The Cardiac Bucs do it again

TAMPA, Fla. — Chase McLaughlin made a 36-yard field goal as time expired, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0) held off the New York Jets (0-3) 29-27 on Sunday afternoon.

The Buccaneers are 3-0 for the first time since 2005 and the sixth time in franchise history. Tampa Bay won in comeback fashion once again, becoming the first team in NFL history with a game-winning score in the final minute of its first three games of a regular season.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield led the Buccaneers down the field again. He has the most fourth-quarter comebacks in the league since the start of the 2024 season. Mayfield completed 19-of-29 passes for 233 yards, added 44 rushing yards and threw one touchdown.

Mayfield said the Bucs are “a resilient and mentally tough group.” As he jogged into the tunnel after the game, offensive lineman Graham Barton yelled, “Cardiac Bucs.”

Their toughness was tested Sunday. Tampa Bay started the fourth quarter with a 23-6 lead, but New York outscored the Bucs 21-6 in the final frame.

Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor, filling in for the injured Justin Fields, led two touchdown drives in the fourth. Taylor completed 26-of-36 passes for 197 yards, ran for 48 yards and threw two touchdowns.

The real stunner came when McLaughlin attempted a 43-yard field goal that would have put the Buccaneers up 29-20 late. Instead, Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV leaped over Tampa Bay’s protection, blocked the kick, scooped the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown.

It was the second time in as many weeks the Bucs had a kick blocked. Punter Riley Dixon had a punt blocked last week against Houston.

“It’s hard to win in this league, period. Shooting ourselves in the foot doesn’t help much, but the resiliency they have to win those games — you’ve got to stack them early while you iron out your kinks, and we’re stacking them early this year,” head coach Todd Bowles said.

For most of the game, the Buccaneers’ defense was in control. Tampa Bay finished with four sacks, ten quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss and two forced turnovers. The Bucs had totaled just four sacks and no forced turnovers in their first two games combined.

Late in the first half, cornerback Jamel Dean intercepted Taylor and returned it for a touchdown. It was Dean’s first pick-six since 2020 and the team’s first since Shaq Barrett had one against the Bears in 2023.

The secondary was disruptive all over the field. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. had one sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble recovered by defensive tackle Vita Vea. Rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish recorded his first career sack along with five tackles and a tackle for loss.

Linebackers Lavonte David and Yaya Diaby both added sacks. David led the Bucs with 11 tackles.

Offensively, it was a disjointed outing. Tampa Bay scored only one touchdown on five red-zone trips and committed seven offensive penalties, including five holding calls.

The offensive line was hit hard by injuries, with four starters out: left tackle Tristan Wirfs, right tackle Luke Goedeke and guards Cody Mauch and Michael Jordan. Tampa Bay started Graham Barton at left tackle, Elijah Klein at left guard, Ben Bredeson at center, Luke Haggard at right guard and Charlie Heck at right tackle. All five spots were filled by different players than the projected starters.

Despite the shuffle, Mayfield was sacked just once, and the Bucs ran for 122 yards on 3.6 yards per carry. It was the 11th consecutive game Tampa Bay rushed for 100 or more yards while holding its opponent under 100 — the longest streak in NFL history.

Running back Bucky Irving led the team with 66 rushing yards and 33 receiving yards. Rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka paced Tampa Bay’s receivers with 85 yards.

Receiver Mike Evans caught four passes for 33 yards and his first touchdown of the season. He left in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. Bowles said Evans would get an MRI this week to determine the severity.

Sunday’s matchup was the home opener of the Buccaneers’ 50th season. Tampa Bay wore all-white “creamsicle” uniforms to commemorate the inaugural 1976 season. The look was last worn in 1976, when the Bucs went 0-14. Fifty years later, the team finally won in the uniform.

Up next, the Buccaneers face the Philadelphia Eagles in a clash of 3-0 teams. Tampa Bay has won six of its last seven meetings with Philadelphia.