Double Loss for Buccaneers Monday Night

There was a double loss for Buccaneers fans on Monday Night Football. It was bad enough the Bucs lost a game to the Ravens 41-31. The game was a shootout where Tampa could never quite catch up with the Ravens after blowing a 10-0 lead. But to make matters worse, the Bucs lost two receivers to injury.

In a game where Mike Evans recorded his 100th career touchdown, he appeared to pull his hamstring and it looked like it was more than a tweak. To make matters worse, down by two scores with 1:04 left in the game, Chris Godwin dislocated his ankle so badly ESPN's Joe Buck told his audience there would be no replay of the gruesome injury. His foot was pointing in the wrong direction after the play.

The impact of the loss of Evans and Godwin will be felt immediately. Both were tied for the NFL lead with 5 touchdown catches after 6 games. Baker Mayfield, who just lost his two biggest weapons said they are the "heartbeat of this team."

Coach Todd Bowles received repeated questioning during his post game news conference about why Godwin was even in the game at that point. He said they were still trying to win, they were shorthanded receivers, and Godwin is a professional football player and wanted to be on the field until the end. Mayfield had no problem with starters remaining on the field when the game appeared over. "We have a group of fighters," he said.

Double Loss for Buccaneers: Moving forward Sterling Shepard, Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan are the only receivers left on the depth chart. Tight end Cade Otton remains a receiving threat. But that is it. There is no word on how long Evans will remain out. But it looked like it could be a few weeks.

Tampa hosts the Falcons Sunday. For more Buccaneers and NFL talk and analysis tune in each weekday from 2-6pm on ESPN Southwest Florida to Craig Shemon and Company.