Todd Bowles entered Monday’s game having never known a week two loss as Tampa Bay’s head coach. The Bucs’ rivals all fell to 0-2 in week two aside from the team’s most contentious divisional foe. Atlanta, also placed in a prime time spot for week two, handled the Minnesota Vikings 22-6. With pressure to stay out in front of the competition, Tampa Bay started on defense.
First Quarter:
Monday night kicked off very similar to last Sunday’s game. Defense steps on the field and the opposing team’s offense steps into the end zone. Bijan Robinson subbed out for Nico Collins and the Bucs, for the second straight week, started down 7-0. Trailing early, Baker Mayfield responded with emphasis. Tampa matched Houston touchdown for touchdown when Baker Mayfield found Ryan Miller for a 20-yard score. 7-7, all even.
Round two of C.J. Stroud versus Todd Bowles looked all too similar to round one, until a redzone holding penalty stalled Houston’s charging attack. A short field goal then gave Houston a three point lead— 10-7, Texans. The Bucs’ offense had the ball back and another chance to match Houston score for score.
Second Quarter:
Tampa began quarter number two with ball and Bucky Irving. Three-straight Bucky Irving touches put Tampa Bay on the Houston 30. The drive would end 30 yards later with another Emeka Egbuka touchdown, his third in his first two career games— A 77 yard, 8:44 drive to give the Bucs their first lead of the game. 14-10, Bucs.
An explosive start dimmed to a flickering flame as the second quarter waned on. Both Baker Mayfield and C.J. Stroud began operating under significant pressure. For Mayfield, Monday’s second quarter was the first time he has truly had to sift through the ramifications of an extremely shuffled offensive line. Not only did Tampa Bay come into the game with an awkward lineup, but Luke Goedeke’s inability to stay in the lineup showed up in a major way— Pass-rush, pressure, and hits for Baker Mayfield.
Third Quarter:
Tampa’s offense got the ball first following the intermission. Drive number one was drive number done, quickly. The Bucs managed just one, Sterling Shepard, first down before punting. Houston’s offense decided the best way to start the second half was with a little bit of monkey see, monkey do. The half’s initiation was punt, punt, punt, punt— Then the Bucs’ offense found its footing. A deep ball to Mike Evans followed by a miniature Rachaad White ‘put the team on my back moment’ where Josh Grizzard featured White all the way down into field goal range. Chase McLaughlin, somehow not the player he used to be, missed yet another crucial kick— His third miss in two weeks.
Fourth Quarter:
As the game’s final 15 minutes got underway, C.J. Stroud snatched momentum. Stroud took his offense down the field dealing short and intermediate passes. A final completion against Jamel Dean placed the ball at the one yard line. What ensued was a reminder of the high-tier defensive capabilities Tampa Bay possesses but fans rarely see. Three plays from the one yard, a run for no gain and two incomplete passes— Turnover on downs.
Despite moving off their own goal line, the Bucs ended up looking disjointed and needing to punt. That punt gave the Texans the ball, but not in the traditional sense— No return needed, just a block. Texans would take that block and add a field goal. 14-13, Bucs.
Tampa’s next drive featured more Baker Mayfield standing in the pocket and that meant more sacks— Three-and-out. One more punt equated to one more game-changing special teams play for the Texans. Jaylin Noel ripped through the Bucs’ punt team and handed the Texans more premium field position. Starting in field goal range is nice, but the bend in Tampa’s defense finally broke and Texans chose not to settle for three— Touchdown Texans. 19-14, Houston.
With one last gasp of hope Tampa Bay turned to Baker Mayfield, for the second-straight week. Once again, Mayfield delivered. Without a point scored since the first quarter, Mayfield swiftly navigated the entire field in just over two minutes. A drive that included Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, and a sensationally timed fourth down and 10 scramble was capped off by Rachaad White’s first touchdown of the season. Two games, two game-winning drives for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are 2-0.
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