The 10 Most Impactful Plays of Week 5
2. The Grit and the Grimes
Win Probability Added: +35.39
NEP: +6.64
There are so few things making the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watchable in 2016; the uniforms look like pirates’ digital alarm clocks, and they play grindy and boring games interspersed with passes into triple coverage by their quarterback Jameis Winston. That’s what the majority of this game was, too -- dry and agonizing football, with misses by kicker Roberto Aguayo adding just enough spice to make you cringe.
But this moment was a saving grace for Bucs fans and viewers themselves. As the graphic on the bottom of the screen ironically flashed, the Carolina Panthers had scored a touchdown in all six of their goal-to-go situations in 2016 until this point.
First and goal on the one, tied 14-14 with nine minutes left in the game, didn’t have to be cute -- especially not when you have a strong short-yardage back like Cameron Artis-Payne. But the Panthers dialed up a play-action pass, and quarterback Derek Anderson locked in on his target. He telegraphed his pass the whole way, and Tampa Bay cornerback Brent Grimes made an acrobatic interception in the end zone to save the game for the Bucs.
