Pictures of Jacquizz Rodgers during the Bucs' game against the Panthers.
With Doug Martin sidelined by a hamstring strain and Charles Sims on injured reserve, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers knew they would have to lean on Jacquizz Rodgers on Monday night if they hoped to establish a rushing attack. And lean on Rodgers they did.
The former Atlanta Falcon and Chicago Bear carried the ball 30 times for 101 yards in the Buccaneers' thrilling 17-14 win over the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte on Monday. Those were both single-game career highs for Rodgers, who had never before logged more than 18 totes in one outing and who had not had 10 or more in a game since December of 2014. Rodgers' previous career high for yards was 86, recorded on Sept. 22, 2013 against Miami during his time with the Falcons.
Rodgers became the first Tampa Bay back to have 30 carries in a game in almost three years, since Bobby Rainey carried 30 times for 163 yards in a win over Atlanta on Nov. 17, 2013. In fact, Monday night featured just the 18th 30-carry game by an individual in franchise history. The Buccaneers are now 15-3 in those games and have won 12 in a row.
Individual 30-Carry Games, Buccaneers, All-Time, Sorted by Date
Player
No.
Yds.
Date
Opp.
Outcome
Jacquizz Rodgers
30
101
Oct. 10, 2016
at CAR
W
17-14
Bobby Rainey
30
163
Nov. 17, 2013
ATL
W
41-28
Earnest Graham
34
124
Nov. 4, 2007
AZ
W
17-10
Cadillac Williams
31
150
Dec. 24, 2005
ATL
W
27-24
Cadillac Williams
37
158
Sept. 25, 2005
at GB
W
17-16
Thomas Jones
34
134
Dec. 14, 2003
HOU
W
16-3
Michael Pittman
30
113
Oct. 26, 2003
DAL
W
16-0
Errict Rhett
33
95
Nov. 10, 1996
OAK
W
20-17
Errict Rhett
31
119
Dec. 11, 1994
RAM
W
24-14
Errict Rhett
40
192
Dec. 4, 1994
WAS
W
26-21
James Wilder
31
103
Dec. 16, 1984
NYJ
W
41-21
James Wilder
34
99
Nov. 11, 1984
NYG
W
20-17
James Wilder
30
146
Nov. 4, 1984
at MIN
L
24-27
James Wilder
30
72
Oct. 14, 1984
at DET
L
7-13
James Wilder
43
172
Sept. 30, 1984
GB
W
30-27
James Wilder
31
219
Nov. 6, 1983
at MIN
W
17-12
James Wilder
42
126
Oc.t 30, 1983
at PIT
L
12-17
Ricky Bell
39
137
Dec. 16, 1979
KC
W
3-0
Rodgers added five receptions for 28 yards on Monday night, giving him 35 offensive touches overall. That is tied for the 11th most in a game in team history and is the most by any Buccaneer in almost a decade. The last Buccaneer to record 35 or more touches in a game was running back Earnest Graham, with 36 against Arizona on Nov. 4, 2007.
Player
No.
Yds.
Date
Opp.
Outcome
Jacquizz Rodgers
35
129
Oct. 10, 2016
at CAR
W
17-14
Earnest Graham
36
137
Nov. 4, 2007
AZ
W
17-10
Cadillac Williams
38
158
Sept. 25, 2005
at GB
W
17-16
Thomas Jones
35
151
Dec. 14, 2003
HOU
W
16-3
Errict Rhett
35
101
Nov. 10, 1996
OAK
W
20-17
Errict Rhett
40
192
Dec. 4, 1994
WAS
W
26-21
James Wilder
35
184
Sept. 15, 1985
MIN
L
16-31
James Wilder
40
163
Dec. 16, 1984
NYJ
W
41-21
James Wilder
38
136
Dec. 2, 1984
at GB
L
14-27
James Wilder
39
132
Oct. 14, 1984
at DET
L
7-13
James Wilder
47
216
Sept. 30, 1984
GB
W
30-27
James Wilder
36
239
Nov. 6, 1983
at MIN
W
17-12
James Wilder
48
174
Oct. 30, 1983
at PIT
L
12-17
Ricky Bell
39
137
Dec. 16, 1979
KC
W
3-0
Rodgers only joined the Bucs on Sept. 13, signing as a free agent after being released by the Bears. Monday night's game was his fourth with the team, and his first start. Rodgers is now the fourth running back in team history to rush for 100 yards in his first start as a Buccaneer.100 Yards Rushing in First Start as a Buccaneer
It should be noted that Eckwood, Wonsley and Williams were all rookies in their respective first starts, with Eckwood and Williams coming aboard as draft picks and Wonsley as an undrafted free agent. Rodgers is thus the first veteran free agent acquisition to rush for 100 yards in his first start as a Buccaneer.
Tampa Bay opened Monday night's game with a 15-play field goal drive, of which the first six snaps were runs. Rodgers tallied all of them, finishing the drive with 10 carries plus one reception. Using information gathered on the Pro Football Reference website, that marked the first time since at least 1998 that a Buccaneer player has carried the ball 10 or more times on a game-opening drive. Information prior to 1998 is not readily available.
That drive chewed the first 8:32 off the clock at Bank of America Stadium. So far, it is the Buccaneers' longest drive of the season in terms of both plays and time elapsed. The last time the Buccaneers had a drive of at least 15 plays was also at Carolina, a 16-play march in last year's season finale (1/3/16). The Bucs eventually turned the ball over on downs on that possession, however. The last scoring drive of at least 15 plays for the Buccaneers occurred last year at Philadelphia (11/22/15).
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While Rodgers did yeoman's work, all of the Buccaneers points in their 17-14 victory were scored by kicker Roberto Aguayo (three of five field goals), and wide receivers Mike Evans (26-yard TD catch) and Adam Humphries (2-point conversion). That was Evans' fourth scoring reception, tied for the most through a season's first five games in team history.
Most Receiving TDs, First Five Games of a Season, Buccaneers
Evans caught six passes for 89 yards and that third-quarter, game-tying touchdown on Monday night, pushing his 2016 totals to 32 catches for 449 yards and four scores. The third-year receiver is currently tied for seventh in the NFL in receptions while ranking seventh in yards and tied for fifth in TD grabs. The only other player in the NFL to rank in the top 10 in both yards and receptions and also have at least four touchdowns is Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown.
Evans has the third-most receiving yards through the first five games of a season in team annals and he's one of just five Bucs to have at least 400 in that span.
Most Receiving Yards, First Five Games of a Season, Buccaneers
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QB Jameis Winston moved up another notch on the Buccaneers' all-time passing chart, leaping over Jeff Garcia into eighth place. He needs less than 800 more yards to pass Craig Erickson and jump up another notch. Winston is on pace to throw for 4,246 yards and 29 touchdowns, both of which would be new franchise records. The current standards were set by Josh Freeman in 2012 when he threw for 4,065 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Buccaneers Career Passing Yardage Leaders
