Bucs Fans Are All Blaming the Same Person for Chris Godwin's Injury
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not possess the firepower to compete with the Baltimore Ravens Monday night. A 41-31 final score deceives the reality of the game, which was the AFC foe taking this contest at Raymond James Stadium handedly.
Admirably, the Bucs kept fighting when down 41-18, scoring twice and recovering an onside kick to pull the deficit within 10. They would use their timeouts and force a Baltimore punt, getting the ball back with 1:43 to go.
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
While in a wild scenario the Bucs theoretically could have pushed Baltimore to the brink, sometimes it's better to accept defeat. That concept may be controversial for a head coach, but that internal conflict cannot take precent over the safety of invaluable players.
Todd Bowles made that mistake. Such poor judgement has now cost Tampa Bay Chris Godwin likely for the season with a dislocated ankle suffered on the team's final drive.
The Bucs had also already lost Mike Evans earlier in the game after he aggravated a lingering hamstring injury. For Bowles not to recognize his team's fragility in that moment remains inexcusable.
Godwin currently leads the team in receiving with 50 receptions for 576 yards. Those impressive numbers do not demonstrate the value of his connection with Mayfield. Evans is certainly the No. 1 receiver on the depth chart, but Godwin has been the quarterback's go-to on numerous occasions this season.
That production is now gone and Mayfield must carry one potentially without his two best receivers for the foreseeable future, which immediately directs to an NFC South rematch with the Atlanta Falcons.
In essence, Bowles opted to gamble for a miraculous yet unnecessary rally instead of protecting his team for their most important game of the season to this point. That ineptitude cannot go unnoticed.
Positioned to hit the free agent market in the offseason, Godwin could now walk away from the team without the Bucs' realizing the full potential of this core and an improved quarterback at the helm.
Once hopeful to relieve themselves of recent mediocrity, Tampa Bay is in danger of staying in that same spot.
The journey out of that place becomes much more difficult now and the Bucs only have their coach to blame. Such decision making is what ruins season and Bowles' blunder is further proof.
The Bucs have invested a great deal in their roster core and collected the talent to win now. If Bowles cannot right the ship and prove they can stay on course, this front office may need to evaluate their investments on the coaching front.
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