Tampa Bay Holds Off Cardinals to Snap Losing Streak

TAMPA, Fla. — Late-game heroics have been a trademark for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025. But the difference Sunday afternoon was that it was the Bucs defense that came through in the clutch.

Tampa Bay (7-5) held off the Arizona Cardinals (3-9) 20-17 at Raymond James Stadium, snapping a three-game losing streak, and lifting Tampa Bay to 5-2 in one-score games this season.

“It’s tough to win in this league. It was a gutsy, grind-it-out win,” head coach Todd Bowles said.

In the Bucs’ first four wins in one-score games, quarterback Baker Mayfield led scoring drives in the final minute, but on Sunday, the game ended with a defensive stand.

With 1:49 remaining, Arizona took over at its own 9-yard line needing a field goal to tie or a touchdown to win. Those hopes lasted only four plays as the Bucs defense forced a turnover on downs to seal the victory.

Linebacker Sirvocea Dennis made the decisive play, breaking up Jacoby Brissett’s fourth-down pass intended for Michael Wilson. Dennis finished with a game-high 11 tackles.

The Bucs held the Cardinals to 17 points, Arizona’s second-lowest scoring output of the season. Tampa Bay had allowed 35.3 points per game during its three-game losing streak.

Arizona outgained Tampa Bay 386-279, but the Bucs defense again proved opportunistic.

Tampa Bay recorded two takeaways and now has 18 on the season, sixth most in the NFL. The Bucs have forced multiple turnovers in seven games this year.

Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. intercepted Brissett on Arizona’s opening drive. Then on the Cardinals’ first possession of the second half, defensive lineman Logan Hall knocked the ball loose from Cardinal’s running back Bam Knight and safety Tykee Smith recovered.

Brissett completed 29 of 40 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Knight led Arizona with 62 rushing yards. Tight end Trey McBride had a game-high eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Tampa Bay’s offense was lifted by the return to form of two of its top playmakers.

Receiver Chris Godwin led the Bucs with 78 yards in just his second game back from a lower-leg injury. It was his best performance since recording 125 yards against the Saints on Oct. 13, 2024. Godwin has appeared in only four games this season following his season-ending ankle injury last year, and Sunday he resembled the player who led the NFL in receptions before going down in 2024.

“Chris is starting to look like old Chris,” Bowles said.

Running back Bucky Irving added 61 rushing yards and a touchdown in his first game since injuring his shoulder and ankle on Sept. 28 against the Eagles. Chants of “Bucky” echoed through the stadium throughout his return. Irving became the third player in franchise history to surpass 2,000 scrimmage yards in the first 25 games of a career, joining Warrick Dunn and Doug Martin.

Irving, along with cornerback Jamel Dean, linebacker Haasan Reddick, offensive lineman Ben Bredeson and Mayfield, all returned from injury Sunday.

Mayfield missed the entire second half last week against the Rams because of a non-throwing shoulder injury. He returned to complete 18 of 28 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. His nine completions to different receivers were the most by a Bucs quarterback in a game this season.

Mayfield’s touchdown pass went to All-Pro offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. It was Wirfs’ first career catch and touchdown. He is just the fifth offensive lineman in franchise history to record a touchdown.

Tampa Bay’s special teams also swung the game. Kicker Chase McLaughlin made both of his field goals, including a 57-yarder. He is now 9-for-9 from 50 yards or longer this season, the most makes from that distance in the NFL. Punter Riley Dixon averaged 48 yards per punt and pinned Arizona inside its own 20 three times.

Arizona struggled in the kicking game. Chad Ryland missed a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter. Punter Matt Haack averaged 46 yards per punt but did not pin the Bucs inside the 20.

The win kept Tampa Bay atop the NFC South. Carolina remains a half-game back after a 31-28 win over the Rams.

“It’s going to be like this every week. It’s playoff mode, and it’s playoff time. We have to embrace the grind and embrace the pressure, and we have to execute,” Bowles said.

Up next, the Bucs continue their three-game homestand with a matchup against the division rival New Orleans Saints next Sunday. Tampa Bay defeated New Orleans 23-3 in their first meeting this season.

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