NFL Picks Bucs' Top 10 Plays Of 2023 Season

It’s June, and whereas the Bucs are wrapping up OTAs and gearing up for obligatory mini-camp subsequent week, nobody would blame you should you’re itching for some actual soccer. However we’re nonetheless months away from the beginning of the 2024 common season, so in some methods, wanting again on among the motion from the 2023 season is all we now have proper now.

Tampa Bay stunned an entire lot of individuals in 2023, transitioning from Tom Brady to Baker Mayfield and managing to enhance its win whole by a sport, full a three-peat as NFC South champions and win a playoff sport after a one-and-done look in 2022.

After a 4-7 begin, the Bucs did want a four-game successful streak and a five-wins-in-six-games run to shut the season and prolong their streak of playoff appearances to 4. However between their Week 1 win over the Vikings to their season-ending loss to the Lions within the NFC Divisional Spherical, there have been loads of highlights from the season they put collectively.

The NFL’s official account on X (previously Twitter), just lately compiled these highlights right into a High 10 performs record, and whereas we watch for actual soccer to return in a few months, let’s check out this record.

The @Buccaneers had been heating up in 2023 beneath QB1 @bakermayfield 🔥

What is going to 2024 have in retailer? 👀 pic.twitter.com/yD4ZsCDC6d

— NFL (@NFL) June 6, 2024

10. Baker Mayfield To David Moore Closes Out Bucs’ Win Over Packers

Bucs WR David Moore – Picture by: USA At present

The Bucs offense got here alive on the proper time because the crew received its first 4 video games in December. The third of these wins got here towards the Packers, and it featured Tampa Bay’s finest offensive efficiency of the season. With 34 factors, 452 yards and a 7-of-11 mark on third downs, the Bucs offense lastly obtained rolling after weeks of inconsistency.

Baker Mayfield turned the primary visiting quarterback — and solely the second quarterback ever — to put up an ideal 158.3 passer ranking at Lambeau Area. He was 22-of-28 for 381 yards and 4 touchdowns, with the fourth being a 52-yarder to the seldom-used David Moore. That rating made it 34-20 with 6:30 to go, and the Bucs closed it out from there.

SHEESH! A 52 yd TD for David Moore! 😮

📺: #TBvsGB on CBS📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kw7mays4qU pic.twitter.com/HHjcnKui3c

— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2023

9. Antoine Winfield Jr. Chases Down Desmond Ridder

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and Falcons QB Desmond Ridder – Picture by: USA At present

Over the course of his All-Professional, bag-securing 2023 season, Antoine Winfield Jr. made huge play after huge play. They didn’t all the time need to result in wins to ensure that everybody to understand how unimaginable they had been, too, as was the case with this touchdown-saving compelled fumble at house towards the Falcons.

With the Bucs already trailing 13-10 within the fourth quarter, the Falcons drove 92 yards in 6:07 and seemed to be headed for a 20-10 lead when Desmond Ridder scrambled left and headed for the pylon. Solely there was Winfield, streaking throughout the sector to punch the ball free and knock it into the tip zone for a touchback.

Tampa Bay went on to tie the sport solely to lose it, however this was really an excellent play. It displaying up this low on the record feels flawed, and nobody would’ve blamed you should you thought we wouldn’t see one other play like this any time quickly. Effectively…

Gene Deckerhoff calls an enormous fumble compelled by Antoine Winfield Jr to disclaim Desmond Ridder on the purpose line pic.twitter.com/DfEOJQ22VF

— Bucs Rays Bolts (@BucsRaysBoltsYT) October 22, 2023

8. Antoine Winfield Jr. Chases Down DJ Chark

Antoine Winfield Jr. did it once more in Week 18, and it could very nicely have saved the Bucs’ season in addition to Todd Bowles’ job. Tampa Bay’s offense didn’t precisely present up for the season finale towards 2-14 Carolina, and the Panthers almost obtained the bounce on the Bucs early due to it. Bryce Younger linked with DJ Chark for what regarded like a 43-yard landing early within the second quarter throughout a scoreless sport.

