A defense that allowed a league-low 12.8 points per game from Weeks 10-14 was rightfully given a good portion of the credit for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' five-game winning streak. That streak, which vaulted the Buccaneers into the thick of the NFC playoff race, ended on Sunday night in Dallas when the Cowboys scored the games' last nine points to win 26-20.
Obviously, Tampa Bay's defense – and the team as whole – is not going to be satisfied with that outcome. Still, there were some accomplishments of note within that hard-fought game.
For one thing, those nine points the Cowboys scored on three fourth-quarter field goals were the only second-half scores the Buccaneers allowed after hitting halftime in a 17-6 hole. That continues a remarkable trend of second-half scoring defense for Tampa Bay, as over the last six games the Bucs have allowed a total of 26 points and two touchdowns after halftime.
Tampa Bay's defense has allowed the fewest points per game after halftime in the NFL since Week 10.
Team
Gms.
Pts.
Avg.
- Tampa Bay
6
26
4.3
- N.Y. Giants
6
30
5.0
- Seattle
6
35
5.8
- Tennessee
5
36
7.2
- Indianapolis
5
39
7.8
On Sunday night, the Buccaneers rallied from their halftime deficit to take a 20-17 with two third-quarter touchdowns, before the home team moved back ahead for good. Still, Tampa Bay did outscore its opponents in the second half for the fourth time in the last six weeks, with the other two games featuring second-half ties. Overall, the Bucs have outscored their opponents by the widest margin in the second halves of games since Week 10.
Team
PF
PA
Diff.
- Tampa Bay
67
26
+41
- Washington
98
58
+40
- New Orleans
92
57
+35
- N.Y. Giants
64
30
+34
- Atlanta
76
46
+30
Tampa Bay's defense forced only one turnover in Sunday's loss, a fourth-quarter fumble recovery by linebacker Lavonte David. Still, that is the Bucs' 12th fumble recovery of the year, a total the team has not exceeded since it had 19 in 2007. Overall the Buccaneers have recorded a takeaway in 10 straight games, which is the second-longest streak by any team in the NFL this season. The San Diego Chargers have an active streak of 14 straight games with at least one takeaway; no other team has reached double digits this season.
A behind-the-scenes look at the Buccaneers' game against the Cowboys.

