HOUSTON — For the second straight week, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield engineered a game-winning landing drive with 2:00 to go, delivering on his vow for “extra wins” in 2025 because the Bucs knocked off the Houston Texans, 20-19, on Monday.
With 1:32 left within the recreation, Mayfield was flushed from the pocket and couldn’t join with rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka on third-and-10. So with the sport on the road on fourth down, he scrambled to maintain decide up the primary down.
Then after 5 straight completions — together with working again Bucky Irving taking a pair of brief passes 22 and 18 yards. respectively — working again Rachaad White took a 2-yard run up the center for the game-winning rating.
The Texans solely wanted their protection to give you a cease after taking a 19-14 lead with 2:10 left within the recreation after Nick Chubb punched in a 25-yard run, however Mayfield was capable of get his first prime-time win within the common season with the Buccaneers. Previous to Monday, Mayfield had gone 0-6 throughout the common season with the Bucs in prime time.
Listed here are a very powerful issues to know from Monday night time for each groups:
Stunning development: For the second straight week, the Bucs’ protection surrendered an explosive landing on the opening drive. Final week it was a 50-yard landing from working again Bijan Robinson with inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis in protection. This week, it was a 29-yard landing from large receiver Nico Collins with Zyon McCollum in protection — every time placing the Bucs in a 7-0 gap earlier than they even performed a down of offense.
Pivotal level: First got here a misplaced fumble from Mayfield on a third-and-3 scramble that resulted in Rachaad White recovering it, leaving the sport with an damage (he would return) and the Bucs being compelled to punt. Then Texans fullback Jakob Johnson blocked Riley Dixon’s punt, with former Bucs large receiver Justin Watson making the restoration to arrange a 53-yard discipline aim by the Texans. Then after a 53-yard punt return from Texans large receiver Jaylin Noel, wherein he took it to the Tampa Bay 26, the Texans grabbed the lead on Chubb’s landing run with 2:10 left.
Troubling development: One week after lacking large proper on a 44-yard discipline aim try and never changing an additional level on the Atlanta Falcons, kicker Chase McLaughlin missed a 38-yard discipline aim try in Houston. McLaughlin went 30-of-32 (93.8%) on discipline aim makes an attempt final season — tied for seventh finest within the league — however he has matched his complete variety of misses from final season. — Jenna Laine
Subsequent recreation: vs. New York Jets (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Texans’ protection performed nicely sufficient to win, as they held the Buccaneers to 360 complete yards, however the offense did not give them sufficient. Nevertheless, when it mattered most, Houston’s protection failed to shut the sport out.
It is exhausting guilty them when Houston’s offense struggled your complete night time — totaling 266 yards, just one greater than Week 1. They scored two touchdowns, in order that’s progress from Week 1 once they solely had three discipline targets. However one was off a brief discipline following Noel’s an enormous kick return. The Texans’ particular groups made performs, the protection sacked Mayfield 4 occasions, however the offense could not get it going a lot of the night time.
QB efficiency: Despite the fact that the uncooked stats look superb, quarterback C.J. Stroud did not play as much as his requirements. Too many occasions, he regarded indecisive and had some uncharacteristically inaccurate throws — ending 13 of 24 passing for 207 yards. Even when the Texans drove to the 1-yard line early within the fourth quarter, he had two incompletions, together with on fourth down.
Development to look at: The Texans’ run protection struggled, because the Buccaneers totaled 169 rush yards yards and 5.6 yards per carry. In Week 1, Houston restricted Los Angeles Rams Professional Bowl working again Kyren Williams to 66 yards on 18 carries. It is not alarming, but it surely’s one thing to look at because the Texans head to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars, who lead the NFL in dashing yards per recreation (169).
Troubling development: The Texans’ cross safety wasn’t as much as par. Stroud needed to scramble to outlive the stress too many occasions and was sacked thrice, identical to in Week 1 — the place he was pressured on 42% of his dropbacks. If the Texans do not get these issues mounted, it could possibly be one other season of Stroud being among the many most hit quarterbacks within the NFL. — D.J. Bien-Aime
Subsequent recreation: at Jacksonville Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)