Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From Bucs-Texans
September 16th, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
It’s beginning to look like another lovely September for one of the NFL’s fastest starters.
Chalk up another 2-0 getaway for Todd Bowles as the Bucs edged Houston on the road 20-19, overcoming injuries and awful special teams play along the way.
A reshuffled offensive line suffered another blow when Luke Goedeke aggravated a foot problem and had to leave. Calijah Kancey departed with a pectoral injury, but the Bucs rallied in the final minutes for the second consecutive week.
With Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin slated to return in the near future, the Bucs are in good shape heading into Sunday’s home opener against the Jets, who have been outscored by 22 points during an 0-2 start.
Buckyball on display.
A ground game that went nowhere in Atlanta found its footing Monday night as Bucky Irving and Rachaad White took turns torching the Texans behind robust blocking up front.
A prolonged slumber by the offense ended when Baker Mayfield directed the winning march, capped by White’s 2-yard TD run with only six seconds remaining.
Players from both sides dropped easy interceptions and for the second consecutive week, the Bucs had no giveaways and no takeaways. The biggest takeaway? Opposing defenses are asking for trouble when Mayfield has the ball with a chance to win with a late drive.
Somehow, some way, he wills the Bucs to victory. He uses his arm, his feet and, most of all, his competitive fire to inspire teammates.
After Mayfield’s early TD passes to Ryan Miller and Emeka Egbuka, the next seven Buc possessions ended with five punts, a missed field goal and a blocked punt.
But when the Texans went ahead on Nick Chubb’s 25-yard scoring run, Mayfield shook off the bad vibes. His 15-yard scramble on fourth-and-10 extended the game-winning drive. He finished with 33 rushing yards, with each of his three carries generating a first down.
That’s a big-time effort.
Here’s how the Bucs exhibited their poise before a prime-time national audience:
The running game returned with Graham Barton and Michael Jordan helping lead the way.
* While Irving rushed for 71 yards and caught all six passes sent his way for another 50 yards, it was White who ran through tacklers with power in a dynamic performance. That’s the kind of potent ground game the Bucs displayed last season while averaging 29.5 points per game.
* Few teams can match Houston’s pair of edge rushers and the Texans dropped Mayfield four times, but the run blocking was stout. Once again, Ben Bredeson did a nice job anchoring the line while playing out of position.
* Chase McLaughlin, so reliable in 2024, is off to a miserable start. He missed a routine field goal try and an extra point at Atlanta, and he misfired on a 38-yard FG attempt tonight against the Texans. Tampa Bay also suffered a blocked punt and allowed Jaylin Noel to rumble 53 yards with a punt return. Had the Bucs lost this game, all arrows would have been pointed at special teams.
* Although Chubb found a big hole off the right side for Houston’s go-ahead score, Tampa Bay’s rush defense was stout once again. Before Chubb’s 25-yard scamper, he and Jo’quavious Marks had combined for only 32 yards on 14 carries.
* On a night Tampa Bay’s offense struggled for most of the final three quarters, the defense came up huge in some key moments. The Texans had three cracks from the 1-yard line and couldn’t get in. After Houston smothered a Riley Dixon punt at the Tampa Bay 35 in the fourth quarter, the Texans had to settle for a field goal that left them behind 14-13.
* The Bucs received some gifts from the undisciplined Texans as four of their 25 first downs came courtesy of Houston penalties. Between the yellow flags and Houston’s uninspired offense, no wonder the boo birds came out in force at NRG Stadium.
* It was all hands on deck for the visitors as Teddy Bridgewater was the only suited Buccaneer who didn’t play.
* When Bowles looks at the film, he’ll see his defense is still being exploited by running backs in the flats. Bijan Robinson caught six passes for 100 yards in Atlanta, including a 50-yard TD. On Monday nght, Chubb and Marks combined for three catches for 66 yards.
* Irving was masterful on the final drive, turning a routine flip from Mayfield into a scintillating 22-yard gain as he eluded five onrushing tacklers. It was vintage Irving, who returned to form after a pedestrian opener against the Falcons.
* The Bucs have won five of their last six regular-season road games and they were the better team for most of Monday’s matchup. They’ve got a shot to open the season 4-0 before heading to Seattle — with Wirfs likely cleared to return at left tackle. The more they win, the less pressure the Bucs will face to hurry Wirfs and Godwin back. Memo to Bowles’ detractors: Tampa Bay has won 17 of its last 25 regular-season games.
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September 16th, 2025 at 12:23 am
The incoming Jets remind me of the incoming Broncos last season. Everyone already had Bucs penciled in to win.
Came out flat as Bonneville salt desert.
Time for the head coach to emerge and have the team prepared for the home opener against a team who can be dangerous. If you think they’re not, just look at recent history.
Go Bucs.
September 16th, 2025 at 12:27 am
SPECIAL TEAMS:
>Missed chip shot FG
>Blocked Punt
>Horrible Punt and Kickoff Coverage
The Bucs ST Coach and players are the weak link.
Chase is done. Expect a new FG next week.
