The number of injuries that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were dealing with made their first half performance against the Detroit Lions relatively easy to digest. While the fan base may have been hoping for the team to continue its hot streak, the game against Detroit was anything but.
Gaining 58 total yards on eight drives, they could not get it going through the air or on the ground. The attack from the backfield, typically a highlight for the Buccaneers, had a particularly brutal period, gaining 18 rushing yards in total. A huge portion of the blame fell on Rachaad White, who had assumed lead running back duties with Bucky Irving out with an injury.
What Happened to Rachaad White?
A consistently reliable hand throughout his tenure with Tampa Bay, the first half against Detroit was one to forget for the fourth-year running back. Getting four carries, he had an underwhelming 3.5 yards per carry for a total of 14 yards.
Targeted as a receiving threat out of the backfield, he still couldn’t make a ton of impact through the air. Catching both of his targets, he had a total gain of just three receiving yards going into the break.
With 214 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground through the first six games of the season, White had been wildly productive for the Buccaneers even in a backup role, ranking 17th on PFSN’s RB Impact.
With the team trailing 14-3, it was likely going to lead to a concentrated effort on the passing game to get them back into the mix in a hurry. But White’s production in short dosages could be critical for Tampa Bay to have any chance in this one.
That focus was evident throughout the second half, as he got just six more carries, adding 24 more yards to bring his total to 38 rushing yards on the night. However, the increased attention to the passing game, led to two more catches, albeit for just three more yards.
His overall productivity remained low on the night, as he finished with 44 total yards on 14 touches. That reflected in the final score as well, as Tampa Bay suffered its worst loss of the season, 24-9.
More than just the loss, though, it immediately dropped them to fourth in the NFC, after remaining in first place for virtually the entire season, thanks to tiebreakers against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Lions themselves.
