Game notes
The Tampa Tribune, published 14 September 2015

Seferian-Jenkins has career day
With second-year wide receiver Mike Evans inactive for Sunday’s game because of a hamstring injury, someone else from the Bucs receiving corps needed to produce. Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins took it upon himself to be that player.

On Sunday, Seferian-Jenkins matched his touchdown total from the 2014 season with two scores against the Titans, his first multiple receiving touchdown game. He hauled in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jameis Winston in the second quarter, and turned a short pass into a 41-yard touchdown in the fourth.

Seferian-Jenkins finished with five catches for 110 yards, the most by a Bucs tight end since Kellen Winslow in 2011, which was also the last time a Tampa Bay tight end had multiple touchdowns in a game.

“I feel like I’ve always been confident in what I can do and coach (Dirk) Koetter did a great job of calling some great plays and Jameis (Winston) did a great job of throwing the ball to me,” Seferain-Jenkins said. “The O-line held up great when it was my turn to get up and get the ball and make a play.”

The momentum killer
Trailing 21-7, the Bucs decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Tennessee 44-yard line with 10:05 remaining in the second quarter. Running back Doug Martin was tackled after a short gain, and following a measurement by officials the Bucs were awarded a first down. The Titans, however, challenged the spot of the ball and, upon further review, official John Hussey repositioned the ball nearly half a yard behind the original spot. After another measurement, the Bucs turned the ball over on downs. “Some calls don’t go your way,” Martin said. “You just have to play them.”

The sack, fumble and safety that wasn’t
Leading 21-7, Tennessee faced second-and-17 at its 13-yard line early in the second quarter when Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy sacked Marcus Mariota. With Mariota in McCoy’s grasp, the ball came loose and bounced into the end zone. But officials whistled the end of the play before the ball came loose, saying Mariota’s forward progress had been stopped.

“It’s a fumble and a touchdown, but, whatever,” McCoy said. “That’s a momentum shift. They took that from us, man. You get a sack-fumble and then score a touchdown with it, that’s a momentum shift. They took that from us.”

The Titans kept the ball at the 2-yard line — a loss of 11 yards on the play — to set up third-and-28. After a short run, Tennessee punted it away for 57 yards. The Bucs were unable to get a first down and punted the ball back to Tennessee, which scored to take a 28-7 lead.

Early flag
On the season’s first snap, Bucs defensive back Major Wright was called for a personal foul on a hit against Titans running back Brandon Sankey, who dropped a swing pass from Marcus Mariota, then was leveled by Wright. Flag. “It is rough,” Wright said. “I feel like it was a legal hit. I didn’t feel like it was helmet to helmet.” It was the start of a rough afternoon for penalties. The Bucs had 12 infractions for 97 yards, while Tennessee suffered eight penalties for 55 yards.

Martin off and running
Doug Martin, eager for a return to his 2012 rookie-season form when he ran for 1,454 yards and went to the Pro Bowl, had success with limited opportunities, rushing for 52 yards on 11 carries. He also had runs of 8 and 11 yards negated by holding penalties. “A loss is a loss,’’ Martin said. “I was just trying to get something going. We started slow. I had a few moments, but not enough. Due to the situation of the game and the score, it’s unfortunate (to have only 11 carries). But I do whatever the coaches ask me.’’