Chris Godwin Gave Bucs Confidence Late In The Season
June 7th, 2026
Still has it.
When people ask KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles or Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht about their passing game, specifically in the wake of Mike Evans leaving, one reason they express confidence the Bucs shall overcome is because Chris Godwin made plays late last season.
Bucs types point to how well Godwin played when he came back from injuries last last season. Specifically, his rebuilt ankle and related injury.
So last night Joe was studying what NextGen Stats calls “Incredible YAC.” It’s not yards after contact but yards after catch.
It’s a bunch of stat-geeky gobbledygook that basically measures the most YAC a receiver has for a catch he shouldn’t have even made, forget about extending the play and gaining extra yards.
Per NextGen Stats, Godwin had the 10th-biggest/unexpected YAC play of the season. It came against the tanking Dolphins in Week 17. Per NextGen Stats, Godwin should have only gained maybe 11 yards. He ended up with 59.
Godwin also caught a five-yard touchdown pass with a Dolphins receiver all over Godwin like stink on shat.
So when Bucs types confidently say the old Godwin is back, it’s that game late in the season at Miami and those kinds of plays that give them the confidence.
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June 7th, 2026 at 11:42 am
Oh !
That ONE win at the end ?????
June 7th, 2026 at 11:58 am
Go Chris, put his pic up on that billboard at the stadium. He is ready to step up and step out. He is no longer in ME’s shadow and is the ultimate Buc, no doubt. My hat is off to the Man!!! Chris have an incredible year.
June 7th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
We are going to be just fine even without Evans at receiver. What I’m worried about now, besides the defensive backfield is whether we are going to have to pay Mayfield so much as QB that we can’t afford a an actual team to put around him.
June 7th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
Joe says, “Godwin also caught a five-yard touchdown pass with a Dolphins receiver all over Godwin like stink on shat.”
Godwin is going to win ever time an opposing team uses a receiver to cover him.
June 7th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
If that statement has any credibility (headline), how’d they lose the darn division???????????
June 7th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
I wonder who was the qb to make that happen? It must have been Bridgewater Mayfields horrible!!
June 7th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
Football 1. You nailed it
June 7th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
CG14 when healthy, is a top tier receiver and a top 3 slot receiver! If he can keep from getting injured for a whole season, the Buc’s O will be fine! IMHO! Bring on September!!!
June 7th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Godwin is coming for another Pro Bowl.
He’s a legit #1 WR.
I will miss Mike Evans.
But Im happy that Chris will finally get his chance at being top dog.
And really hoping Hurst is legit to play alongside McMillan, Emeka and Tez for years to come.
June 7th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
IF Chris stays healthy, the bitter pill of Evans abandoning the Bucs will be much easier to swallow. We need Chris in the playoffs so I hope he’s not overused during the season. Lots of good targets for Bake to use, so spread the pill around.
June 7th, 2026 at 3:07 pm
CG should be put in motion more than any other receiver. He can be the #1 receiver who shifts around, snapping the ball when he’s in the slot or near the TE. Will he block? Will he run up the seam? Will he stop and spin on a dime or hit the sideline? Godwin is a jack of all trades and needs to be used as such. I am hoping Zac’s experience in the McVay system will show up on the field — let’s not forget how dynamite Godwin was under Coen before his ankle was snapped (50 rec, 5 TDs and THIRTY-TWO FIRST DOWNS in only 7 games). The guy was well on his way to an All-Pro selection, outshining M1k3 by a lot. Keep things less complicated for the young receivers, let them watch and learn from the second-best receiver in Buc history (sorry VJax).
June 7th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
On the Evans front all we need to know is that he signed with the 49ers. Evans has career cred but lost a lot of present reputation. If he so wanted to play with a top notch quarterback then Buffalo’s the place to be. Josh Allen — a big draw for top receivers. But they didn’t make an effort. Or KC and Mahomes. Again, no reported interest. Lowball offers. So he decided Cal-I-form-I-A was the place you wanna be so he loaded up the truck . . .
As for Godwin I’d love to hear more from the Joes. Sure sounds like Chris was a top figure in the Bucs locker room. He may not perform at an All Star level but he has the respect of the room. He played pretty well and improved towards the end of last year. Based on past experience coming back from injury he will likely have a strong year.
June 7th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
That is why I think it’s disrespectful to call anyone the #1 receiver on the Bucs except Godwin! He may not win the jump ball, but he will win you the game!
June 7th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
So…remember when Godwin’s wife spoke publicly a couple years ago and said he wasn’t happy in Tampa? They pulled down her comments pretty quickly, but he played badly for a few weeks after that…and quit on multiple plays.
He’s since been playing all out…but there is a history there. He’s got an opportunity to be the #1 guy in Tampa. EE may be the #2…he really hasn’t earned the #1 yet.
But…if Godwin is too upset Mike Evans left, and if EE is handed the starting spot without earning it…could we see a repeat of that period in the past?
Hope not. But we should keep our eyes open.
June 7th, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Bonsai WTF are you talking about they are both going to be starters. As far as #1 who cares as long as both perform and do their job and who are you to determine who has earned a job ?
June 7th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
Yeah I guess helped Todd finish 2-7 instead of 1-8.
3rd and 28
4th and 14
The patented Bowles collapse. Thanks Chris for the confidence.
June 8th, 2026 at 4:12 pm
Plan on wearing my Pewter Godwin jersey a lot this year, Go #14. Go Bucs
June 9th, 2026 at 10:55 am
Chris Godwin isn’t reliable, he’s the most expensive bench warmer we have
June 9th, 2026 at 11:07 pm
Marvin, KitKat 2Coach keeps the bench plenty warm. Warm enough for everyone to get a great nap. He’d be your number one.