September 16th, 2025 at 12:43 am
Before the game, I thought the same thing, Aqualung. I’m out in L.A. for the second consecutive time for Week 2. The bartender where I watched games last year wore a Broncos Surtain jersey, and I wanted to give him sh*t after we beat the Lions on the road. Glad I didn’t.
Saw him yesterday and told him the story. I’ve learned to be VERY wary. But tonight we celebrate!!!
September 16th, 2025 at 12:43 am
Punter has obvious slow release
Then he goes quick and out kicks the coverage. Can’t win for losing.
Dennis seems healthy and learning. A very positive sign.
Morrison was said to be “handsy” at Notre Dame and he got caught.
Parrish is a player. Tykee made great sack.
Decision to give up TD on purpose great play decision by Bowles.
White running in for TD great decision by Grizzard because of his outstanding blocking ability to make Texans think there may be a pass.
Fun and stress. And more fun.
September 16th, 2025 at 1:01 am
@Aqualung
Difference being Denver was a good team last year finishing with a 10-7 record. Jets haven’t had a winning record since… when Todd Bowles was the head coach…
September 16th, 2025 at 1:12 am
Wasn’t Dennis benched late in the game for Jones? Seemed like I saw #45 more than #8 on the field in the second half.
September 16th, 2025 at 1:25 am
Aqualung has a good point. Bowles did not have his team ready last year for the Denver game and Coach Bountygate exposed his D. This year he has to change that. Find a way to beat the Jets. Grizzard added some nice wrinkles tonight. Special teams were way below average.
September 16th, 2025 at 1:48 am
i though we’d be watching a shoot out early on…then the scoring just halted
September 16th, 2025 at 1:51 am
it’s gonna be a party at ray jay…in creamsicles…
jets are not giving up on the season yet…
but we’ll win……….say 27-17…
with or without the kancey-man
September 16th, 2025 at 2:29 am
IMO Chubb was allowed to score.
September 16th, 2025 at 2:58 am
Chase has had 2 kicks hit the goal posts and neither of them had the luck of falling in…
What are the chances of hitting the posts solid from these distances. He’s had insane bad luck if you asked me.
Not throwing in the towel on Chase yet.
He’ll figure it out…
September 16th, 2025 at 3:45 am
Before we go changing kickers, let’s remember two important things: 1) What happened when we replaced Matt Bryant or Connor Barth to improve… and…..the kicks are not going wide, they are barely missing/boinking off uprights. Its a game of inches… and for a matter of inches lets not go through Matt Gay and Roberto Aguayo again.
September 16th, 2025 at 4:12 am
Punter def needs to learn to speed up….i was watching live and said my gosh he’s slow….time to speed up dude…tick tick, tick tick! wth
September 16th, 2025 at 6:00 am
Well said, Ira.
The Bucs played their hearts out. So much emotion.
September 16th, 2025 at 6:09 am
To say we are in “good shape” heading into week 3 is a bit of a stretch. Injuries piling up, offensive line in shambles, front four being completely useless in pass rush, and escaping by the skin of our teeth in back to back games. I wouldn’t say we’re in good shape we’re surviving right now. If cancey tore his pec the defense is gonna suffer
September 16th, 2025 at 6:43 am
Aqualung…the Broncos were/are coached by Sean Payton. The Jets are coached by Aaron Glenn in his first season as a head coach. Not the same. That being said, we still can’t think ahead.
September 16th, 2025 at 7:01 am
Bowles haters are losing ground.. coach has a good football team and he’s doing his thing
September 16th, 2025 at 7:08 am
I’d just like to see us avoid the annual losing streak that forces us to play out of our minds down the stretch while hoping somebody else chokes.
September 16th, 2025 at 7:19 am
greg gaines looked good as canceys replacement, calijah wasn’t doing anything but near misses like last year, he missed a bunch of games we won last year too so maybe he’s not so important?
September 16th, 2025 at 7:29 am
I do not believe Chubb was allowed to score. The Bucs had three timeouts left and could have stopped the clock after the next two plays, forced a field goal and then only needed a field goal to win. Even with a shaky kicker that would seem like a better bet than an 80-yard touchdown drive with Hunter and Anderson up against Heck and Barton, imo.
September 16th, 2025 at 8:29 am
There is no way anyone “let” them score.
September 16th, 2025 at 8:55 am
Here are my 10 things:
B
A
K
E
R
I
S
W
H
Y
September 16th, 2025 at 9:33 am
Terrific win and it bodes well for us this season. But agree with Buc40 on the concerning injury situation. If Fields plays this could turn into a nightmare game if we are missing field goals, getting punts blocked, dropping interceptions, etc.
Bowles needs to really push discipline this week so the team is buttoned up, especially if we don’t have wirfs and Luke as expected.
September 16th, 2025 at 10:53 am
Anyone else think we let them have that last rushing TD on purpose? I think they didn’t want Houston to burn the 2 minutes left and kick the game winning FG. They preferred Houston to get the immediate TD and then have the game end with the ball in Baker’s hands