TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Doug Martin #22 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at Raymond James Stadium on November 27, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Seahawks 14-5. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed a win in the worst way on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints after falling to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15, but they failed to do so. Tampa Bay lost 31-24 to drop to 8-7 on the year, hurting their chances at a playoff berth.
Strangely enough, they opted to play the Saints without their No. 1 running back active. Doug Martin was a healthy scratch on Saturday, giving way to Jacquizz Rodgers as the starter. He shared time with Charles Sims and Peyton Barber, but it was Martin's absence that was surprising.
Head coach Dirk Koetter explained after the game why he opted to keep No. 22 inactive in arguably the biggest game of the year.
"It was a coach's decision. We have four backs and we can't give them all touches," Koetter said, via the Associated Press.
The first-year head coach added that he believed Rodgers was a better matchup against the Saints, which played into the decision to bench Martin this week. Rodgers rushed for 63 yards on 15 carries Saturday, adding a touchdown, as well.
Martin has struggled this season both on the field and with injuries. He has just 421 yards on 144 carries after rushing for 1,402 a year ago.
Koetter wouldn't say if Martin's recent outings -- the last four of which saw him fail to reach 3.0 yards per carry -- played a role in him being scratched.
"I'm not going to get into any of that," Koetter said. "We're blessed with good depth at running back, and this was a decision for today. It is what it is for today, and obviously we have to deal with what comes next."
Martin repeatedly said it was a coach's decision when asked about being benched.
"It was a big game and, like I said, it's the coach's decision to have the best guys out there that he thought would be the best for us," Martin said.
The Buccaneers' playoff hopes are slim after this loss, but they take on the Panthers at home on New Year's Day to close out the season.
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