/JOoQvEVQZ4</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/794351046826991616">November 4, 2016</a>
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<p id="owjzUQ">That gave the Bucs a short field, and a beautiful touchdown throw and catch. Mike Evans looked like he was playing basketball on this play. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Geraldini93">@Geraldini93</a>!<br><br>The Bucs force a Matt Ryan fumble and have the ball in the red zone! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATLvsTB?src=hash">#ATLvsTB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TNF?src=hash">#TNF</a> <a href="https://t.co/JOoQvEVQZ4">https://t.co/JOoQvEVQZ4</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/794351046826991616">November 4, 2016</a>
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<p id="cwncuw">Evans now has eight touchdowns on the season, the most for any Bucs receiver through eight games ever, and the current NFL lead. </p>
<p id="p1HyDq">The </p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2016/11/3/13516188/thursday-night-football-sloppy-bucs-trailing-falcons-at-halftimeSander Philipse