5 winners (and 2 losers) from Buccaneers huge Week 14 win over Falcons
By Josh Hill
Loser: Devin White
Perhaps nobody had a rougher day than Devin White, which is particularly rich considering he wasn't even active.
White was ruled out on Friday and didn't make the trip to Atlanta, which is one part of the issue. Ryan Jensen, who has been out for the season with a potentially career-ending knee injury, was at the game trying to energize the team from the sideline.
On the field, things didn't help White's case either.
K.J. Britt started in place of White and finished the game with eight tackles, which was tied with Antoine Winfield Jr for the second-most on the team. This comes a week after J.J. Russell finished second in tackles in the win over Carolina while also starting in place of White.
Noticing a trend here?
It's been weeks since White has looked like the guy Bucs fans expected him to be, and he's hardly looked like a $100 million linebacker this season. He's shown flashes, but it hasn't been enough and has only served as a tease for the type of player he should be for Tampa Bay.
White should be one of the best players in the league but that hasn't been the case. His so-so season is now juxtaposed against guys who are tiers below him on the talent chart filling in for him to a great degree of success, and it's all happening ahead of an offseason in which the Bucs will have tough decisions to make. Guys like Antoine Winfield Jr and Tristan Wirfs need to get paid, and Mike Evans needs a new contract as well. Bills are coming due left and right for key players, and days like Sunday make fans wonder whether or not White fits into that category.
It's unfortunately starting to feel like he doesn't.