Buccaneers fans blast Pro Bowl voters after insane Antoine Winfield forced fumble
By Josh Hill
![Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Carolina Panthers Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Carolina Panthers](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4771,h_2683,x_0,y_450/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/50/01hkjmp2a745dvkbyydf.jpg)
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.
Are you kidding me, @AntoineWJr11?! ๐คฏ
โ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 7, 2024
๐บ: #TBvsCAR on FOX pic.twitter.com/fx6HjjRaku
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.
Yet another elite, impactful play Antoine Winfield Jr. โ like heโs done all year
โ Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 7, 2024
Nothing but complete ignorance he did not make the Pro Bowl. Easy All-Pro pic.twitter.com/kao7CilUHz
Antoine Winfield Jr. has now forced two fumbles through the endzone this season.
โ Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) January 7, 2024
THE PRO BOWL IS A JOKE.
โ PewterReport ๐ดโโ ๏ธ (@PewterReport) January 7, 2024
Hand #GoBucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. the All-Pro honor. https://t.co/hD0lZVwERF
Budda Baker could NEVER
โ Ashlie Abrahams (@EMT_Ashlie) January 7, 2024
All-Pro All-World Antoine Winfield Jr
โ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฐ ๐๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ (@ZacOnTheMic) January 7, 2024
Screw the Pro Bowl ๐ก #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/MaOfonNg6Z
Not the 1st time he's done this in 2023.
โ Luke Easterling (@LukeEasterling) January 7, 2024
Tied for the most forced fumbles in the NFL this season (six) w/Bradley Chubb. #ProBowlMyAss #hmm https://t.co/aQd1RJ9rLs
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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