The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went on a cross-country road trip to take on the Seattle Seahawks in a showdown between two 3-1 teams.
First Quarter:
First up, Baker Mayfield and Tampa’s offense. The Buccaneers, minus a few critical pieces took Seattle’s defense to task early. Their opening drive walked Seattle back to their own goal line— A good drive that ultimately stalled and netted just a short field goal. 3-0, Bucs. Sam Darnold and Seattle’s offense did their best Bucs impersonation on the following drive. They darted
down the field and wound up with a fourth down field goal attempt, one difference, their kick was no good.
Second Quarter:
Tampa’s second drive, eerily resembled their first— Down the field the team went, out of the end zone they stayed. A second Chase McLaughlin field goal and Tampa’s lead stretched to six. 6-0, Buccaneers.
Still leading by six as the first half rounded into its final seven minutes. The Seahawks, trying to catch the Buccaneers off guard, got caught with their pants down. Seattle brought in Jalen Milroe for a ‘Taysom Hill-esque’ wildcat rep. The thought was there, however, the execution was not. Milroe, on an option pitch, delivered an inaccurate ball which wound up on the ground and in the hands of Tykee Smith. With good field position, Tampa Bay’s offense cashed in their defense’s turnover with their first touchdown of the game. In a rare starting role, due to Bucky Irving’s injury, Rachaad White took a toss left side and followed Cade Otton and Tristan Wirfs across the goal line for six. 13-0, Tampa Bay.
Seattle faced a second down and 10 just shy of midfield at the two-minute warning. The Buccaneers rolled out a bit of a prevent style defense, hanging back, avoiding blitzing, playing passive which in turn made Sam Darnold look like prime Aaron Rodgers. Darnold toyed with Todd Bowles’ defense like a man in his prime throwing jabs against a battered, bruised elder who couldn’t defend himself. With minimal effort and even less resistance, The Seahawks’ offense scored for the first time in the game— Sam Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 13-7, Buccaneers.
Third Quarter:
Tampa’s defense played the last drive of the first half terribly, in execution and approach. Half number two kind of looked like a instant replay. Sam Darnold, gifted momentum at the conclusion of the first half, clutched that momentum tight to his chest and he escorted his team right back into the end zone. Tampa’s defense began the game with ferocity and found a way to transition that ferocity into a malaise of lethargy— 14-13, Seahawks.
The Buccaneers’ offense stepping on the field for the first time since scoring a touchdown that gave the team a 13-0 lead, immediately went back to offense-ing at a high level. Baker Mayfield, using all the remaining tools in his arsenal, finding everyone from Tez Johnson, to Rachaad White, Sterling Shepard, and then finishing the drive with his newest starring actor Emeka Egbuka. A two-point conversion, also tossed Egbuka’s way gave the Buccaneers a 21-14 lead.
Seattle, still rolling off the momentum gained late in the game’s first half, took Todd Bowles’ defense back to the woodshed and beat on them some more. Darnold going deep to his Ohio State star set up another easy short-yardage touchdown and the Seahawks climbed their way back to even ground— 21-21.
Never fear Bucs’ fans, Baker Mayfield and Emeka Egbuka are here. With a touchdown and a two-point conversion already on the board for the duo, Mayfield ripped a 57-yard strike to his rookie standout. The duo’s deep connection led to an easy walk-in touchdown for Rachaad White, his second of the contest. 28-21, Buccaneers.
Fourth Quarter:
Sunday’s last 15 minutes kicked off with an almost turnover for Tampa Bay. Antoine Winfield Jr. came away with a tip-ball interception that got called back with an off-the-ball illegal contact penalty. Tampa’s defense instantly went back to being crush cars for the Seahawks’ offense as Sam Darnold and co. just romped their way back into the end zone for another game-evening touchdown, 28-28.
The game clock ticked into its final seven minutes and Tampa’s defense was screaming “uncle!” Sam Darnold, who looked more like ‘Slinging’ Sammy Baugh on Sunday, threw his fourth touchdown pass against an underwhelming, disappointing, and seemingly bewildered Bucs’ defense. 35-28, Seattle.
Trailing and needing points in the closing minutes, is nothing new to Baker Mayfield and the 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their offense’s elite execution in those moments is nothing new either. Baker Mayfield has made late-game scores a habit for Tampa in 2025 and Sunday would be no different. Mayfield found Sterling Shepard standing alone in the end zone for a touchdown— 35-35.
As if they had been waiting for a clutch moment to rise up and conquer all who oppose them, Tampa Bay’s defense finally emerge from the dark cloud that had been cast over them. Pressure from Antoine Winfield Jr. forced a bad pass into the waiting arms the Buccaneers’ most ageless legend— Lavonte David. An interception to set up the game-winning field goal by Chase McLaughlin. Buccaneers win, 38-35.
For more Bucs coverage check us out here:
@Bucs_Nation(X)
@Will_Walsh_NFL(YouTube)
