Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver Chris Godwin Makes Franchise Mark

Originally posted on FanNation All Bucs
By David Harrison | Last updated 10/27/23

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Buffalo Bills 24-18 to start Week 8 of the NFL schedule on Thursday Night Football.

While many experts picked the Buccaneers to lose this matchup the game was arguably closer than most thought it would be.

Still, a loss is a loss in this business, but not all was negative, and the Bucs announced that receiver Chris Godwin moved into a tie Thursday night for third all-time in franchise history with 33 career touchdown catches.

Godwin's 33rd touchdown catch was his first of the season and came with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half.

At the time, the score helped Tampa Bay draw even with the Bills who had scored 10 unanswered points to start the game.

Godwin finished the game with five catches for 54 yards and that one score.

Meanwhile, fellow star receiver Mike Evans brought in three passes gaining 69 yards in the process and scoring once himself.

That touchdown was Evans' 86th all-time and maintained his 53-score lead over Godwin who is the closest active player to his franchise record.

Neither Godwin or Evans led the team in receiving for Week 8, however, as that honor went to running back Rachaad White who caught all seven of his targets for 70 yards.

On top of his 39 yards rushing on nine carries White was able to match his career-high 109 yards of total offense in a single game.

While losing is never easy there are some signs that future contests could result in wins as the Buccaneers currently sit second in the NFL in redzone defense allowing touchdowns to opponents just 27.3 percent of the time and are tied for third in the league with 13 takeaways this season.

The Bucs will now enter into a pseudo-bye with their next game not scheduled until November 5th.

It's an opportunity to rest and rehab, but also do some valuable self-scouting as they prepare to enter the back half of the regular season in Houston for Week 9.