Raises game.

Joe still tries to wrap his mind around how the Bucs can bounce back from the loss of Chris Godwin.

Godwin was likely having not just his best season (which is saying something), but Godwin was arguably the team MVP.

Why does Joe say that? The Bucs haven’t won since he got hurt against Baltimore.

Talk about a gut punch.

If there is any silver lining to that awful injury, it’s been the play of tight end Cade Otton, who really has raised his game. He’s become Baker Mayfield’s favorite target with Mike Evans and Godwin out.

Joe could argue since Godwin got hurt, he has morphed into one of the best NFL tight ends.

But wait, that’s not all! Whoever thought Otton had wheels? He’s got them and he’s finding ways to get open.

Who says? The PFF tribe says. Per the tribe, on each Otton targets against San Francisco, he got separation from his nearest defender.

Left unsaid is whether or not the 49ers got cute and tried to cover Otton with a defensive tackle.

Now Joe has to throw in a disclaimer. The tribe claims Otton had six “opportunities,” whatever that means. Per the offensive NFL gamebook, Otton was targeted eight times, catching five passes.

Pardon Joe for putting significantly more merit into the official NFL gamebook than some dude in an Irish dorm following a predetermined “metric.” Still, the point here is that Otton is getting open. Often.

His development this year has been a very bright spot in a depressing season through 10 games.