The Buccaneers defeated the Texans 20-19 on the road at NRG Stadium. The Bucs finished with 360 total yards of offense and Rachaad White’s two-yard touchdown rush in the final ten seconds put the exclamation mark on the win. Baker Mayfield completed 25 of 38 attempts for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
The Texans scored on their opening offensive possession after a Nick Chubb 27-yard gain brought them to the Tampa Bay 29-yard line. The six-play drive culminated in a Nico Collins touchdown in the back corner of the end zone. The Bucs followed suit with a touchdown of their own. After an eight-yard gain for Mike Evans on a slant, a 12-yard gain for Cade Otton, who exploited the coverage void, and a 15-yard gain to Sterling Shepard off a Baker Mayfield rollout, the signal-caller connected with Ryan Miller for a 20-yard score to make it tied at seven.
Despite a 27-yard gain off a screen for running back Woddy Marks, the Texans had to settle for a field goal on their second drive, making it 10-7. Tampa Bay answered with a touchdown on their second drive as Mayfield found Emeka Egbuka in the flat. Egbuka made defenders miss post-catch en route to the end zone. The Bucs took a 14-10 lead on the 14-play, 77-yard drive. In the first half, the Bucs converted four of six third-down attempts and amassed 169 total yards of offense to pair with 12 first downs.
Both clubs traded punts out of the half. The Texans had their drive ended by a Tykee Smith sack on third down for a loss of nine. On the Houston ensuing drive, Lavonte David and Elijah Roberts combined for an eight-yard sack to halt the home’s team’s momentum. Following an incompletion to Evans on the ensuing drive, Chase McLaughlin’s 38-yard attempt was no good. The kick hit the right upright and bounced off.
The Bucs then took over at their own one after the defense made a goal-line stand. Mayfield made a critical conversion on third down with a 16-yard scramble but the Tampa Bay ensuing punt was blocked and the Texans took over at the 35-yard line. The Texans were not able to capitalize with seven, settling for a Fairbairn 53-yard field goal.
Mayfield was sacked by Will Anderson Jr. for a loss of eight on third down and the Bucs were forced to punt. Jaylin Noel returned it for 53 yards to the Tampa Bay 26-yard line and the Texans capitalized on the positive field position with a 25-yard Nick Chubb touchdown. Houston’s two-point attempt failed following a Stroud sack and the Bucs’ offense took over. A critical 15-yard scramble by Mayfield from fourth-and-10 kept the drive alive and a 22-yard gain by Irving helped set up the score. Rachaad White reached the end zone on a two-yard run, punctuating the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS 🏈
- Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 25/38 for 215 yards – 2 TDs
- Rushing: RB Bucky Irving: 17 attempts for 71 yards
- Receiving: WR Mike Evans: 5 receptions for 56 yards
- Defense: S Tykee Smith: 6 total tackles – 1.0 sack
- Passing: QB C.J. Stroud: 13/24 for 207 yards – 1 TD
- Rushing: RB Nick Chubb: 12 attempts for 43 yards – 1 TD
- Receiving: WR Nico Collins: 3 reception for 52 yards – 1 TD
- Defense: DE Danielle Hunter: 5 total tackles – 2.0 sack
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