It’s Tyrod Taylor Against The Bucs
September 17th, 2025
Jets backup QB Tyrod Taylor.
So the Bucs will face a quarterback Sunday that delivered a horror show to Tampa Bay fans eight years ago.
Joe hopes you’re among the lucky who have no recollection of the game.
It was 2017. The Bucs had enhanced the contract of then-defensive coordinator Mike Smith that offseason because he was so impressive on the job in 2016. But Smith lost his fastball in a hurry.
On Oct. 22, 2017, the Bucs headed up to Buffalo to face the Bills and quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who was starting there in the pre-Josh Allen era. Taylor led the Bills on a 75-yard touchdown drive in three plays — three! — to tie the game with a shade over 2 minutes remaining.
Somehow, as the Bucs did routinely back then, Tampa Bay managed to lose by a field goal in regulation with Taylor leading a field-goal drive to win it.
Taylor, a journeyman backup nowadays, will start against Tampa Bay on Sunday in place of Jets starter Justin Fields, who is out with a concussion. The Jets made that official today.
Taylor is crafty but he’s not “good” no matter how many times Todd Bowles says he is. If the Bucs can stop the run in this game, as they’ve done very well in Weeks 1 and 2, they should be in good shape to go 3-0.
September 17th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
3-0 would be great….way above the Bowles average to start the season. A plus is that it is on TV here…Pizza and Feetball this week!!!!
September 17th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
What’s the under set at it? This might be a 13-10 game with the state of our OL. Bucs better come in hungry!
Wasn’t gonna be scared of Fields either cause I trust Todd to always shut the run down but coverage guys better bring their A Game. Can’t lose track of Wilson or the TEs or Breece outta the backfield. Dennis needs a bench seat. Put Parrish or Izien out there.
September 17th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Backup QB? = Bucs are gonna get destroyed.
Don’t shoot the messenger. :/
…Go Bucs anyways!
September 17th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
3-0!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
September 17th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
Man…I hate it when the Bucs play backup QBs. It’s like a death knell. In case anyone forgot, we lost to Cooper Rush last year.
September 17th, 2025 at 1:20 pm
How many times have I sat at RJ and watched a backup QB, even a 3rd string QB, demolish our defense. Please, oh please, play like the other guy’s QB is an amalgam of Brady, Montana and Marino.
September 17th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
The Jets are 0-2. They gave up over 30 points in each of their first two games. And they have averaged 141 rushing yards a game. This game will be decided by our D-line.
September 17th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
They don’t usually fare well against back ups Joe, everyone knows this.
September 17th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
Well the Bucs finally beat the Texans on Monday night so maybe the Bucs can also break the Backup and Rookie QB curse this Sunday? lol.
September 17th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
Defense is going to have to win this game for us. As the offense might not be able to do much with 3 starting offensive linemen out
September 17th, 2025 at 1:40 pm
Bucs win 45-17.
September 17th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
I’d say this is bad news
Fields was terrible
September 17th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
It’s going to be another close one Bucs fans…but the Bucs should prevail!
September 17th, 2025 at 1:48 pm
EEK Says:
I’d say this is bad news
Fields was terrible
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Fields is a better QB than Taylor, a 36 year old journeyman who doesn’t have arm strength or the ability to get beyond his 2nd read. I’ll take this matchup any day over a kid who put 32 points on the Steelers in the Jets first game.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:04 pm
Mobile QB’s are Todd’s kryptonite. This CAN EASILY be a loss if Bowles doesn’t take the Jets seriously.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:11 pm
Will be a low scoring type game most likely. Our defense will wrap them up and keep them from doing much of anything but if we beat them by a decent amount, it will come down to amazing game planning and play calling by the Griz. This offensive line is just too patchwork for us to do what we normally do. And Jets defense is probably their best unit. Hopefully these fill in O-lineman run block at least because last Monday was pleasantly surprising in that respect.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
We really need to win this game and get to 3-0, because the next 3 games are against the Eagles, Seahawks and 49ers. With our O-line in flux, it’s difficult for me to see the Bucs standing up to the Seahawks or 49ers, much less the Eagles. We’ve go to get some stability up front. Grizz can only do so much with game planning and play calling if we can’t protect Baker.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
It’s bad news. When healthy, Tyrod Taylor is a far superior QB to Justin Fields.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
I’d rather face Fields, who the Bucs have easily handled in past years.
