Seahawks @ Buccaneers
Final Score: Buccaneers 21, Seahawks 16
Writer: Mario Adamo Jr. (@marioadamojr on Twitter, /u/dotcaim on Reddit)
This was the first international game where both teams were leading their division. Mr. Worldwide, Tom Brady has now won in four different countries. This game started slowly, the opening drives for both teams went punt, punt, missed field goal (Ryan Succop wide right), punt, before the Bucs finally scored with a Julio Jones touchdown. The Seahawks had no urgency and were forced into a three-and-out. The Bucs drove down the field again and scored, this time Leonard Fournette found pay dirt. A few more punts split between teams ended the first half.
The Seahawks got the ball to start the second half and used the opportunity to drive down the field and get a field goal to avoid the shut-out overseas. A few plays later the Buccaneers threw an interception. No, not Tom Brady but Leonard Fournette out of the wildcat to Tom Brady. Brady slipped on the route and the coverage made the play, be sure to see the highlight below. The Seahawks managed to get to the goal line, but Geno Smith was sacked and fumbled the ball. Tampa Bay recovered and eleven plays later Chris Godwin secured his first touchdown of the year. Seattle rallied, scoring in just over two minutes with a Tyler Lockett 21-yard touchdown. On the next drive, Tom Brady threw his second interception of the year, and his first pick in 399 pass attempts. Geno Smith led the Seahawks down the field and found Marquise Goodwin in the endzone on fourth down to make it a five-point game. That’s where the comeback attempt would end, as Rachaad White broke out for runs of 12 yards and 18 yards to eat up the clock and ice the game.
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback
Geno Smith: 23/33, 275 Yards, 2 TD | 4 Carries, 22 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost)
Despite the average performance, Geno Smith put up 19.2 fantasy points. The heartbreaker was the red zone fumble on the drive following the Fournette interception, as the Seahawks were building momentum. Besides that, he looked good on his four scrambles and most throws were on target. He was composed for most of the game even against the pressure of Tampa Bay.
Running Back
Kenneth Walker III: 10 Carries, 17 Yards | 8 Targets, 6 Receptions, 55 Yards
On a day where his rushing could go nowhere, Kenneth Walker III was bailed out by his six catches on eight targets. This was more a testament to the Bucs’ defense than anything, they looked like the defense everyone thought they were at the start of the season. The game script was not in Walker’s favor either, he only had three rushes in the second half. He was still involved in the passing game, his eight targets were the second most on the team. In 0PPR his 7.2 are lower than you like to see, but there’s a bright side. Not every team he’ll face will have Akiem Hicks. After the bye next week the Seahawks face the Raiders who give up 18.75 ppg to running backs, the seventh-highest in the league.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
DK Metcalf: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 71 Yards
Tyler Lockett: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 42 Yards, TD
Marquise Goodwin: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 38 Yards, TD
Noah Fant: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 34 Yards
Colby Parkinson: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Will Dissly: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 28 Yards
The duo of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett continue to be stars of this offense. Metcalf led the team in targets and yards, though he wasn’t targetted at all on the Seahawks’ last two drives. The last drive in particular was a lot of hurry-up offense. Geno seemed to focus on tight ends and Lockett on that drive. Lockett only had five targets, but one was a 21-yard catch for a touchdown. He was targeted twice on the final drive of the game, which shows me that when they need to go quick they continue to look for Lockett.
After missing last week’s game against the Cardinals Marquise Goodwin caught both his targets for 38 yards and a touchdown. Both of his catches were for 19 yards, the latter was a touchdown and the Seahawks’ final offensive play of the day.
As for the trio of tight ends, Noah Fant led them in targets with four, they came one a piece on the second, seventh, eighth, and ninth drives. Colby Parkinson had two targets on the final drive but could only bring in one of them, his other target was on the sixth drive. Will Dissly was the only one to bring in all of his targets, but he also had the fewest. Dissly’s two targets came on the sixth drive for the Seahawks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Tom Brady: 22/29, 258 Yards, 2 TD, INT | 6 Carries, -3 Yards | 1 Target
I mentioned it in the opener, but Tom Brady has become the first player to win an NFL game in four different countries. If you look at the players who’ve had such an opportunity it’s a short list, but it’s an accomplishment nonetheless. Brady also ended his streak of consecutive pass attempts with an interception at 399, three shy of tying Aaron Rodgers‘ record. The play featuring Brady that’s all over the internet is him slipping on a route with Leonard Fournette throwing to him. Some added context, five plays before the interception the Bucs ran the wildcat with Fournette rushing the ball. The announcers pointed out how open Brady was on the top of the screen. The Bucs got cute, and tried the same play but instead threw it to Brady, he slipped and the rest is history.
Besides the interception and the slip on his one route, Brady looked great. He was a very efficient 22/29 with two touchdowns. The 29 attempts are his second lowest of the season, only Week 1 was lower. He’s been putting up fine QB fantasy numbers the last few games and did so again today.
This is maybe the worst playcall of all time 😂😭pic.twitter.com/APVUyUR4pL
— PFF (@PFF) November 13, 2022
Running Back
Leonard Fournette: 14 Carries, 57 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 1 Yard | 0/1, INT
Rachaad White: 22 Carries, 105 Yards
Ke’Shawn Vaughn: 2 Carries, 2 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 11 Yards
To the surprise of many, Rachaad White started the game today. He was also the back used on the Bucs’ first drive of the second half. White was on the field for 65% of snaps, while Leonard Fournette was out there on only 28% of snaps. Fournette made the most of limited snaps, carrying the ball 14 times for 57 yards and a touchdown. Before the 1-yard touchdown run, he had a 4-yard run stopped just short, it was nice to see him get a second attempt to punch it in. Fournette was also taken out of the game midway through the fourth quarter with a hip pointer and never returned. I covered what happened with his interception in Brady’s section above.
Back to White, he started the game today and looked good doing it. He ripped off big runs including 10, 12, 18, and 29 yards. When in the red zone it looked like the team still leaned on Fournette early in the game. If available Rachaad White should be a high-priority waiver target.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn saw time on the field only during the Bucs’ ninth drive. It was their second to last drive and around the time Fournette was taken out of the game due to injury.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Chris Godwin: 8 Targets, 6 Receptions, 71 Yards, TD
Julio Jones: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 53 Yards, TD
Mike Evans: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 54 Yards
Scotty Miller: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 25 Yards
Cade Otton: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 35 Yards
Cameron Brate: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
Julio Jones caught the first touchdown of the day, a 31-yard catch and run. That’s his second touchdown in three games. He brought in three of his five total targets and had flashes of his old self today. Chris Godwin finally caught a touchdown, he’s no longer the player with the most targets and no touchdowns this season. This was Godwin’s seventh game of at least six receptions. His two incompletes were on the first and second drives of the game.
Mike Evans started the day strong but was only targeted twice in the second half. The latter of those targets led to Brady’s interception. The game script of running it more and throwing it less affected Evans more than anyone, this game snapped Evans’ three-game streak of 11 or more targets. Scotty Miller brought in both of his targets on the Bucs’ fourth drive. He was targetted a third time in the drive, but there was pass interference on the play.
Cade Otton brought in all three of his targets, including a 25-yard deep pass on the second play of the fourth quarter. Cameron Brate brought in half of his targets, his lone catch on the same drive Otton caught his 25-yarder.