In a week that felt like a highlight reel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFL decided to hand out some well-deserved hardware. And they didn’t just stop at one. In a move that’s about as rare as a quiet Sunday in the Superdome, both Outside Linebacker Anthony Nelson and kicker Chase McLaughlin have been crowned NFC Players of the Week.
That’s right, a double-dip for the Bucs in Week 8. It is the kind of thing that makes you check the calendar to make sure it’s not a full moon. Nelson grabbed the defensive honors, while McLaughlin snagged the special teams award.
This marks the first time since 2008 that two Buccaneers have shared the weekly spotlight, a feat so uncommon it’s only happened five times in franchise history. You have to go back 17 years to find the last pair—the legendary Derrick Brooks and Kicker Matt Bryant.
Nelson’s Defensive Masterclass Led To the Buccaneers’ Win
Nelson had the kind of game that players dream about. He didn’t just show up; he took over. Nelson became the first player since 2007 to record multiple sacks, a pick-six, AND a forced fumble in the same game. You read that correctly. He was a one-man wrecking crew against the Saints, turning a tense divisional matchup into his personal playground.
Just moments after the Saints’ defense pulled off a dramatic goal-line stand, Nelson decided it was his turn for some heroics. He snatched a pass and took it to the house for a three-yard interception return, completely flipping the game’s momentum. It was the kind of play that silences a stadium and leaves the opposing sideline staring into the abyss. Oh, and he also posted two sacks and a forced fumble.
McLaughlin’s Long-Range Dominance
While Nelson was busy terrorizing the Saints’ offense, McLaughlin was putting on a kicking clinic. In a game where the Buccaneers’ offense occasionally sputtered in the red zone, McLaughlin proved that “close enough” was all he needed. He calmly drilled three field goals from beyond 50 yards—connecting from 55, 54, and 52 yards out. It was a display of pure, unadulterated leg power.
Kicking from that distance is stressful enough, but to do it three times in the second half to methodically pull away from a division rival? That’s ice in your veins. McLaughlin is now a perfect 8-for-8 from 50+ yards this season, which leads the NFL. He’s not just a kicker; he’s a long-range weapon, and the Buccaneers are reaping the rewards. It is his first NFC honor, but if he keeps this up, it certainly will not be his last.
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