Two games vs Bowles, Fields has 1 TD vs 5 INTs, plus took 10 sacks — in two games.
What a disaster to miss playing him yet again.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
HC Grover Says:
September 17th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
3-0 would be great….way above the Bowles average to start the season. A plus is that it is on TV here…Pizza and Feetball this week!!!!
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Open mouth, insert foot. Bowles has started 2-0 every season he’s been in Tampa… and 3-0 would be way above the Bowles average? You should take some remedial math classes.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Outside of Hall & Wilson, the Jets don’t have many playmakers on offense. Tyrod Taylor is 36 years old, he USED to be an active tuck and run scrambler, but he was also sacked twice on just 11 dropbacks this past Sunday. We should be alright defensively, not taking the Jets lightly, but they’re not as good at any position as the last 2 offenses we played.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:24 pm
Todd has never started 3-0.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Hope this does not turn into a trap game, we need a win and no more injuries.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
Can this be a trap game with our o line in the state it is?
September 17th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
Brandon 2 plus 2 equals 5…..it is the new math. You moron.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
I’m not a gambler and i’ve never made any sports bets, but I might download the Hard Rock app and bet $100 on the Jets this weekend.
Seems likely they will win if I’m being completely honest.
Bucs never win these types of games, and at least my gambling winnings would soften the blow of betting our butts kicked by another backup QB on a lesser team…
September 17th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
*getting our butts kicked
September 17th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
This game is setting up to be CLOSE!!!! Another fun one to watch….How long can we beat the odds?
September 17th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
You can tell who the long time fans are and the ones who are new or here because, of either Brady or Baker.
Bucs fans have PTSD of back up QBs or replacement QBs torching this traditionally soft defense.
3-0 would be AMAZING, but let’s not count the jets out when we have Todd Blows running this ship
September 17th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
Denver shocked all last year.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Unfortunately I have a great memory.
Lets hope history does not repeat herself.
Lets hope Coach Bowles has an aggressive gameplan and not just sit and wait in soft zones.
Go Bucs
September 17th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
Bucs 31 Jets 13
September 17th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
Bowles vs a back up QB. Looking like a tough day boys!
September 17th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
bowles is good when he has time to prepare i think that’s why bucs always starts season with 2 wins . at some pt the preparation isnt quite the same. even more so on a shorter week and a backup qb on a team with a new coaching staff. this one could be tricky
September 17th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Todd’s defense and Bakers heroics have us 2-0. Y’all keep dissing Todd all you want to, and Lord knows that’s an important part of your lives, but he’s doing a helluva job so far this year!
The haters are, by far, in the minority 👎🏼
1 game at a time boys 💪🏼🏈
September 17th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
This blog is unreal. I’m very realistic about the Bucs chances, but somehow readers have gone from predicting 11 or 12 wins preseason to predicting a loss to the Jets because of aging backup Tyrod Taylor after going 2-0? What? If you are going to predict 11 or 12 wins, this is the easiest game on the schedule. Tyrod gave the Bucs problems – on a better team, almost a decade ago. Who cares. The Bucs should pound this team just like Buffalo just did.
September 17th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
How is their defense this year?
September 17th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Ok Bucs Fans..Tyrod Taylor..A veteran who can play and will pull the ball down and scamper for big yards. He is good at that. Todd needs to have his Defense really ready and not take a 0-2 team lightly. If not, this game has upset written all over it. GO BUCS!
