3 Up, 3 Down: Best and Worst Performers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the New England Patriots

Sep 22, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner back

(27) is called for pass interference as New England Patriots wide receiver

(17) drops a pass during the second quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the New England on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean every single player is to blame. Every week, we’ll bring you “3 Up, 3 Down” featuring three players who stood out, and three players who disappointed.

Let’s start with the bad news:

3 Down: Most Disappointing Players

• Daniel Te’o-Nesheim: When Gary Gibson left the game in the early stages, it was Te’o-Nesheim who saw a good amount of work in his place at defensive tackle. And while that may be more of a mistake from the coaches to put Daniel in that position, he still failed to do anything resembling a good job while he was in the game. He gave up his gap frequently, and failed to get pressure on the quarterback on passing plays.
• Johnthan Banks:  It’s odd to point out two players on defense who disappointed when the offense scored three points, but I believe that Banks was one of the most disappointing players on the field on Sunday. He allowed a touchdown to Kenbrell Thompkins, and was otherwise not very good in coverage. The Patriots targeted Banks, and he wasn’t able to deliver.
• Timothy Wright: If you watched the game, you already know. Wright’s only moment of possible impact turned into disappointment when he couldn’t haul in a great pass from Josh Freeman in the end zone.

3 Up: Most Impressive Players

• Darrelle Revis: Even though he wasn’t used particularly well on Sunday, often playing well off of the New England receivers, or playing in a zone, Revis still played like Darrelle Revis. It’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security based on how good he plays in any circumstances, but it’s really criminal that this coaching staff doesn’t play to his strengths more often.
• Eric Page: This young man needs a bigger opportunity to play, because he’s got very reliable hands and adjusts very well to passes in the air. I’m hoping to see more of Page during Week 4.
• Akeem Spence: Spence earned a sack with a great rush up the middle to get Tom Brady, and he added some additional pass rush pressure over the course of the game. He also contributed to solid run defense while he was on the field. Spence deserves a big role in this defense, because if he has the stamina to play, I believe he’s shown a skill set to play on all three downs. He’s better than the alternative, which is moving Daniel Te’o-Nesheim to defensive tackle, which a smart team like the Pats will use as an easy way to gain rushing yards.