Titans @ Buccaneers
Final Score: Buccaneers 20, Titans 6
Writer: Justin Mello (@JustinMelloNE on Twitter)
There weren’t many fireworks in Tampa when the Buccaneers took on the Titans. Both offenses were sluggish early, and I began having flashbacks to the Thursday night snooze-fest between Carolina and Chicago. Luckily, the Buccaneers eventually found their rhythm, but the Titans continued to look like they belong in the Big Ten. Chunk plays to Rachaad White and Mike Evans, as well as some demoralizing penalties to the Titans, helped cement the win for Tampa Bay as they picked up their fourth win of the season.
Two Up
- Mike Evans – He continues to look like his elite self despite being 30 years old and playing with a journeyman quarterback.
- Baker Mayfield – He’ll probably never live up to his first overall pedigree, but he looked like a more than capable
Three Down
- Will Levis – He finally looked like a rookie, and his offensive line did him no favors. This offense is one that is difficult to trust,
- Derrick Henry – If the Titans keep struggling like this, it’s fair to question what kind of workload Henry will get late in games going forward.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Will Levis: 19/29, 199 yards, INT
The rookie quarterback looked poised and confident. Unfortunately, poise and confidence weren’t enough to get the job done in this one. Will Levis was a competent game manager early on, but he struggled to make plays on his own when needed. He forced the ball into coverage at times and showed blatant accuracy issues down the stretch which is the first time that I’ve noticed it from him this season. In his defense, the offensive line did struggle mightily in pass protection. He is still raw with potential, but he didn’t look the part against Tampa Bay.
Notes
- Threw the ball with a lot of power and zip
- Didn’t showcase the mobility that he’s demonstrated in the past
- Struggled to sustain drives
Missed Opportunities
- Tried to force the ball at times instead of taking easy check-downs for a few yards
Running Back
Derrick Henry: 11 carries, 24 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, -4 yards
The king struggled in this one just as his stat line suggests. The Buccaneers did a great job of overwhelming the Titan offensive line and swarming Derrick Henry near the line of scrimmage. On the few plays that he was able to get past the line of scrimmage with momentum, he looked like the King Henry we all know and love. He fought for extra yards and fell forward on the way down. Unfortunately, the few effective runs that he had weren’t enough to keep Tennessee in the game, and Henry got phased out as the Titans played from behind.
Notes
- Didn’t stand much of a chance against the stacked boxes he was facing
Missed Opportunities
- Barely got tripped up on a screen pass which could have gone for a big positive gain if he kept his balance
Tyjae Spears: 5 carries, 18 yards | 5 targets, 4 receptions, 42 yards
The rookie wasn’t the centerpiece of the offense by any means, but he looked explosive when he got his hands on the ball. Tyjae Spears’ best play came on a third down conversion where he caught the ball near the right sideline and then juked and weaved his way past defenders for the first down. He continues to be a nice change-of-pace option for the Titans, but that doesn’t mean much in this stagnant offense.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
DeAndre Hopkins: 8 targets, 3 receptions, 27 yards
The future HOFer caught the first pass of the day for Tennessee, but it was a very quiet afternoon after that. Will Levis often tried to find him down the field, but he didn’t have adequate time to get off an accurate throw, or any throw at all for that matter. Even when he was targeted, DeAndre Hopkins was often well-covered. He is still an elite receiver when it comes to contested catches, and he’s proven to be effective after the catch as well. However, the separation didn’t appear to be there.
Missed Opportunities
- Was targeted late in the fourth quarter down the sideline for a potential touchdown, but he was unable to get any separation from his defender and couldn’t haul in the pass
Kyle Philips: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 61 yards
The second-year receiver has become somewhat of a favorite of Will Levis. Kyle Philps had a few nice chunk plays including a 29-yard catch and run, but he failed to have much of an impact otherwise as the offense struggled to stay on the field for very long.
Chigoziem Okonkwo: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 27 yards
The Tennessee tight end was more involved than usual as Levis was content using him as a safety valve on multiple occasions. Chigoziem Okonkwo was tough to bring down after the catch, but he still doesn’t look like the elite receiving weapon that many had hoped he would be this year.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 4 targets, 1 reception, 9 yards
Chris Moore: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 21 yards
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield: 18/29, 278 yards, 2 TDs, INT | 3 carries, 12 yards
He’s not an elite quarterback by any means, but Baker Mayfield undoubtedly did more to help than hurt the Buccaneers against Tennessee. Mayfield was relatively smart with the football, and he even hit on a few nice deep balls. Despite the lack of a run game, Mayfield looked comfortable in the pocket and routinely found open receivers. A handful of third down penalties on the Titans’ defense helped the offense move the ball, but Mayfield deserves credit nonetheless.
Notes
- Had a few misfires, but was overall accurate
Missed Opportunities
- Should have had three touchdowns, but Mike Evans had an egregious drop
Running Back
Rachaad White: 20 carries, 51 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 47 yards, TD
Rachaad White looks like a slot receiver playing running back. He struggled mightily to fight for yardage between the tackles. He seldom pushed forward for extra yards after contact. However, he looked quick and electric when he had the ball in space. His 43-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass was the best example. He also impressively turned what should have been a TFL into a ten-yard run in the second half when he reversed directions and found space up the right sideline. As long as the Buccaneers continue to use him as a receiver and draw up plays to get him in space, he should be effective.
Notes
- Rarely broke tackles inside the tackles
Chase Edmonds: 4 carries, 9 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, -2 yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Mike Evans: 10 targets, 6 receptions, 143 yards, TD
It was yet another monster day for Mike Evans. He is the undisputed top receiver for Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers, and he continues to show why. The Titans secondary had no answers for Mike Evans who was somehow always open. He left his defender in the dust down the seam on a third quarter deep shot where he then came back to the ball and made a sliding catch on an underthrown pass. Later that drive though, he had one of the worst drops I have ever seen when he was wide open in the end zone. He was able to make up for it on the next drive when he bullied Tennessee defenders who hopelessly tried to stop him from rumbling into the end zone. The drop isn’t something to be concerned about going forward, and Evans is a proven star.
Missed Opportunities
- Dropped what would have been an easy touchdown catch
Chris Godwin: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 54 yards
Chris Godwin was supposedly playing with an illness, but you couldn’t tell watching the game. He took a back seat to White and Evans, but he still was an important part of the offense who worked his way open in crucial situations. It’s clear that he’s not the number one option as some had hoped, but he still has the ability to work his way open out of the slot and make plays.
Trey Palmer: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 21 yards
The rookie had a quiet day overall. Trey Palmer had one amazing catch on a deep ball, but it was overturned upon further review.
Missed Opportunities
- Couldn’t survive the ground on a deep ball in the second half
Cade Otten: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 10 yards
Cade Otten wasn’t very involved, and it didn’t look like the Buccaneers had any desire to change that. The offensive coaching staff didn’t draw up many plays where he was a viable receiving option.