In Week 1, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense didn’t do a lot, but Baker Mayfield came up huge when it mattered for a win.
After two weeks, it’s a trend.
The Buccaneers hadn’t scored in the second half when the Houston Texans scored just before the two-minute warning to take a 19-14 lead. Tampa Bay was without both tackles and protection was a big issue. And even though the offense was bad for 28 minutes of the second half, it did enough in the final two minutes to win.
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Mayfield, who took big hits and was slow to get up on a couple occasions, kept the game alive with a big scramble on fourth-and-10 in the final two minutes. Then he marched Tampa Bay into position for Rachaad White to run for a 2-yard touchdown with six seconds left to give the Buccaneers a dramatic 20-19 win over the Houston Texans.
Last week, Mayfield threw a game-winning touchdown in the final minute to beat the Atlanta Falcons. That’s a dramatic way to go 2-0.
Mayfield has been good for the Buccaneers ever since they signed him to a bargain contract in 2023. So far this season Mayfield has been great when the Buccaneers needed it most.
Baker Mayfield’s legs helped keep the Bucs undefeated this season after winning on the road against the Texans on Monday night. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
(Alex Slitz via Getty Images)Texans score first but Bucs take lead
The Buccaneers led 14-10 at halftime, but it was a tough half for them.
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Offensive tackle Luke Goedeke left with a lower leg injury, leaving the Buccaneers without both of their stellar tackles. Tristan Wirfs hasn’t played yet this season due to a knee injury. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey suffered a pectoral injury and his night was done.
The good news is the Buccaneers kept making plays despite injuries in the first half. They got off to a slow start when Nico Collins made a tremendous catch for a touchdown and a 7-0 Houston lead, but Mayfield was sharp. He had touchdowns to Ryan Miller and impressive rookie Emeka Egbuka. The Buccaneers’ defense played well, with the Texans struggling to establish any run game, and Collins’ touchdown was Houston’s last one of the first half.
The Buccaneers still had plenty to worry about, particularly in protecting Mayfield against a very good pass rush, but at least they had the lead.
Bucs D keeps them in it
The Buccaneers had a tough time on offense to start the second half. Eventually, their injuries on the offensive line became a major problem. The Bucs’ defense did its best to maintain the lead.
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The Bucs had a big goal-line stand early in the fourth quarter. Stroud completed a few passes downfield and got Houston to the 1-yard line. But Chubb was stopped short on second down, Collins had a pass go off his hands on third down and then Stroud overthrew Collins as he rolled out to his left on fourth down.
Houston’s defense also kept the Texans in the game. Then Houston’s special teams made two huge plays. Bucs punter Riley Dixon took too long against the Texans’ rush and had a punt blocked. Houston took over at Tampa Bay’s 35-yard line with a little more than six minutes left, trailing 14-10. But the Texans had an errant pass from Stroud, a run for nothing and then on third down Stroud threw a pass that should have been picked off by linebacker Lavonte David, hitting him right in the hands before he dropped it. The Texans settled for a 53-yard field goal. Then Jaylin Noel’s long punt return, in which officials picked up a flag for a block in the back or holding, set up Chubb’s touchdown and the lead with just over two minutes remaining.
The Texans had to get one more stop, and the Buccaneers’ offense was limited due to protection issues. But the Bucs got a drive going. Mayfield had Egbuka deep downfield but Egbuka dropped a pass that hit his hands. That seemed to end Tampa’s hopes but Mayfield saved the drive by scrambling for a first down on fourth-and-10. Bucky Irving had a 22-yard gain on a dumpoff pass, making multiple tacklers miss. A couple passes later and the Buccaneers handed to White, who scored up the middle to take the lead with nine seconds left.
Tampa Bay has been on the edge of a couple losses so far this season. Mayfield has shown his value to the Buccaneers in those tense spots.