Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Chris Godwin Approaches Bucs Record Before Injury

Data Crunch: Before leaving Sunday's game with a knee injury, Chris Godwin came close to eclipsing the Bucs' single-season receptions record…Leonard Fournette, Rob Gronkowski and Lavonte David all added to impressive totals, as well

Data Crunch

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were shut out for the first time in nine years on Sunday night by the New Orleans Saints, 9-0, and games with no points generally also have few statistics to get excited about, unless you're the opposing defense. To put it another way, there is not much Data to Crunch this week.

Still, Chris Godwin, Leonard Fournette and a couple other Buccaneers did hit notable milestones or moved up lists of some importance. Godwin only played one quarter and 90 seconds of the second period before leaving with what has proved to be a season-ending knee injury, but he used that time to catch six passes and in the process moved into second place in team history in single-season receptions.

Most Receptions, Single Season, Buccaneers History

Table inside Article
PlayerSeasonRecs.
Keyshawn Johnson2001106
Chris Godwin202198
Mike Evans201696
Mark Carrier198986
Mike Evans201886
Chris Godwin201986

As it turns out, that's a final 2021 total for Godwin, who will not get a chance to top 100 catches or catch Johnson at the top of the list due to an ACL tear. Godwin also won't improve his totals relative to the league's other top receivers but he had moved into the top five in the NFL in both receptions and receiving yards, with four Week 15 games still to be played on Monday and Tuesday nights.

2021 NFL Leaders in Receptions

Table inside Article
PlayerTeamReceptions
Cooper Kupp*Rams113
Tyreek HillChiefs102
Chris GodwinBuccaneers98
Davante AdamsPackers96
Keenan AllenChargers92

2021 NFL Leaders in Receiving Yards

Table inside Article
PlayerTeamReceiving Yards
Cooper Kupp*Rams1,489
Justin Jefferson*Vikings1,288
Davante AdamsPackers1,248
Tyreek HillChiefs1,178
Chris GodwinBuccaneers1,103

(* Kupp and the Rams play on Tuesday night; Jefferson and the Vikings play on Monday night.)

Fournette also left the game in the third quarter due to a hamstring injury, but before doing so he caught another seven passes for 33 yards, giving him 69 receptions on the season. That total leads all NFL running backs in 2021.

Most Receptions, Running Backs, NFL

Table inside Article
PlayerTeamReceptions
Leonard FournetteBuccaneers69
Austin EkelerChargers62
Najee HarrisSteelers62
D'Andre SwiftLions56
Cordarrelle PattersonFalcons48

Fournette's availability for the remaining three regular-season games is obviously in question early in Week 16, but if he can get back on the field he'll have a chance to chase the second-most receptions by a running back in a single season in franchise history, if not the top spot.

Most Receptions by a Running Back, Single Season, Buccaneer History

Table inside Article
PlayerSeasonRecs.
James Wilder198485
Michael Pittman200375
Leonard Fournette202169
Warrick Dunn200168
Mike Alstott199665

Despite his early exit, Fournette finished Sunday's game with 77 yards from scrimmage. With the aforementioned four games still to be played on Monday and Tuesday nights, the Bucs' back ranks fifth among NFL running backs in yards from scrimmage in 2021.

2021 NFL Leaders in Yards from Scrimmage, Running Backs

Table inside Article
PlayerTeamYards
Jonathon TaylorColts1,854
Austin EkelerChargers1,347
Joe MixonBengals1,298
Najee HarrisSteelers1,296
Leonard FournetteBuccaneers1,266

Rob Gronkowski caught two passes for 29 yards on Sunday night, a modest total in what has been a stellar season for the veteran tight end. That was enough yardage, however, to push him past another impressive career milestone. Gronkowski is now just the fifth tight end in NFL history to surpass 9,000 receiving yards.

Most Receiving Yards by a Tight End, NFL History

Table inside Article
Tight EndTeam(s)Yards
Tony GonzalezChiefs/Falcons15,127
Jason WittenCowboys/Raiders13,046
Antonio GatesChargers11,841
Shannon SharpeBroncos/Ravens10,060
Rob GronkowskiPatriots/Buccaneers9,011

Tampa Bay's defense had a strong outing in Sunday's loss, holding the Saints to 212 total yards and just 3.5 yards per play, both the lowest totals the Bucs have allowed in a game this season. One of the standouts in that effort was inside linebacker Lavonte David, who led the team with 11 tackles and also produced one sack, three tackles for loss, one quarterback hit and one forced fumble.

TFLs and forced fumbles have been calling cards for David throughout his 10-year career, which began in 2012 when the Buccaneers selected him in the second round of the draft. In the decade since, David has ranked third in the league in both forced fumbles and tackles for losses. Every other player in the top five on those lists is a pass-rusher, with TFLs and forced fumbles frequently the results of high sack totals.

Most Forced Fumbles, NFL, 2012-21

Table inside Article
PlayerTeam(s)FFs
Chandler JonesPatriots/Cardinals31
Robert QuinnRams/Bears/Cowboys/Dolphins29
Lavonte DavidBuccaneers26
J.J. WattTexans/Cardinals26
Khalil MackRaiders/Bears23
Von MillerBroncos/Rams23

Most Tackles for Loss, NFL, 2012-21

Table inside Article
PlayerTeam(s)TFLs
J.J. WattTexans/Cardinals166
Aaron DonaldRams143
Lavonte DavidBuccaneers134
Cameron JordanSaints131
Von MillerBroncos/Rams127

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