September 17th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
I am very concerned. Fields is awful passer but DYNAMIC runner. Taylor can escape pressure, buy time and extend plays… and a better passer than Fields. More experience too. Like I said, I am concerned, especially with their front 7 vs our banged up OL. They are 0-2 and a desperate team. This is the NFL and any given Sunday. Next men up better be ready… This should be a low scoring dog fight. TOs and kicking game could loom large and here the Bucs are at ZERO in terms of takeaways and giveaways and out special teams was NOT special on Monday night.
September 17th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
I agree with the consensus. Prefer Fields.
September 17th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Smarter than Joe Says:
September 17th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
You can tell who the long time fans are and the ones who are new or here because, of either Brady or Baker.
Bucs fans have PTSD of back up QBs or replacement QBs torching this traditionally soft defense.
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Very very very true statement. Facing Taylor in this game makes it way more likely the Bucs end up losing. Bowles, when facing backups, tends to decide to play super soft defense, and they eat him up, putting up career numbers in general. No idea why Bowles does that, but seemingly every time it’s a backup or a young guy, Bowles plays soft. Lets hope, however, Bowles stays aggressive – and to his credit, he seems to be playing less soft garbage so far this year.
September 17th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Tyrod for 400 yards this sunday lol
September 17th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
The Bucs just need to show up and play their game and we will win. Take any team for granted and you lose. Simple as that. Go Bucs! I’ll be there!
September 17th, 2025 at 6:48 pm
HCGrover
“3-0 would be great….way above the Bowles average to start the season.”
This is on me not you HC. I always respect your posts. But I think some of the posters like GoneGator referred to in his post have whizzed in my wheaties!
“Y’all keep dissing Todd all you want to, and Lord knows that’s an important part of your lives, but he’s doing a helluva job so far this year!”
People here are dissing Bucs all the way down to the dang training staff. And the hyperbole just gets me.
“WAY ABOVE THE BOWLES AVERAGE” I guess my question…it’s a very tiny sample with no real meaning but I’ll play along…do you consider a ONE game difference as “way above”, especially given the incredibly small sample size.
September 17th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Bowles never goes 3-0. Yeah, but they never won on Monday Night Football under him either so perhaps something is different this year. The Bucs of 2022, 2023, 2024 would have lost in the ATL and would have choked on Monday as well and we’d be in panic mode, calling for Bowles to be fired if he lost to the Jets. This year things seem different. The time manager asst coukd be a factor. Two guys who could get launched after week 3 if they have a repeat perfomance of Monday are the punter and kicker. Make that 3 if you count the special team coach…..
September 17th, 2025 at 9:20 pm
FortMyersDave Says:
September 17th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Bowles never goes 3-0. Yeah, but they never won on Monday Night Football
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Yeah, and they’ve never won in Houston.
Also, later in the year, they never win vs the Falcons on Thursday night, in fact the Bucs always get blown out in that game.
BUT, the downside is, the Bucs (almost) never lose to the Eagles at home.
I’ll take the 2-1 typical Bowles start if it also means we get the typical Bowles domination of the Eagles the following week – although I’d be happy to get the 3-0 AND the domination of the Eagles, but it almost feels greedy to want that much.
September 17th, 2025 at 9:27 pm
We know it all too well. Taylor 2-0 against the Bucs. At least Bowles stopped trying to put CJ Stroud in the hall of fame on Monday. C’mon Todd tighten up let’s get your defensive coaches head jobs too not just the OCs.
September 17th, 2025 at 9:33 pm
i haven’t followed tyrod taylor or anything, but he was far from impressive when he played for the browns the season baker got drafted, and he’s 7? years older now?
September 17th, 2025 at 9:34 pm
Rod Munch, don’t you dare!! “I’ll take the 2-1”. We have injuries like everyone else but we are a good team. If we’re going to win 13 or 14 games we need to beat the Jets and show better play. We might hang 40 points. I have seen Baker play with a little adversity. But never with this good a team. We might hang 45.