Bucs vs. Cowboys

Bucs vs. Cowboys

93 DT Gerald McCoy

Bucs vs. Cowboys

Bucs vs. Cowboys

Bucs vs. Cowboys

28 CB Vernon Hargreaves

Bucs fans

Bucs fan

3 QB Jameis Winston

Bucs fans

28 CB Vernon Hargreaves

Bucs fans

Bucs fans

Bucs fans

28 CB Vernon Hargreaves

29 DB Ryan Smith

Bucs fans

3 QB Jameis Winston

45 TE Alan Cross and #84 TE Cameron Brate

58 LB Kwon Alexander

Bucs vs. Cowboys

28 CB Vernon Hargreaves, and #45 TE Alan Cross

3 QB Jameis Winston

Head Coach Dirk Koetter

Bucs vs. Cowboys

22 RB Doug Martin

54 LB Lavonte David

93 DT Gerald McCoy

93 DT Gerald McCoy

74 G Ali Marpet

3 QB Jameis Winston

89 WR Russell Shepard

37 S Keith Tandy

28 CB Vernon Hargreaves

89 WR Russell Shepard

76 OT Donovan Smith

Bucs vs. Cowboys

93 DT Gerald McCoy, #37 S Keith Tandy, and #30 S Bradley McDougald

37 S Keith Tandy

52 LB Cameron Lynch and #3 QB Jameis Winston

Bucs vs. Cowboys

Bucs vs. Cowboys

30 S Bradley McDougald

3 QB Jameis Winston

Bucs vs. Cowboys

Head Coach Dirk Koetter

37 S Keith Tandy

3 QB Jameis Winston and Head Coach Dirk Koetter

Special Teams Coordinator Nate Kaczor

58 LB Kwon Alexander and #92 DE William Gholston

22 RB Doug Martin

Bucs vs. Cowboys

Head Coach Dirk Koetter

22 RB Doug Martin

3 QB Jameis Winston

11 WR Adam Humphries

11 WR Adam Humphries

3 QB Jameis Winston

84 TE Cameron Brate

54 LB Lavonte David

Head Coach Dirk Koetter

3 QB Jameis Winston

29 DB Ryan Smith

93 DT Gerald McCoy
The Buccaneers committed four giveaways in Sunday's loss and thus lost the turnover battle for the first time since Week Nine against Atlanta. Tampa Bay is still third in the NFL with 26 total takeaways and first in that category since Week Five, with 24. Tampa Bay's +12 turnover differential since Week Five remains the best in the league.
In addition to recovering the Jason Witten fumble forced by fellow linebacker Kwon Alexander on Sunday, Lavonte David also contributed nine tackles and a sack. It was David's second sack of the season and the 15th of his NFL career, which began when the Buccaneers made him a second-round draft pick in 2012. David also has 10 career interceptions. According to Pro Football Reference, that makes him just the sixth player in league history and the first to begin his career in the current millennium to record at least 15 sacks and 10 interceptions in his first five seasons. Sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
NFL Players with 15+ Sacks and 10+ Interceptions in Their First Five Seasons
Player
Team(s)
Seasons
Sacks
INTs
Lavonte David
TB
2012-16
15.0
10
William Thomas
PHI
1991-95
18.0
12
Wilber Marshall
CHI/WAS
1984-88
20.5
12
Keith Bostic
HOU
1983-87
15.0
12
Dave Duerson
CHI
1983-87
15.0
15
E.J. Junior
STL
1981-85
20.5
10
As mentioned, the fumble recovered by David was forced by Kwon Alexander, who also paced all players on both teams with 21 tackles, the most by any Buccaneer defender in 2016.
According to Statspass, which uses statistics compiled by gameday stat crews in NFL press boxes, Alexander's 21 tackles are the most by any player in a single game this season. Alexander owns two of the seven games with 17+ tackles in the NFL this season.
Most Tackles, Single Game, NFL, 2016
Player
Team
Opp.
Date
Tackles
- Kwon Alexander
TB
DAL
Dec. 18
21
- Sean Lee
DAL
NYG
Dec. 11
18
3t. Kwon Alexander
TB
ATL
Sept. 11
17
3t. Zach Brown
BUF
NE
Oct. 2
17
3t. Johnathan Cyprien
JAX
HOU
Dec. 18
17
3t. Jerrell Freeman
CHI
HOU
Sept. 11
17
3t. Logan Ryan
NE
BUF
Oct. 2
17
The description of how Statspass accumulates its tackle data is included above because tackles have long been considered an "unofficial" statistic in the NFL and they have been compiled and publicized in varying manners. For decades, most teams – including the Buccaneers – reported their own player tackle totals based on film study by coaches. Some teams still do, though Statspass totals are more convenient for comparisons between players on different teams.
That history of statistical reporting also makes it difficult to compare Alexander's performance on Sunday to other big tackle days in franchise history. In the Buccaneers' own record book, which necessarily references the tackle data compiled in different manners in previous seasons, Alexander's 21 tackles tie for the fourth most in a single game in team annals.
Most Tackles, Single Game, Buccaneers History
(as compiled by historical team documents)
Player
Opponent
Date
Tackles
- Derrick Brooks
at Minnesota
9/30/01
23
2t. Derrick Brooks
vs. Buffalo
11/26/00
22
2t. Hardy Nickerson
at Chicago
11/23/97
22
3t. Kwon Alexander
at Dallas
12/18/16
21
3t. Shelton Quarles
vs. New Orleans
1/1/06
21
3t. Broderick Thomas
vs. Philadelphia
10/6/91
21