However once more, there was Winfield refusing to surrender on the play. Like he did on the play towards Ridder and the Falcons, he obtained to the ball provider simply in time, knocking the ball free and into the tip zone, the place it was recovered by Jamel Dean. That saved the sport scoreless and though the Bucs solely managed three subject objectives on the day, that play helped be sure they nonetheless received the sport — and it secured the Tampa Bay protection its first shutout since November of 2010.

Once more, this play might be means larger on this record. However along with his new contract, Winfield could not thoughts.

Are you kidding me, @AntoineWJr11?! 🤯

📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX pic.twitter.com/fx6HjjRaku

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 7, 2024

7. Bucs Beat Falcons On Cade Otton’s Recreation-Winner

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Picture by: USA At present

Whereas the Bucs didn’t win their third straight NFC South title till Week 18, the turning level within the division race could have been their early-December, come-from-behind 29-25 win over the Falcons in Atlanta. Tampa Bay as soon as once more didn’t have its finest, however Baker Mayfield confirmed off the clutch issue within the sport’s waning moments.

Mayfield could have solely been 14-of-29 on the day, however he led the offense on a 12-play, 75-yard drive in 2:52 with the sport on the road. After a giant 32-yard move to Chris Godwin on a late third-and-10, Mayfield discovered Cade Otton for an 11-yard landing with 31 seconds to go. It was one other clutch second for Otton — one thing he’s grow to be identified for in his first two NFL seasons — and it put the Bucs within the driver’s seat within the division race.

CADE OTTON 🤯

📺: #TBvsATL on CBS pic.twitter.com/8MOW0tazGC

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 10, 2023

6. Mike Evans: YAC Machine?

As legendary as his profession has been — he’s a future Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer, in any case — Mike Evans has by no means actually been often known as an elite yards-after-catch receiver. However that doesn’t imply he hasn’t flashed a capability to create after the catch. That’s what he did within the Bucs’ Week 2 win over the Bears, and his huge play got here at an important time as Tampa Bay trailed 7-3 after a gradual begin on offense.

Baker Mayfield discovered Evans — who arguably obtained away with some offensive move interference — and Evans did the remainder, going 70 yards earlier than getting tracked down on the 7-yard line. Three performs later, Tampa Bay punched it in for the lead and by no means trailed once more. Evans was disenchanted that he couldn’t end the play in the long run zone, however his YAC capacity sparked what was ultimately a second straight win to begin the season for Tampa Bay.

70 yards for Mike Evans!

📺: #CHIvsTB on FOX⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/RmhL8IWAmW

— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023

5. Mike Evans: YAC Machine + Redemption

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

What was that about Mike Evans not being identified for his YAC capacity? Afterward within the season, he confirmed off some extra talent after the catch and this time, he obtained some redemption as he dove and simply did sufficient to clear the purpose line for a landing. The referee initially dominated him out of bounds, however replay confirmed that Evans’ desperation dive was sufficient.

This specific play, after all, got here in Week 13 towards the Panthers. It was a giant seven-catch, 162-yard day for Evans, with the massive play being this 75-yard landing that gave the Bucs a lead late within the third quarter. Evans caught the ball over the center shy of the 50 and his legs did the remainder as he raced for the longest catch of his profession, surpassing a 72-yarder he had towards the Bengals in October of 2018.

Mike Evans goes 75 yards to get the lead again!

📺: #CARvsTB on CBS📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/xvCjbLUIcN pic.twitter.com/3aOjMTBQzj

— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2023

4. Mike Evans Comes Up With A One-Handed Magnificence

This part of the NFL’s high Bucs performs record clearly belonged to Mike Evans, as he earned No. 6, No. 5 and No. 4. This one got here late in what was an unpleasant Week 3 loss to the Eagles on Monday Evening Soccer. There wasn’t a lot to love about this sport, however that didn’t cease the all-time Bucs nice from developing with a highlight-reel catch within the second half.

