| |
Dare Ogunbowale: Possible lead role dims
Friday, December 12, 2025 8:02 AM
Ogunbowale's chances of being Houston's lead back dimmed Thursday, when Woody Marks (knee) was a limited participant.
While Marks is trending in the right direction, Nick Chubb (ribs) is not. The latter was a DNP for a second straight day. If those trends continue heading into Sunday, then Ogunbowale could still be in line for increased volume on offense as the top backup to Marks.
|
C.J. Stroud: Looks to respond better
Friday, December 12, 2025 6:57 AM
Stroud acknowledge his poise faltered against Kansas City's aggressive defense in the second half of Sunday's win over the Chiefs, Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports. "I think that's something I can get better at, just being calm in the chaos," Stroud said. "Pressure, guys flying at your feet, hitting you after the whistle or whatever the case may be. I just want to be able to put my team in better positions."
Lost among Houston's fifth straight victory and dominating defensive effort was the offense's second-half struggles to move the ball. After leaping to a 10-0 lead at half time, the Texans totaled 67 yards (2.0 yards per play) in the final 30 minutes with four consecutive three-and-outs as the Chiefs dialed up blitz after blitz. Houston's defense set up a couple of short fields in the fourth quarter, which produced the final 10 points and secured the win. Stroud's performance against the pressure is somewhat surprising, given his 60.3 percent completion percentage against pressure heading into the game was the best of his career and better than most quarterbacks this season. In Week 15, Stroud faces the Cardinals, who rank 12th in blitzing (25.1 percent) but only 27th in pressures (18.3 percent) and sacks (24) through 13 games.
|
Sean Tucker: Gets into end zone Thursday
Friday, December 12, 2025 2:32 AM
Tucker rushed four times for seven yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night. He also returned two kickoffs for 42 yards.
Tucker logged three more touches than Rachaad White behind Bucky Irving, who lapped the Buccaneers' running backs with 16 carries. The third-year back was extremely inefficient in a limited sample, but Tucker did manage to score for the second straight game on a one-yard run to cap off an 11-play drive late in the first quarter. The usage of Tucker and White behind Irving remains hard to predict on a game-to-game basis, capping the upside of both reserve backs heading into a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.
|
Rachaad White: Just two touches in loss
Friday, December 12, 2025 1:29 AM
White rushed once for 20 yards and brought in his only target for six yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.
White surprisingly was limited to his lowest touch count of the season, just four days after gaining an efficient 53 yards on 11 carries against the Saints. The veteran back was even out-touched by Sean Tucker, who logged three more carries and recorded a rushing touchdown. The usage behind Bucky Irving has been a bit haphazard over a limited sample this season, so White could revert to a more typical workload in a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.
|
Jalen McMillan: Two catches in season debut
Friday, December 12, 2025 1:18 AM
McMillan (neck) brought in both targets for 38 yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.
Making his long-awaited season debut following his recovery from a preseason neck injury, McMillan looked good while bringing in a pair of 19-yard grabs. One of those catches was originally ruled a 20-yard touchdown reception that was overturned on replay, when it was determined McMillan hadn't broken the plane of the goal line. The second-year wideout will have a chance to build on what was an encouraging initial performance when the Bucs travel to Carolina for a key Week 16 clash with the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.
|
Chris Godwin: Salvages night with TD
Friday, December 12, 2025 12:45 AM
Godwin brought in four of five targets for 20 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night. He also recorded a two-point conversion catch.
Godwin tied for second in receptions on the night for the Buccaneers, even with both Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan being active, and despite his very modest yardage total, he still delivered a serviceable fantasy night thanks to his three-yard TD grab and ensuing two-point conversion catch early in the fourth quarter. The TD was Godwin's first of the season, and he's now accumulated nine receptions over his last two games heading into a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.
|
David Sills: Career-best effort in win
Friday, December 12, 2025 12:40 AM
Sills secured six of 10 targets for 78 yards in the Falcons' 29-28 win over the Buccaneers on Thursday night.
Sills finished third across the board in receptions, receiving yards and targets for the Falcons on what was a banner night for the air attack, putting together a career-best effort in the process. The veteran West Virginia product continued to play an expanded role due to the absence of Drake London (knee), but Sills could be due for a reduction in opportunity in a Week 16 road matchup against the Cardinals that the former could be ready to suit up for.
|
Emeka Egbuka: Productive on four catches
Friday, December 12, 2025 12:35 AM
Egbuka brought in four of seven targets for 64 yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.
Egbuka tied for second in receptions while also checking in as the runner-up in receiving yards and targets to the returning Mike Evans. Thursday marked the first time the Buccaneers' top four receivers -- Evans, Egbuka, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan -- played together, but Egbuka's target tally took only a slight hit from that of his previous four contests, when he'd drawn between eight and nine looks from Baker Mayfield. Egbuka also recorded multiple catches of 20-plus yards (two) for the first time since Week 10, and he'll aim to continue capitalizing on the reduced defensive attention in a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.
|
Bucky Irving: Held in check in loss
Friday, December 12, 2025 12:28 AM
Irving rushed 16 times for 60 yards and brought in one of three targets for 11 yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.
As his final rushing line implies, Irving was largely held in check by a feisty Falcons front seven, leading to his third straight game averaging under 4.0 yards per carry. Irving was the unquestioned lead back, outpacing Rachaad White by a whopping 15 carries and logging 12 more rush attempts than Sean Tucker as well, though it's worth noting that the Bucs were in the red zone three times Thursday, and Tucker was typically the running back on the field when they were. Irving's reception total was also his lowest of the season, and he'll look to atone against the Panthers on the road in a key Week 16 matchup on Sunday, Dec. 21.
|
Baker Mayfield: Solid yardage total in loss
Friday, December 12, 2025 12:24 AM
Mayfield completed 19 of 34 passes for 277 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding one rush for one yard in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night. He also threw a two-point conversion pass.
Mayfield clawed his way to an impressive yardage total despite finding himself under constant pressure, taking five sacks and seven official hits overall. The veteran signal-caller did clearly benefit from the returns of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan from injured reserve, as the duo accounted for 170 total receiving yards, with 132 of those coming from Evans. Mayfield's one interception was also particularly critical to the outcome, as it came with 8:28 remaining at the Falcons' 33-yard line and ultimately led to an Atlanta touchdown that narrowed what had been a 28-20 deficit. On the brighter side, Mayfield's yardage total was his best since Week 5, and he'll aim to keep the Buccaneers' playoff hopes afloat with a more efficient performance in a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.
|