Baker Mayfield has thrown 49 passes through the first two games of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2024 season. Nearly a third – 16, to be exact – have gone in the direction of eighth-year wide receiver Chris Godwin. There's a good reason for Mayfield to look in Godwin's direction quite frequently: The results are usually very good.
First of all, the Mayfield-Godwin connection is nearly perfect so far. During the Buccaneers' 20-16 win in Detroit on Sunday, Mayfield threw his first interception of the season on a pass intended for Godwin. So far, that is the only pass that Mayfield has thrown to Godwin that the receiver hasn't caught. The two were eight for eight in a Week One win over Washington and seven for eight against the Lions. The result is 200 yards and two touchdowns. Of the 19 players in the NFL who have been targeted on at least 15 passes through the first two weeks, Godwin has the highest catch percentage.
Highest Catch Percentage, NFL, Minimum 15 Targets
| Player | Team | Tgts | Recs. | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Godwin | TB | 16 | 15 | 93.8% |
| Brock Bowers | LV | 17 | 15 | 88.2% |
| Rashee Rice | KC | 15 | 12 | 80.0% |
| Davante Adams | LV | 18 | 14 | 77.8% |
| Nico Collins | HOU | 18 | 14 | 77.8% |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA | 18 | 14 | 77.8% |
Godwin scored the Buccaneers' first touchdown in their win over the Lions on a 41-yard catch down the left sideline in the second quarter. That's his second trip to the end zone in as many weeks. In 2023, Godwin scored a total of two touchdowns on 83 catches across 17 games; this season he's matched that in his first 15 grabs. Godwin is currently tied for second in the NFL in receiving yards, with 200.
Most Receiving Yards, NFL
1. Nico Collins, Texans: 252
2t. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers: 200
2t. Jameson Williams, Lions: 200
4. Malik Nabers, Giants: 193
5. Justin Jefferson, Vikings: 192
Godwin's seven catches in Detroit resulted in 117 yards, all of which came in the first half. It was the second-most receiving yards in a single half by an NFL player this season, trailing only Justin Jefferson's 133 for the Vikings on Sunday against the 49ers. Godwin recorded the 21st 100-yard receiving game of his career in the regular season, which ranks second in team history.
Most 100-Yard Receiving Games, Regular Season, Buccaneers History
- Mike Evans: 36
- Chris Godwin: 21
- Mark Carrier: 15
- Kevin House: 14
- Vincent Jackson: 13
In each of the first two games of this season, Godwin has caught at least five passes for 50 or more yards. Since 2019, he has 50 such outings, the fourth most in the NFL in that span.
Most Games with Five-Plus Receptions, 50-Plus Yards, NFL, Since 2019
- Davante Adams, Packers/Raiders: 54
- Stefon Diggs, Vikings/Bills/Texans: 52
- Travis Kelce, Chiefs: 51
- Chris Godwin, Buccaneers: 50
- Tyreek Hill, Chiefs/Dolphins: 49
Through the first two games, seven of Godwin's 15 receptions have occurred on third down, with six of them resulting in first downs. The only one that did not move the sticks came on Sunday in Detroit, when Godwin took a tunnel screen on third-and-22 and gained 19 yards, just falling short of a first down but putting the Bucs in position for a long field goal. Godwin has the most catches on third down of any player in the NFL so far.
Most Third-Down Receptions, NFL
1. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers: 7
2t. Nico Collins, Texans: 6
2t. Malik Nabers, Giants: 6
4t. Five tied with: 5
In all, Mayfield completed 12 of 19 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Lions. Through two games, he has a passer rating of 129.1, which ranks second in the league.
Best Passer Rating, NFL
- Derek Carr, Saints: 142.4
- Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers: 129.1
- Josh Allen, Bills: 124.2
- Kyler Murray, Cardinals: 122.9
- Sam Darnold, Vikings: 111.8
Mayfield also scored the game-winning points on an 11-yard run in the third quarter, which proved to be the longest rushing touchdown of his career. He finished the game with a team-leading 34 yards on five carries. That was the fifth-highest rushing total in a game in Mayfield's career.
Tampa Bay's defense turned away three Detroit drives that reached deep into Buccaneers territory in the fourth quarter to preserve Sunday's win. Overall, the Lions penetrated Tampa Bay's red zone seven times in the game but scored a touchdown on just one of those possessions. That marked the 15th time since the 2000 season that Tampa Bay's defense allowed seven or more drives inside its 20-yard line, and this was the first time in those 15 games that the opponent failed to score more than one touchdown.
One of those red zone incursions ended in an interception at the nine-yard line by safety Christian Izien, who started in place of an injured Antoine Winfield Jr. An undrafted free agent in 2023, Izien now has three career interceptions in 19 games. Cornerback Zyon McCollum also snared an interception on Jared Goff's first pass of the game, recording the first pick of his career. McCollum finished the game with a team-high four passes defensed. McCollum is the first Buccaneer defender with four passes defensed in a single game since Carlton Davis pulled off the feat against Cincinnati on December 18, 2022.
Linebacker Lavonte David played in the 183rd regular season game of his career on Sunday in Detroit, and also made his 183rd career start. In the process, David tied Ring of Honor member Paul Gruber for fourth place in team history in games played and third place in game started.
The Buccaneers scored on their first two drives in Detroit, each time on a field goal by kicker Chase McLaughlin. McLaughlin hit from 30 yards on the first possession and 55 on the second one. Including his successful 56-yarder in the season opener against Washington, McLaughlin has now made nine of his attempts from 50 or more yards in the regular season. In his career, McLaughlin is 26 of 31 from 50-plus yards, making him the most accurate kicker from that range in NFL history.
Best Field Goal Percentage on Attempts of 50-Plus Yards, NFL History (minimum 20 attempts)
| Name | Team | Made | Att. | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase McLaughlin | LAC, SF, IND, JAX, NYJ, CLE & TB | 26 | 31 | 83.9% |
| Chris Boswell | PIT | 34 | 41 | 82.9% |
| Daniel Carlson | MIN & LV | 27 | 34 | 79.4% |
| Evan McPherson | CIN | 23 | 30 | 76.7% |
| Ka'imi Fairbairn | HOU | 35 | 46 | 76.1% |
