7 winners (and 3 losers) from Bucs blowout Wild Card win over Eagles
By Josh Hill
![NFC Wild Card Playoffs - Philadelphia Eagles v Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC Wild Card Playoffs - Philadelphia Eagles v Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3000,h_1687,x_0,y_50/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/50/01hm85qgye22xsppw1p4.jpg)
Winner: Calijah Kancey
One of the defining qualities of this season for hte BUccaneers has been how much rookie contributors have stepped up. It's a feather in th ecap of Jason Licht for nailing this year's draft class, but all of the credit on Monday goes to Calijah Kancey.
So many people thought the Bucs were going to trade up for a quarterback or draft an offensive lineman, but they took Kancey with the No. 19 overall pick. He played sparringly the first few games of the season due to an injury, but once he found his footing he hit a stride that looks like he's another slam dunk draft pick by Licht.
Kancey was all over the place as a disruptor on the defensive line, playing a key role in two massive plays. He had a solo highlight on a wildly impressive sack of Jalen Hurts early in the game that helped the Bucs defense stifle Philly's offense and keep the Eagles on their heels.
Calijah Kancey with the huge third down sack. Beautiful job working through the OG outside, completely separated. pic.twitter.com/5KqrIhL8HE
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) January 16, 2024
Kancey drew comparrisons to Aaron Donald when he was drafted, and even as great as he's been those expectations are lofty. The rookie out of Pitt has lived up to the billing of a first round pick, though, whether it be wrecking the offensive line on his own or doing so to set up another teammate.
Kancey helped disrupt the Eagles front to set up Anthony Nelson for a safety later in the game, bu the continued to feast on his own right up to the very end.
Calijah Kancey -- Aaron Donald-esque#PHIvsTB #Buccaneers #FlyEaglesFly @AaronDonald97 pic.twitter.com/uVohshiUOk
— ᑭᖇO ᖴOOTᗷᗩᒪᒪ ᒍOᑌᖇᑎᗩᒪ 🏈 (@NFL_Journal) January 16, 2024