The Tampa Bay Buccaneers improved to 3–0 with a thrilling 29–27 win over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon, but it was far from perfect. After building a 17-point lead, the Bucs nearly collapsed before rallying behind Baker Mayfield and a game-winning field goal from Chase McLaughlin. Here’s a full breakdown of the good, the bad, and the ugly from Sunday’s rollercoaster win.
The Good
The Bucs’ youth movement on defense stole the show. Rookie cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish both delivered breakout performances, locking down the Jets’ outside receivers and making several key pass breakups. Morrison looked especially confident in man coverage, while Parrish flashed elite instincts for a first-year player.
Jamel Dean added the signature play of the day with a 55-yard pick-six in the second quarter that swung momentum firmly in Tampa Bay’s favor.
On offense, with Mike Evans exiting early due to a hamstring injury, Emeka Egbuka stepped up in a big way. The rookie wideout delivered clutch catches on third down, and his composure in high-pressure moments continues to shine. He’s looking more like a future No. 1 receiver every week as he ended the game with 85 yards.Special teams, while not perfect, saw a standout effort from Chase McLaughlin, who drilled five field goals on five attempts, including the game-winner as time expired. His consistency was critical in a game where the offense stalled in the red zone multiple times and a much needed bounce back after struggling the last two games.
The Bad
While the Bucs came away with the win, there were clear red flags.
The biggest concern: Mike Evans pulled his hamstring and did not return. Tampa Bay’s offense looked notably less explosive without him, and the team will be hoping this isn’t a long-term issue.
Defensively, Lavonte David had one of his rougher games in recent memory. The veteran linebacker missed multiple tackles and whiffed on at least two sack opportunities that could have ended drives. Against a more dangerous offense, those mistakes could have been game-changing.
In the run game, Tampa Bay struggled to get much traction. Missed blocks and conservative play-calling left them without a consistent ground threat.
The Ugly
Despite leading by 17 in the second half, Tampa Bay nearly gave the game away and much of that falls on the coaching decisions. Todd Bowles’ conservative play-calling late in the game allowed the Jets to claw back in. The defense shifted into a prevent look far too early, giving Tyrod Taylor soft zone windows to exploit. Instead of staying aggressive, the Bucs sat back and let the Jets steal momentum. Worse still, special teams continues to be a weekly liability. After allowing a blocked punt in Week 2, this week saw a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Jets pass rusher Will McDonald IV, a play that erased Tampa’s lead and nearly flipped the game.