Bucs Nation
Todd Bowles entered Monday’s game having never known a week two loss as Tampa Bay’s head coach. The Buccaneers’ 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.
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 Buccaneers, 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 Buccaneers’ offense had the ball back and another chance to match Houston score for score.
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.
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 Buccaneers’ 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.
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...
