The Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain undefeated after late-game heroics from Baker Mayfield for the third week in a row. The Bucs' signal-caller led a two-minute drill that culminated in a Chase McLaughlin 36-yard field goal – his fifth of the day – to provide Tampa Bay with a thrilling 29-27 win. Tampa Bay improved to 3-0 on the season for the fifth time in franchise history and the first time since the 2005 season. In all of the four other instances of the team starting 3-0 (1979, 1997, 2000, 2005), the club went on to make the playoffs. Defensively, Tampa Bay held the Jets to 3-of-11 (27%) on third down, their second consecutive game limiting opponents to a 27%-or-lower success rate on third down.
Offensive Outlook
The Buccaneers produced 347 net yards of offense at an average mark of 5.4 yards per play against the Jets. Tampa Bay ran for 122 yards on the day, extending its NFL-best streak of consecutive 100-yard rushing performances to 11 straight games.
In the Week Three clash, Mayfield completed 19 of 29 passes (65.6%) for 233 yards and one touchdown pass, compared to zero interceptions, generating a 101.7 passer rating. He added four carries for 44 yards, including a 33-yard scramble on third down in the fourth quarter to continue the drive. His improvisation skills rallied the offense and Mayfield's grit encapsulated the victory for the Bucs. Mayfield connected with Evans in the second quarter for a five-yard touchdown. Evans got the one-on-one matchup and hit a lethal inside release on the slant route for the score. He utilized his frame to box out the defender, providing the Bucs with a 10-6 cushion.
During Tampa Bay's last possession, Mayfield completed two passes for 48 yards and generated a 93.8 passer rating while leading Tampa Bay into scoring position. Since Mayfield joined the Bucs, he leads the NFL in passer rating (101.6) and passing yards (571) and is tied for the league lead in passing touchdowns (five) with under two minutes remaining in regulation (min. 50 pass attempts). Prior to McLaughlin's 55-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter, Mayfield rolled out to his left and delivered a dime to Sterling Shepard for the first down. That body contortion - separating the upper and lower body – is challenging for any quarterback to make and many purposefully choose to roll to the right. Mayfield's mentality galvanized the offense and kept the Bucs in the game. With poise under pressure and the ability to evade pressure with elite awareness in the pocket, Mayfield set Tampa Bay up for success.
Rookie Emeka Egbuka led Tampa Bay with six receptions and 85 receiving yards against the Jets, both representing season highs. Through three games, Egbuka has totaled 14 receptions for 181 yards and three receiving touchdowns, making him one of two players in the NFL to reach such figures this season (also, Chicago's Rome Odunze at 15 receptions, 213 yards, four receiving touchdowns). Egbuka is the fifth player since 1990 to reach those figures in their first three career games played, joining Malik Nabers in 2024, Terry McLaurin in 2019, Roy Williams in 2004 and Randy Moss in 1998. His sensational one-handed grab down the sideline against Sauce Gardner for a gain of 30 yards helped set up the Evans touchdown and his unselfish play, including motions, stalk blocks and sweeps, created matchup advantages for the Tampa Bay offense against New York.
Defensive Rundown
The Buccaneers limited the Jets to 99 yards rushing, their 11th-straight game limiting opponents to fewer than 100 yards on the ground dating back to last season. Since Week 10 of the 2024 season – the start of Tampa Bay's streak – the team has limited opponents to 3.3 average yards per carry, the best mark in the NFL over that span.
In addition to holding the Jets to three of 11 on third down, the Bucs kept the Jets to one of three (33.3%) on fourth down tries and have held opponents to a 50% clip on such attempts this season – good for the sixth-best mark in the NFL. The Buccaneers swarmed the Jets and produced nine tackles for loss in Week Three, their most in a game since Nov. 12, 2023, vs. Tennessee (10). Tampa Bay also generated season highs in sacks (4.0) and quarterback hits (10).
The Jets gained 86 yards on their first two drives and then only had four on their following six possessions. Initially, the Jets found a rhythm by operating out of a short-to-intermediate passing game with up-tempo mixed in. Tyrod Taylor got the ball out quick to his checkdowns on a dink-and-dunk game to try and minimize the Bucs' pass rush from getting home. The Bucs adjusted and clamped down.
Jamel Dean intercepted Taylor and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown, representing Tampa Bay's first pick six since Shaquil Barrett vs. Chicago on Sept. 17, 2023. It marked Dean's second career interception return for a touchdown, joining his 32-yard pick six of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Oct. 18, 2020. Taylor threw off his back foot to the sideline and Jacob Parrish brought pressure. Dean undercut and read the quarterback's eyes from off coverage to secure the pick.
Lavonte David led Tampa Bay with 11 tackles (one for loss), two quarterback hits and 1.0 sack. David's sack increased his season total to 1.5 and his career total to 40.5. In doing so, David became the fourth player in NFL history to record at least 40.0 career sacks, 30 forced fumbles and 10 interceptions, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers, Mo Lewis and Greg Lloyd.
Antoine Winfield Jr. totaled three tackles (two for loss), two quarterback hits, and a strip sack. On the Jets' opening drive, Winfield fired through the A-gap like a missile and if Taylor had held on to the ball for one more second, it would have been another sack for No. 31. Dating back to the 2020 season, Winfield Jr. leads all defensive backs with 28 quarterback hits and 18.0 sacks, while tying for first in forced fumbles with 12 (also, Baltimore's Marlon Humphrey). Winfield Jr. is the first defensive back this season to record a game with multiple quarterback hits and multiple tackles for loss.
Yaya Diaby recorded four tackles (two for loss), two quarterback hits and 1.0 sack. His sack represented his first of the season and improved his career total to 13.0. Per Next Gen Stats, Diaby recorded career highs in quarterback pressures (11) and pressure rate (36.7%).
Sunday's contest marked Diaby's fourth career game with multiple quarterback hits and multiple tackles for loss. Parrish logged five tackles (one for loss), two quarterback hits and his first career sack.
