WIDE RECEIVERS and TIGHT ENDS: A
Cameron Brate was a painfully obvious absence as the Buccaneers placed the second-year standout on injured reserve prior to this game.
It didn’t stop Dirk Koetter from calling 21 pass plays in the first half though, and nine of those throws went in the direction of Adam Humphries who hauled in seven of them for 57-yards.
Mike Evans got his normal heavy workload before the break and had three catches on seven targets for 39-yards himself.
The lean towards Humphries and Evans continued after halftime as Winston went to his two reliable targets all afternoon against an under-performing Panthers secondary.
The former Clemson Tiger brought in twice as many passes with ten going for a total of 94-yards, but it was Evans who brought in the touchdown catch among his five total.
The score tied his own career high and team high for a single season giving him twelve on the year.
His 65-yards receiving in Week 17 puts him at 3,578 yards in his three-year career, and as reported by Thomas Bassinger puts him on pace to surpass the great Jerry Rice in receiving yards.
Mike Evans has more receiving yards in his first three seasons than Jerry Rice. #Bucs #CARvsTB
— Thomas Bassinger (@tometrics) January 1, 2017
To be expected, the tight ends were fairly quiet with Cameron Brate absent with injury. Luke Stocker brought in the only reception for the group which tallied one yard from scrimmage, and their biggest impact could be felt in blocking, which they did a pretty good job at.
Overall, it was an effective day, and again – you set records, you get good grades.