The Buccaneers entered Week 3 with the potential of starting the 2025 season at 3-0 — first time starting with such a win/loss since 2005. On the day where they were celebrating 50 seasons of Bucs football, they were going to try everything possible to make sure they weren’t playing like the teams that found them in the cellars of the NFL for so long. But boy did they struggle throughout the afternoon to ensure they came out victorious.
First Quarter:
The Jets opened the game with a 14-play drive that ate up over
six minutes of game clock. Penalties on Logan Hall and Lavonte David continued to give the Jets life throughout the possession, but the drive would ultimately stall in Bucs territory and settle for a field goal for an early 3-0 lead. Tampa Bay opened their first drive with the hurry up offense which forced a personal foul facemask call on New York giving the Bucs a free 15 yards, but give 10 yards back on a holding call. On the very next play, Baker Mayfield hit Bucky Irving for a 25-yard catch and run. Following multiple penalties, the Bucs faced a 3rd-and-29 and a pass interference on New York gave the Bucs a free first down inside the Jets 25-yard line. But the penalties continued and set the offense back, resulting in a 54-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin to tie the game at 3. New York responded on their next drive with two big plays back to back that got them down inside the Tampa Bay 30-yard line in a hurry. Holding call on the Jets set them back and faced a 3rd and 14 as the penalty-filled opening quarter cam to a close.
Second Quarter:
New York couldn’t convert on their 3rd down attempt as the second quarter started, resulting in another Jets field goal to regain the lead, 6-3. Next Bucs drive started with an incredible catch along the sideline for a big first down by rookie Emeka Egbuka that put the Bucs at midfield. Few plays later, Sterling Shepard takes a pass from Mayfield and runs down to the New York 5 yard line. Mayfield would then hit Evans on a slant for a touchdown, putting the Bucs ahead 10-6. On the Jets ensuing drive, Tampa Bay stuffs the Jets 4th-and-inches attempt for a loss and a turnover on downs, giving the Buccaneers offense great field position to work with. However, the Bucs couldn’t do anything after a holding call set them back resulting in a punt. Later in the quarter, the defense forces a turnover after Antoine Winfield, Jr. gets to Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor and hits the ball out, allowing the Bucs recover. The creamsicle pirates could not do anything on their drive and get a field goal from McLaughlin to extend their lead 13-6. There wasn’t much offensively for either team as the clock was winding down. But a pick-six by Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean put the Bucs ahead 20-6 just before the half ended.
Third Quarter:
The Bucs opened the half with a 9-plus minute drive. A couple runs by Bucky Irving got the Bucs near midfield before a pass by Mayfield to Egbuka allowed them to cross the 50-yard line. A Mayfield scramble put the Bucs down at the Jets 32 and pass two plays later to Evans put the Bucs just outside New York’s 20. After getting inside the Jets 10 yard line, Tampa Bay’s drive stalls and they settle for a field goal. New York would respond with a drive of their own that appeared to be marching on the Tampa Bay defense. Once across midfield, the miscues began. Jets wide receiver Tyler Johnson had a wide open shot at a big play catch down field which was dropped, forcing the New York offense into a fourth-and-long attempt they could not convert. Tampa Bay would get the ball with under a minute left in the quarter and allow the quarter to end taking a 23-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
The Bucs couldn’t get any offense going as the fourth quarter began, especially after a dropped pass by rookie Emeka Egbuka that may have resulted in a first down. Tampa Bay would eventually punt. The Jets responded with quick strike plays that allowed to quickly cross midfield in just a few plays. The Jets then began running right at the Bucs defense successfully that led to two quick first downs inside Bucs territory. Once near the Tampa 10 yard line, quarterback Tyrod Taylor hit receiver Garrett Wilson cutting across the middle of the field for a touchdown, shortening the Bucs lead 23-13. Tampa Bay responded on their ensuing drive one a throw downfield to Sterling Shepard for a first then and then another first down after a run by Bucky Irving. Once across midfield, Tampa Bay couldn’t do much but settle for a field goal, extending their lead to 26-13. But veteran receiver Mike Evans left the game the play prior with an apparent hamstring injury. New York would then easily get down to inside the Buccaneers 25-yard line on their ensuing drive. A pass from Taylor to Allen got New York inside Tampa Bay’s 5 yard line. The Bucs would force the Jets into a 4th-and-goal, where a catch at the back of the end zone resulted in a confirmed touchdown after review for New York cutting into the Bucs lead 26-20. The Bucs would then follow up on their drive with an incredibly huge first down run from baker Mayfield for 33 yards down inside the Jets 30 yard line. Facing a 3rd-and-5, Tampa Bay could not convert as the two-minute warning hit. But a field goal attempt would be blocked and returned for a touchdown by the Jets. And with 1:49 left, the Jets would take a 27-26 lead. Tampa Bay would they try marching down the field with big catches by Emeka Egbuka and Sterling Shepard. Tampa Bay would eventually get down inside the 20 yard line. After running the clock down to a few seconds, a Chase McLaughlin field goal gives the Bucs the victory 29-27.
Next up for the Buccaneers is the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday at home at 1:00 PM ET.
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