Evans went over the center once more on this play and introduced in a excessive Baker Mayfield throw with only one hand, reeling the ball in and holding onto it whilst he went for a little bit of a journey on the shoulder of Eagles security Reed Blankenship. That catch got here on a drive that ended with an Evans landing — Tampa Bay’s lone landing of the sport and the receiver’s third within the first three video games of the season.

OH MY, MIKE EVANS

📺: #PHIvsTB on ABC📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/NkpBC1YFYJ pic.twitter.com/SW3KYRa11s

— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2023

3. Shaq Barrett’s Emotional Choose-Six Caps Bucs’ Win Over Bears

Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Picture by: USA At present

Even when it felt just like the Bucs had been in management throughout the second half of their Week 2 win over the Bears, issues obtained dangerously shut when Chicago obtained inside 20-17 with 6:17 left after which obtained the ball again with greater than two minutes to go. However Shaq Barrett erased any doubt, making an ideal learn on a Justin Fields display screen move, dropping again and intercepting it earlier than being pushed into the tip zone by his teammates for a game-clinching pick-six.

The play itself was masterful in that Barrett learn it so nicely and had it coated completely. It additionally sealed the sport and a 2-0 begin for the Bucs. However the which means behind it was a lot extra vital. Barrett was not solely again from the season-ending Achilles damage he suffered in 2022 however was additionally recovering from the tragic lack of his two-year-old daughter, Arrayah.

His pick-six was a particular second that devoted to her, and seeing his Bucs teammates push him into the tip zone and have fun with him was one of many feel-good moments of the yr in Tampa.

Shaq Barrett pick-six! Big play for the @Buccaneers

📺: #CHIvsTB on FOX⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/06xXbLoBGl

— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023

2. Trey Palmer Electrifies Ray Jay In Bucs’ Playoff Win

The pace of 2023 sixth-round decide Trey Palmer was all the time going to make him an intriguing participant for Tampa Bay. He had his ups and downs as a rookie, however largely performed nicely after being compelled into the WR3 function resulting from Russell Gage’s season-ending damage in coaching camp. Palmer’s pace was on show on a number of events all through the season, however his largest play got here on an enormous stage.

Within the Bucs’ 32-9 Wild Card win over the Eagles, Palmer despatched Raymond James Stadium right into a frenzy late within the third quarter. Tampa Bay led 16-9, having largely managed the sport with out being all that comfortably forward. However after the protection compelled a security to make it 18-9, issues modified as Baker Mayfield discovered Palmer close to the sideline and let the rookie do the remainder. Ultimately, Palmer slipped a sort out and escaped for a 56-yard landing that gave the house crew the separation it wanted.

ONCE AGAIN, HOW Y’ALL FEELING BUCS FANS?! 😱

📺: #PHIvsTB on ESPN/ABC📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/rFlj59UzNi pic.twitter.com/VtoFNKaLZ5

— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2024

1. Chris Godwin’s Down There Someplace

Bucs WR Chris Godwin Picture by: USA At present

The Bucs had largely put the sport away with that Trey Palmer landing late within the third quarter towards the Eagles, however the play that topped the NFL’s record of Tampa Bay’s high highlights from 2023 was in the end the exclamation level on that Wild Card win. Already main 25-9 within the fourth quarter, Baker Mayfield turned strain on a third-and-7 right into a 23-yard landing to Chris Godwin.

Beneath strain, Mayfield unloaded a throw down the sector that, whereas beneath thrown, was hauled in by Godwin to make it 32-9. It was a real “F it, Chris is down there someplace” second from Mayfield and whereas it would’ve been a questionable option to high this record, it proved to be yet another electrical play in a Wild Card win that highlighted the Bucs’ season.