Buccaneers fans blast Pro Bowl voters after insane Antoine Winfield forced fumble

It's been a wild week for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, from the team's playoff hopes being on the line to drama surrounding who will be back next year and who won't be.

A loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday would be devastating, as it would end the Bucs season and essentially end the tenure of most of the coaching staff. If there's been one positive thread throughout the season, though, it's been the consistently elite-level of play by safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who has refused to do anything other than go down swinging.

He's established this in a few different ways, from his career-best stat totals to having the uncanny ability to pull the Bucs out of a disasterous situation. Winfield did that again on Sunday in Carolina with Tampa Bay's season on the line.

Carolina had the Bucs defense dead to rights on what appeared to be a huge DJ Chark touchdown catch, but Winfield had other ideas. Just like he did against the Falcons earlier in the season, Winfield came flying over to force a fumble at the goal line and save a touchdown.

It needs to be reiterated: this is the second time Winfield has done this. He's single-handidly kept 14 points off the board and might have saved the Buccaneers season.

The play was more than just cathartic for Bucs fans who watched their playoff hopes flash before their eyes. It comes a few days after Winfield was snubbed from the Pro Bowl, failing to get voted in and instead making the roster as an alternate.

Adding insult to injury, Budda Baker, who isn't even a Top 30 player at his position this year, made it to the Pro Bowl as a starter.

Bucs fans were quick to point out how insane the decision was after Winfield's play.

Winfield might not be a Pro Bowler in the eyes of voters who are clearly not paying attention, but he's secured a place in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future. If there's one thing certain about the offseason it's that Winfield is going to essentially get a blank check to remain with the Bucs and he's earned every single penny of his next contract.

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