Monday night's 20-19 win over the Houston Texans marked the second straight week that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield led a touchdown drive to take the lead in the game's final minute. Rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka found the end zone for the second week in a row and both games saw a pair of lead changes in the final three minutes as well.
The similarities don't end there. Monday's win also marked the second straight week that second-year safety Tykee Smith led the Bucs in tackles.
The 2024 third-round pick strung together six tackles, including a sack and a pair of tackles for loss in Monday night's thriller that saw the Buccaneers move to 2-0 and maintain their one-game lead in the NFC South.
The sack, which was the first of his career, came on a key third-and-two, killing Houston's first drive of the second half as they threatened to move into Buccaneer territory. Smith overpowered his blocker, Houston running back Dare Ogunbowale, on a blitz off the defense's left side to take down quarterback C.J. Stroud for a nine-yard loss.
"The sack was outstanding because he ran through a blocker, ran through the running back right there, and went straight to the quarterback," said Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles.
Smith's sophomore campaign is off to a fast start. In the Bucs' season opener, the former Georgia Bulldog registered 11 tackles. Through two weeks, Smith ranks among the top safeties in the league in just about every tackling category.
His 17 total tackles are tied for fifth-most at the position and 22nd-most among all players. He ranks sixth among safeties and tied for 13th overall in solo tackles. His tackles aren't just coming in the secondary either – he's one of just four safeties in the league with multiple tackles for loss on the young season.
And he's done that all just two games into his first season as a full-time starter at safety. Smith was primarily used as a slot corner as a rookie and was limited by injuries to 13 games.
"He's very strong, very underrated, a tough competitor, and one of our most instinctive players," said Bowles. "Right now, he's playing some of his best football."
Smith started six games last year, recording a pair of interceptions, forcing three fumbles and even getting a vote for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year despite limited playing time.
This year, Smith emerged as the starter next two Antoine Winfield Jr. following the departure of fellow safety Jordan Whitehead. Smith, who won a pair of national championships with Georgia after transferring from West Virginia, has helped the Bucs hold opponents to just 19.5 points per game. Their run defense has stood out in particular, keeping opponents to 76.5 yards per game on the ground, the fifth-lowest average of any team.
Paired with Winfield, the 2023 first-team All-Pro, Smith could help form one of the best safety tandems in the league if his strong play continues. The early returns suggest that just might be the case.
