In a game between two bad teams, Doug Martin was the best player on the field today in Tampa.
Martin scored three touchdowns, had 123 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards, and led the way as the Bucs beat the Jaguars 38-31.
The Buccaneers’ offensive game plan consisted mostly of counting on their running game and not asking Jameis Winston to do too much, and that game plan worked. Winston completed 13 of 19 passes for 209 yards and one touchdown pass, to Martin. Charles Sims had a good day receiving, and the Bucs’ offense did enough to win.
For the Jaguars, Blake Bortles put up big numbers, completing 23 of 33 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns, with one interception. The Jaguars’ running game couldn’t get anything going, but Bortles had them close until the end, when a late Jacksonville onside kick was recovered by the Buccaneers to seal the win.
Neither of these teams appears to be going anywhere, but the Bucs showed something today. And Martin, who is having a very good year, showed a lot.