Game 2

Bucs at Texans

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

TV: BSPN. Game will be simulcast on WFTS-TV Channel 28 with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Laura Rutledge and Lisa Salters.

Streaming: BSPN app, NFL+. (Geographic restrictions may apply; subscription may be required).

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network WXTB-FM 97.9 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region (Transmisiones de radio en español en WTMP-FM 96.1 y WMGG-AM 1470 en Tampa). Additional stations throughout Florida on the Buccaneers Radio Network can be found here. The game will be on SiriusXM Channel 226 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed). The Westwood One national radio feed with hollerin’ Kevin Harlan and Kurt Warner can be heard on SiriusXM NFL Radio Channel 88.

Weather: The roof of the Texans’ cattle pen will be closed, as it usually is. So fans will enjoy being in a soulless dome. For those mingling outside guzzling beers and perhaps sipping cocktails in Houston, it will be Florida-warm for tailgaters, per AccuWeather.com. Temperatures this afternoon will be in the low 90s and by the time folks start walking into the dome it is expected to be 89. After the game, the temperature is expected to be 82 under clear skies. Why is there poor air quality in Houston?

Odds: Per Hard Rock Bet, as of noon Monday, Bucs +2.5 (-+120); over/under 42.5.

Referees: Shawn Hochuli and his gang will work tonight’s game. Hochuli and his outfit do not like road teams. Only in one season in the eight years Hochuli has been a referee has Hochuli’s outfit flagged the home team more than the road team. The home team in games worked by Hochuli’s gang have averaged no less than a 58 percent winning percentage in all but one of the past six seasons. Hochuli and his outfit love to throw flags. Just once in the past five seasons has Hochuli’s outfit thrown flags at a lower rate than the league average. Bright spot: Houston is 0-3 in its last three games worked by Hochuli’s gang.

Injuries: Bucs — Out WR Chris Godwin (ankle), LT Tristan Wirfs (knee). Questionable: RT Luke Goedeke (foot), DB Christian Izien (oblique), CB Benjamin Morrison (quad). Texans — Out: C Jake Andrews (ankle), WR Braxton Berrios (hamstring), WR Christian Kirk (hamstring).

Outlook: Joe doesn’t know what to take away from Week 1 when it comes to the Bucs offense. The running game was nonexistent. The passing game was just OK but very clutch. Overall, the offense didn’t give Joe flashbacks to the Greatest Show on Turf or the 1984 49ers. The defense was solid but kind of leaky in the passing game. That has been Todd Bowles’ signature with Tampa Bay. Run defense = good; pass defense = bad. Not a great trend in a passing league. The last time the Bucs played at Houston then-rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 470 yards in a 39-37 Bucs loss. Stroud — a rookie! — nearly joined the 500-yard club on Bowles. So Joe sees the Texans have a beat-up offensive line and thinks if the Bucs’ front-five can get pressure on Stroud, the Bucs can win. But isn’t that always the case with a Bowles defense? If the Bucs can get pressure? Joe simply does not trust a Bowles defense to pressure a QB. So it goes back to the offense. Houston has a good defense. Provided the Bucs can protect Baker Mayfield, the offense will find ways to score like it did at Atlanta last week. If Luke Goedeke, who is questionable, cannot go, that’s a huge blow to the Bucs.

Fun facts: Bucs QB Baker Mayfield is on a six-game streak of at least two touchdowns thrown. In his last two Monday Night Football games he also has at least two touchdown throws.  … RB Bucky Irving caught his first touchdown pass last week. He has scored a touchdown in four of his last five road games. … WR Mike Evans produces on Monday Night Football. In nine of his last Monday Night Football games, he has eight touchdowns. … ILB Lavonte David loves playing the Texans In his last two games against Houston, David has had a forced fumble. In his last three games against the Texans, David has had at least 10 tackles. … ILB SirVocea Dennis had a career-high 10 tackles and two tackles for loss along with his second career pass defensed against Atlanta last week. … S Antoine Winfield has at least 10 tackles in each of his last three games against Houston. … CB Jamel Dean had three passes defensed last week, tied for most in the NFL for Week 1. … Texans QB C.J. Stroud is 11-5 in 16 home starts. … RB Nick Chubb (as a member of the Browns) had 132 scrimmage yards (116 rushing, 16 receiving) and a touchdown run in his last game against the Bucs in 2022. … DE Danielle Hunter had eight sacks in eight home games last season. The last time he played the Bucs as a member of the Vikings, Hunter had two tackles for loss, a sack and a pass defensed to open the 2023 season. … CB Derek Stingley had 13 passes defensed in nine home games last season. Since 2023, Stingley is tied for NFL lead with 31 passes defensed.

.@DariusJButler dissects how the Buccaneers generate points by creating openings down the middle of the defense#WeAreTheKrewe

Live on ESPN2 & Streaming on ESPN+@GregCosell | @DariusJButler | Sal Paolantonio! pic.twitter.com/Hf8JA5Uj8I

— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) September 15, 2025