TAMPA, Fla. -- Here’s a look at the first half of the season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) and a preview of what to expect in the second half:
Grade: D+. The offense is averaging 22.5 points per game, 18th in the league, and the defense is surrendering 29, which is 29th in the league. The defense also gave up over 1,000 yards to opponents in two weeks, including a franchise-record 626 yards surrendered to the Oakland Raiders. The Bucs’ only win against an opponent with a winning record was in Week 1, when they beat the Atlanta Falcons 31-24. Their other two wins have come against teams that are now a combined 3-11.
Midseason MVP: The Bucs’ Midseason MVP is, without a doubt, wide receiver Mike Evans. His eight touchdown catches through eight games set a new franchise record. No other team in the league has had to depend more on their No. 1 receiver, with Evans being targeted a league-leading 103 times this season. His eight receiving touchdowns are most in the NFL and double that of his next-closest teammate, Cameron Brate. Evans essentially disappeared last year when Vincent Jackson and Louis Murphy went down. This year, he has risen to the occasion.
Best moment: After six straight losses to the Carolina Panthers, the Bucs finally beat them and did it on the road, on Monday Night Football. General manager Jason Licht had tears in his eyes after the game because the team was so decimated by injuries -- losing three of four starting defensive linemen and down to a third-string running back who wasn’t even part of the team in Week 1 -- and they still managed to win on Roberto Aguayo's game-winning field goal. Of course, there was the realization that this was not the Carolina Panthers team that went to the Super Bowl, and had Cam Newton been out on the field, it likely would have been different.
Worst moment: The Bucs have had several of these. Giving up a franchise-record 626 yards of total offense and 513 passing yards to quarterback Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders was brutal, especially given that they lost in overtime to a team that had racked up 23 penalties. Jameis Winston's four interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 was particularly painful to watch as well. Nothing topped Thursday night’s embarrassing 43-28 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, a team the Bucs were trying to catch in the NFC South.
Player to watch: The success of this team, unquestionably, centers around Winston, who began the season looking like he was poised for a big sophomore campaign. Then came the four interceptions and five turnovers against the Arizona Cardinals, the drive that came up 5 yards short against the L.A. Rams and the two interceptions against the Denver Broncos. So far, he has thrown 17 touchdowns, nine interceptions, passed for 2,037 yards and has a 59.2 completion percentage; those numbers have all gone up from last year. If these injuries continue to happen though, he’s going to be forced to do more and more by himself. It doesn't seem like coach Dirk Koetter is ready for that to happen.
Second-half outlook: The Bucs knew the first half of their season was going to be grueling, starting two games on the road and facing both Super Bowl teams in back-to-back games. But this part of the season -- three straight games at home -- was supposed to give them a bit of a reprieve. It hasn’t. They still have yet to win a game at home this season, with their four home losses tied for most in the NFL. The Chicago Bears are a beatable opponent, but after that? They face the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints twice. Those teams are a combined 21-14-1. Right now, it looks like they could win two of those at most.