Well, Bucs fans, for a third straight week, your heart muscles got a workout and a half.
The first three quarters were one-way traffic as the offense and defense were both humming against a beaten-up New York Jets team. The offense shone with Emeka Egbuka making big catches, Bucky Irving was the novacaine of the offense, where there was a heavy dose, and he kept drives going, but they did lose Mike Evans late.
All of this happened as the team is getting ready for a big Week 4 matchup against an undefeated Philadelphia Eagles team. Here is your Bucs recap from their Week 3 win over the New York Jets.
Bucs win on a last-second field goal
The Bucs record their third straight last-minute win off a 36-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal. The Bucs managed to drive 48 yards thanks to a pair of big passes from Baker Mayfield to Emeka Egbuka and Sterling Shepard. After narrowly missing on another deep shot to Egbuka, the Bucs lined up for the kick attempt, which sailed through the uprights.
The Bucs have defied the odds to make it to 3-0. Now down six starters, Tampa Bay is leaning hard on Baker Mayfield and the defense to pull them through until they get some key players back.
Jets take the lead off a blocked field goal
The Bucs were in position to make it a two-possession game with a 43-yard field goal, but Will McDonald blocked Chase McLaughlin’s kick and returned it for a touchdown. The extra point put the Jets up one points, 27-26. The Bucs are back in the same position they have been in the past two weeks: down one score late and in need of some Baker Mayfield magic.
Jets come within one score
The Jets are making every effort to make the game interesting, driving 73 yards to score on a four-yard Tyrod Taylor pass to Allen Lazard. The catch itself was in doubt as the ball appeared to hit the ground and move in Lazard’s hands, but the play was upheld. With the score now 26-20, the Jets are within one score of the Bucs, who can ice the game with just a field goal.
Injuries injuries injuries
The Tampa Bay medical staff is earning their pay this year. Mike Evans headed to the locker room with a hamstring injury, and while he is listed as questionable to return, it was a scene reminiscent of his hamstring injury last season that robbed him of nearly a month of the season. The Jets had their own injury issues when Sauce Gardner left the game to be evaluated for a concussion.
Jets score their first touchdown
New York scores their first touchdown of the game off a 11-yard Tyrod Taylor pass to Garrett Wilson. The Bucs defense all but disappeared on the 80-yard drive, easily their best of the game. The Bucs remain ahead by two scores at 23-13, but the offense will need to pick up the slack to maintain their lead.
End of the third quarter
The Bucs are one quarter away from their first home win of the season and their first 3-0 start since 2005. After forcing a turnover on downs during the Jets first offensive drive of the half, the Bucs are now at midfield. Another score would likely put the game too far out of reach for a Jets offense that has just 124 total yards through three quarters.
Backyard football
Sunday would not be complete without a wild Baker Mayfield scramble. On third-and-nine, Mayfield avoids the entire Jets defensive line to pick up 10 yards and the first down. This run was pivotal for the Bucs to score on their opening second half drive.
Bucs add to their lead
Tampa Bay comes out of the half with a 67-yard drive capped by a Chase McLaughlin 28-yard field goal. The Bucs extend their lead to 23-6 with their second longest offensive drive of the game. The Bucs again struggled with holding penalties and pass protection, which led to the drive stalling on the 10-yard line.
End of the first half
The Bucs end the half up 20-6 over the Jets. While the offense had just one touchdown drive, the defense more than picked up the slack, holding New York to 90 total yards and scoring a touchdown off a Jamel Dean pick-six. Penalties have been an issue for Tampa Bay, particularly on offense which committed seven, five on the offensive line alone. The Bucs offense will start the second half with the ball and the opportunity to extend their lead.
Yes, Jamel Dean is still a starter
Veteran CB Jamel Dean has taken a lot of flak lately, and in light of his recent pay cut, there have been questions about his place on the team. Dean responds against the Jets, intercepting Tyrod Taylor on a Garrett Wilson target and taking it to the house for the pick-six. It is Dean’s first pick-six since 2020 and the second of his career.
The pressure is on
The Bucs defense is turning up the heat on Jets QB Tyrod Taylor. Rookie CB Jacob Parrish records his first NFL sack, taking down Taylor on third down and forcing the punt. The defense is picking up the slack for an offense struggling to find consistency amid all the injuries along the offensive line.
Antoine Winfield Jr., playmaker
The Bucs get the first turnover of the day with an Antoine Winfield Jr. strip sack of Tyrod Taylor. The ball was recovered by Vita Vea on the Jets’ 33-yard line. This is Winfield Jr.’s first turnover of the year and a return to form after an injury-marred 2024 campaign. Now deep in Jets territory, the Bucs offense has a chance to extend their lead going into the half.
Building the case for Rookie of the Year
Emeka Egbuka is making a very strong case for Offensive Rookie of the Year with weekly touchdowns and ridiculous catches. On Tampa Bay’s first touchdown drive, Egbuka made a mind-boggling one-handed grab for 30 yards.
Mike Evans scores his first TD of 2025
The Bucs score the first touchdown of the day with a five-yard pass to Mike Evans. It is Evans’ first touchdown of the season, and it gives Tampa Bay a 10-6 lead.
Bucky Irving, human joystick
Another week, another ridiculous Bucky Irving run. The Bucs running back practically flips the field with a 25-yard pass, breaking the ankles of most of the Jets’ defensive backfield in the process. Unfortunately for the Bucs, they settle for a field goal on their first offensive drive thanks to five holding calls.
Bringing back a classic look
The Bucs are sporting a look not seen since their inaugural season in 1976. To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Bucs will play in their original white creamsicle uniforms. Even since the Bucs began wearing their throwbacks, the white creamsicle is a look that Tampa Bay has not gotten in a very long time.
Bucs inactives
Chris Godwin and Tristan Wirfs are again inactive, despite trending towards a return. The key difference in this week’s active roster is the elevation of OL Tyler McLellan. For the first two weeks of the season, the Bucs elevated OL Michael Jordan, but he missed practice most of this week with a knee injury.
With Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke going to injured reserve this week, the Bucs have just two of their starting offensive linemen heading into Week 3. It is unclear where the Bucs will play their reserve linemen. They could opt to keep continuity from the past two weeks or switch up half the line as they did heading into Week 1.
Bucs regular-season schedule 2025
Below is Tampa Bay’s regular-season schedule.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Game recap: Buccaneers take it down to the wire again but continue hot start
Reporting by Jason Kanno, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
