A look back at Chris Godwins finest games as a Buccaneer
Gabriel Kahaian
At the beginning of the 2024 regular season,Chris Godwinwas unstoppable.
He was off to his best start since 2019. Godwin had 511 receiving yards and five touchdowns through the first six weeks. He also led the league in receiving first downs (30) and yards after the catch (324) during that span. The decision to move him back to the slot was paying dividends. Unfortunately, a Week Seven injury against the Ravens cut his season short, forcing the Buccaneers to continue without one of their top receivers.
Despite Godwin being an impending free agent, the Bucs and the slot weapon quickly agreed upon a three-year contract extension, keeping him in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future. The team is optimistic about his recovery and expects Godwin to be ready for Week One in 2025. Since it has been a while since we last saw him in action, let's highlight some of the best games across his career.
Here are Godwin's three most memorable performances starting with No. 3.
3. December 31, 2017 | Week 17 2017 @ NO | Tampa Bay 31, New Orleans 24
Stat Line:7 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD
Godwin arrived in Tampa Bay as a third-round pick from Penn State and got to work earning his keep. Going into Week 17 of his rookie season, he brought in 43 receptions, gaining 414 yards. Godwin closed out his rookie year with a bang in the season finale. He achieved new personal highs for receptions (7) and yards (111) while also scoring his first NFL touchdown.
Godwin's first score was a memorable one. The Bucs were down 24-23 with less than two minutes on the clock. Jameis Winston led the team down to the New Orleans 44-yard line with 15 seconds remaining. He dropped back, scanned right, and zipped a dart to Godwin, who fought through tight coverage at the 10 before powering into the end zone for the game-winner. What a perfect way to end his rookie season.
2. December 5, 2021 | Week 14 2021 @ ATL | Tampa Bay 30, Atlanta 17
Stat Line:15 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD, 1 rush, 9 yards
Before Week 14, the franchise record for most receptions in a game was 13, achieved by Buccaneers Wide Receiver Earnest Graham in 2007. That changed against the Falcons in 2021.
Here is every time Godwin was targeted on his way to setting the Buccaneers' single-game reception record.
For those keeping track, Godwin brought in 15 of 17 passes thrown his way. That is a remarkable stat. There have been six other instances where Buccaneers receivers were targeted more than Godwin in this game vs. Atlanta, yet he needed only 17 to set the record.
1. November 24, 2019 | Week 12 2019 @ ATL | Tampa Bay 35, Atlanta 22
Stat Line:7 receptions, 184 yards, 2 TD
Godwin got off to a fast start in Atlanta during what became his career-best performance in receiving yards. His first catch was a 71-yard touchdown in the first quarter thrown by Winston. Godwin streaked up the middle of the field, beating the linebacker to the ball. Then, he broke the tackle of the safety and found green grass in front of him. Godwin's next two catches were for 22 and 30 yards before hauling in two one-yard grabs, the latter being his second touchdown.
When it was all said and done, Godwin gained 184 yards on only seven receptions. This was one of the six 100-plus-yard performances by Godwin during the 2019 season. He would go on to total 1,333 receiving yards and nine touchdowns by the end of the year, the most productive season of his NFL career.
(Fun Fact: Nose TackleVita Veaalso caught a receiving touchdown in this game.)