By the statistics compiled by Statspass, Alexander's game was a franchise record. However, Statspass tackle date is only available through the 1994 season. Here are the top five on that list:
Most Tackles, Single Game, Buccaneers History
*(as compiled by Statspass from press box totals, since 1994)
Player
Opponent
Date
Tackles
1t. Kwon Alexander
at Dallas
12/18/16
21
2t. Derrick Brooks
at Minnesota
9/30/01
20
2t. Derrick Brooks
vs. Buffalo
11/26/00
20
4t. Derrick Brooks
at Denver
9/15/96
19
4t. Hardy Nickerson
vs. Minnesota
10/26/97
19
Alexander currently ranks fourth in the NFL with 125 total tackles and first with 97 solo tackles. Alexander missed the last four games of his 2015 rookie season, but since he entered the league he has ranked in the top 10 in tackles per game.
Most Tackles Per Game, NFL, 2015-16
Player
Team(s)
Gms.
Tackles
Avg.
Sean Lee
Cowboys
28
268
9.6
Luke Kuechly
Panthers
23
220
9.6
NaVorro Bowman
49ers
20
189
9.5
Alec Ogletree
Rams
18
166
9.2
Paul Posluszny
Jaguars
28
251
9.0
Bobby Wagner
Seahawks
29
259
8.9
Jerrell Freeman
Colt/Bears
23
203
8.8
Reshad Jones
Dolphins
22
186
8.5
Kwon Alexander
Buccaneers
26
218
8.4
Vontaze Burfict
Bengals
21
175
8.3
**
Offensive Stat Shots
Tight end Cameron Brate gave the Buccaneers a short-lived 20-17 lead in the second half on Sunday night with a 10-yard touchdown catch. It was Brate's seventh TD reception of the season, which is tied for the NFL lead among tight ends in 2016. He also ranks 10th among tight ends in receptions and seventh in receiving yards
Most Touchdowns, Tight End, NFL, 2016
Player
Team
Rec.
Yards
TDs
1t. Cameron Brate
TB
56
648
7
1t. Hunter Henry
SD
32
435
7
3t. Kyle Rudolph
MIN
66
670
6
3t. Delanie Walker
TEN
57
742
6
six tied with…
5
Brate needs just one more touchdown catch during the Buccaneers' final two games to tie franchise Ring of Honor inductee Jimmie Giles for the most in a single season by a tight end. Brate has already joined Giles as the only two Tampa Bay tight ends ever to surpass five touchdown catches in one campaign.
Most Touchdowns, Tight End, NFL, 2016
Player
Season
No.
- Jimmie Giles
1985
8
2t. Cameron Brate
2016
7
2t. Jimmie Giles
1979
7
- Jimmie Giles
1981
6
5t. Calvin Magee
1986
5
5t. Dave Moore
1999
5
5t. Kellen Winslow
2009
5
5t. Kellen Winslow
2010
5
Brate led the Buccaneers with five catches for 73 yards on Sunday, giving him 56 receptions on the season. That's second to Mike Evans's 84 grabs, and wide receiver Adam Humphries is third on the list with 44. If Humphries can snare six receptions over the last two weeks of the season, it will mark the first time since the 2002 Super Bowl season that the Buccaneers have had three different players surpass 50 receptions.
In fact, that's only happened twice in team history, and in both cases there was a running back involved (Michael Pittman in 2002, James Wilder in 1984). That means the trio of Evans, Brate and Humphries could be the first set of non-RBs to accomplish that feat together.
Season
Players w/50+ Receptions
2002
Keyshawn Johnson (76), Keenan McCardell (61), Michael Pittman (59)
1984
James Wilder (85), Kevin House (76), Gerald Carter (60)
Nearly all of those passes caught by Evans, Brate and Humphries have been delivered by second-year quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's loss, giving him 3,611 yards and 25 touchdowns on the season. If he maintains the per-game rate that got him to those totals for two more weeks, Winston would finish with 4,127 yards and either 28 or 29 touchdowns. Both of those would be new single-season franchise records.
Winston needs just three more touchdown passes to break the Bucs' record, and he's on the verge of recording his second 4,000-yard campaign.
Most Passing Yards, Single Season, Buccaneers
Player
Season
Yards
- Josh Freeman
2012
4,065
- Jameis Winston
2015
4,042
- Brad Johnson
2003
3,811
- Jameis Winston
2016
3,611
- Josh Freeman
2011
3,592
Most Touchdown Passes, Single Season, Buccaneers
Player
Season
TDs
- Josh Freeman
2012
27
- Brad Johnson
2003
26
3t. Jameis Winston
2016
25
3t. Josh Freeman
2010
25
5t. Brad Johnson
2003
22
5t. Jameis Winston
2015
22
If Winston does total 389 or more passing yards during the final two weeks of the season (against the teams that have given up the most and the 10th-most passing yards this season), he will become the first quarterback in NFL history to open his career with two 4,000-yard campaigns. He is already in the all-time top five in passing yards in a player's first two NFL seasons.
Most Passing Yards, Player's First Two Seasons, NFL
Player
Team
Seasons
Yards
- Andrew Luck
Colts
2012-13
8,196
- Cam Newton
Panthers
2011-12
7,920
- Peyton Manning
Colts
1998-99
7,874
- Jameis Winston
Buccaneers
2015-16
7,653
- Blake Bortles
Jaguars
2014-15
7,336