– The Buccaneers defeated the New York Jets, 29-27, on a walk-off 36-yard field goal from
Chase McLaughlin. Tampa Bay improves to 3-0 on the season for the fifth time in franchise history and the first time since the 2005 season. In all of the four other instances of the team starting 3-0 (1979, 1997, 2000, 2005), the club went on to make the playoffs.
– Tampa Bay, who was already the first team in NFL history to win each of its first two games of a season with touchdowns in the final minute, became the first team since the 1970 merger with a game-winning score in the final minute of regulation in each of their first three games of the season. The Buccaneers became the third team in NFL history (also, 1994 New York Giants, 2017 Pittsburgh Steelers) to have three straight games in a single season in which they record a go-ahead score in the final minute of a game.
– The Buccaneers limited the Jets to 99 yards rushing, their 11th straight game limiting opponents to fewer than 100 yards on the ground dating back to last season. Since Week 10 of the 2024 season – the start of Tampa Bay’s streak – the team has limited opponents to 3.3 average yards per carry, the best mark in the NFL over that span. The Buccaneers entered the day ranking fifth in the NFL with an average of 76.5 rushing yards per game allowed this season. Through Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. slate of games, Tampa Bay’s 3.6opponent yards per carry this season is the sixth-best mark in the NFL, with their 6.10 defensive rush EPA ranking first.
– Tampa Bay held the Jets to 3-of-11 (27%) on third down, their second consecutive game limiting opponents to a 27%-or-lower success rate on third down. Through Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. slate of games, Tampa Bay limited opponents to a 31.4% success rate on third down – the third-best mark in the NFL.
– The Buccaneers also held the Jets to 1-of-3 (33.3%) on fourth down tries, and have held opponents to a 50% clip on such attempts this season – good for the sixth-best mark in the NFL. Tampa Bay has forced a turnover on downs on fourth-and-1 attempts in each of their first three games this season, marking the first such occurrence in the NFL since San Francisco 49ers did so from Weeks 16-18 of the 2022 season. The last team to force a turnover on downs on fourth-and-1 in each of their first three games of a season was the 1991 New England Patriots.
– The Buccaneers produced nine tackles for loss on the day, their most in a game since Nov. 12, 2023 vs. Tennessee (10). Tampa Bay also generated season highs in sacks (4.0) and quarterback hits (10).
– Down multiple offensive starters, the Buccaneers produced 347 net yards of offense at an average mark of 5.4 yards per play. The Buccaneers ran for 122 yards on the day, extending their NFL-best streak of consecutive 100-yard rushing performances to 11 straight games. In conjunction with Tampa Bay’s defense limiting opposing rushers to fewer than 100 yards in 11 straight games, Tampa Bay is the first team in NFL history to have the two such streaks occurring simultaneously, per Elias Sports.
– QB
Baker Mayfield completed 19-of-29 passes (65.6%) for 233 yards and one touchdown pass, compared to zero interceptions, to generate a 101.7 passer rating, adding four carries for 44 yards. On the season, Mayfield has thrown for six touchdowns with zero interceptions, making him 1-of-3 players this season (also, Baltimore’s
Lamar Jackson and Buffalo’s
Josh Allen) to have at least five passing touchdowns without a single interception as of Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. slate of games.
– Through Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. slate of games,
Mayfield is 1-of-2 quarterbacks in the NFL (also, Indianapolis’
Daniel Jones) to produce a passer rating of 98.0-or-higher in all three games this season. Dating back to last season,
Mayfield has recorded eight straight games with a passer rating of 93.0-or-higher, the longest such streak in the NFL, with the next-highest streak being three such games (
Daniel Jones).
– During Tampa Bay’s last possession,
Mayfield completed two passes for 47 yards and generated a 93.8 passer rating while leading Tampa Bay into scoring position. Since
Mayfield joined the Buccaneers, he leads the NFL in passer rating (101.6), passing yards (571), and is tied for the league lead in passing touchdowns (five) with under two minutes remaining in regulation (min. 50 pass attempts).
– WR
Emeka Egbuka led Tampa Bay with six receptions and 85 receiving yards, both representing season highs. Through three games, Egbuka has totaled 14 receptions for 181 yards and three receiving touchdowns, making him 1-of-2 players in the NFL to reach such figures this season (also, Chicago’s
Rome Odunze at 15 receptions, 213 yards, four receiving touchdowns). Egbuka is the fifth player since 1990 to reach those figures in their first three career games played, joining
Malik Nabers in 2024,
Terry McLaurin in 2019,
Roy Williams in 2004 and
Randy Moss in 1998.
– Among wide receivers with 10+ targets this season,
Egbuka’s 133.1 passer rating when targeted is the second-highest mark in the NFL, trailing only Indianapolis’
Michael Pittman (144.1).
– WR
Sterling Shepard brought in four passes for 80 yards, marking his highest receiving yards total since joining the Buccaneers.
– WR
Mike Evans also logged four receptions on the day, surpassing
Rod Smith (849) for the 34th-most receptions in NFL history. He also added his 106th career receiving touchdown the the ninth-most in NFL history.
– CB
Jamel Dean intercepted New York QB
Tyrod Taylor and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown, representing Tampa Bay’s first pick six since
Shaquil Barrett vs. Chicago on Sept. 17, 2023). It marked
Dean’s second career interception return for a touchdown, joining his 32-yard pick six of Green Bay QB
Aaron Rodgers on Oct. 18, 2020.
– LB
Lavonte David led Tampa Bay with 11 tackles (one for loss), two quarterback hits and 1.0 sack.
David’s sack increased his season total to 1.5 and his career total to 40.5. In doing so,
David became the fourth player in NFL history to record at least 40.0 career sacks, 30 forced fumbles and 10 interceptions, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer
Julius Peppers,
Mo Lewis and
Greg Lloyd.
– S
Antoine Winfield Jr. totaled three tackles (two for loss), two quarterback hits, and a strip sack. Dating back to the 2020 season,
Winfield Jr. leads all defensive backs with 28 quarterback hits and 18.0 sacks, while tying for first in forced fumbles with 12 (also, Baltimore’s Marlon Humphrey).
Winfield Jr. is the first defensive back this season to record a game with multiple quarterback hits and multiple tackles for loss.
– OLB
Yaya Diaby recorded four tackles (two for loss), two quarterback hits and 1.0 sack. His sack represented his first of the season and improved his career total to 13.0. Per Next Gen Stats,
Diaby recorded career highs in quarterback pressures (11) and pressure rate (36.7%).
Sunday’s contest marked
Diaby’s fourth career game with multiple quarterback hits and multiple tackles for loss.
– CB
Jacob Parrish logged five tackles (one for loss), two quarterback hits and his first career sack.
– Including his game-winning kick,
Chase McLaughlin went 5-of-6 on field goal tries on the day, joining
Martín Gramática (Dec. 29, 2002 at Chicago – Week 17) as the only players in franchise history to record five-or-more field goals in a single game. It marked the second time in
McLaughlin’s career that he’s recorded at least five field goals in a game, joining Dec. 17, 2022. It also represented his fourth career game with two makes from at least 50 yards out.
McLaughlin converted from 28, 33, 36, 54 and 55 yards out – his two makes from 50+ yards out pushed his career marks to 34-of-41 (82.9%). His 82.9 success rate on tries of 50 yards-or-more is the second-best mark in NFL history, trailing only Pittsburgh’s
Chris Boswell at 83.3% (min. 40 attempts).
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