The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the New Orleans Saints 9-0 on Sunday Night Football in a tough NFC South divisional throw down. After the game, the Bucs discovered they also lost Chris Godwin for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, while Mike Evans is week-to-week with a hamstring injury.
Godwin is ranked third in receptions this season with 98. He added 1,103 passing yards (ranked #5) and scored five touchdowns. Evans caught 64 passes for 899 yards plus 11 touchdowns this season. Evans is ranked #2 in the NFL in TDs this season.
The Bucs initially thought that Godwin only suffered a sprained MCL, but an MRI revealed a torn ACL. Godwin will miss the playoffs. If Tom Brady and the Bucs expect to defend their Super Bowl title, they’ll need a healthy Evans and for Antonio Brown to keep his head on straight.
Brown returns from a three-game suspension for duping the league with a fake vaccination card. In addition, WR Breshad Perriman missed the Saints game due to a positive COVID-19 test. The Bucs will lean on Perriman and Brown now that Godwin is dunzo.
For only the third time in his illustrious career, and the first time in 15 seasons, Brady suffered the humiliation of a shutout. The Saints came to play, and their ferocious defense didn’t back down. They got to Brady both physically and mentally. This morning, Brady throwing a tablet on the sidelines is making the rounds as the popular meme goes viral.
The ðŸ's first shut out in 15 years and the tablet felt the full force!
Brady was scoreless against the @Saints. The last time Brady didn't score in an NFL game he was 29!#NFL | #NFLUK pic.twitter.com/Y6gGLF79O2
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) December 20, 2021
On Deck Bucs: Panthers, Jets, Panthers
The Bucs play the Carolina Panthers twice in the last three weeks of the season, with a road game against the New York Jets sandwiched in between.
The Bucs head to Charlotte to play the Panthers on the Sunday after Christmas. They host the Panthers in Tampa on the final Sunday of the season. In between, Brady will return to MetLife Stadium to beat up on the LOL Jets in Week 17.
The Bucs are +600 odds to win Super Bowl 56 for back-to-back championships, according to a recent update by DraftKings. They’re the third-highest team on the NFL futures board behind the Kansas City Chiefs (+450) and Green Bay Packers (+450).
After losing to the Saints, the Bucs are no longer favorites to win the NFC Championship. The Packers are +200 odds to win the NFC title game, while the Bucs are +300.
