The Buccaneers defeated the Seahawks and improve to 4-1 on the season with a 39-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin as time expired. Lavonte David helped seal the victory with a late interception of Sam Darnold. Baker Mayfield finished the game completing 29 of 33 pass attempts for 379 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 134.7 rating. Emeka Egbuka concluded the game with 163 yards and a touchdown.
On the Bucs’ opening possession, Cade Otton took advantage of Seattle’s zone coverage, sitting in coverage voids and Baker Mayfield connected with the tight end for gains of 27 and 12 yards. The 11-play, 69-yard drive culminated in a Chase McLaughlin 30-yard field goal to give Tampa Bay an early 3-0 start. The Seahawks followed suit with a field goal attempt of their own but Jason Myers’ 44-yard attempt was wide left.
To open the second frame, the Bucs made their way down the field but after an incompletion to Chris Godwin Jr. on third down, the Bucs were forced to kick a field goal. McLaughlin’s 36-yard kick was good, putting Tampa Bay in the driver’s seat, 6-0. The Bucs’ defense answered with a stout drive, including a tackle for loss by Lavonte David on Zach Charbonnet (-2) and a pass breakup by Antoine Winfield Jr. versus Jaxon Smith-Njigba to stifle Seattle’s momentum.
On Seattle’s following drive, Jalen Milroe fumbled at the Tampa Bay 42-yard line and it was recovered by Tykee Smith at the 41-yard line. Prior to the two-minute mark in the second quarter, Rachaad White found the end zone on a seven-yard touchdown rush to give Tampa Bay a 13-0 lead. Earlier in the drive, Otton accelerated off a chip-and-release for a gain of 17 yards to spur the score. The Seahawks followed with a 10-play, 54-yard scoring drive that culminated in a six-yard touchdown for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He crossed the back of the end zone and Darnold hit him in stride to make it a 13-7 game prior to the half.
Coming out of the half, the Seahawks posted a four-play, 77-yard scoring drive including a 36-yard gain by Dareke Young and a 31-yard run by Kenneth Walker III around the right end, which helped set up the five-yard touchdown rush for Charbonnet around the right tackle.
On Tampa Bay’s ensuing drive, Tez Johnson became the catalyst, juking defenders to move the chains. The nine-play, 77-yard drive resulted in an Emeka Egbuka 20-yard touchdown. He won with inside leverage and Mayfield placed the ball out in front where only the rookie could snag it. The two-point attempt to Egbuka was successful, providing the Bucs with a 21-14 advantage. The Seahawks answered with a score of their own. Smith-Njigba picked up 53 yards following a deep bomb by Darnold and AJ Barner capped off the drive with a two-yard touchdown, making it a tied game at 21.
The shootout continued as the Bucs put seven on the board. Egbuka showcased his savvy route running with a lethal stutter-step mid-route to create separation for a 57-yard gain, making it look like he was going to break inside and instead he continued deep. That play spurred White’s one-yard touchdown rush, giving Tampa Bay a 28-21 lead. On Seattle’s following drive, an illegal contact penalty against Tampa Bay nullified Antoine Winfield Jr.’s interception and Seattle capitalized with a six-yard touchdown to Barner, tying the game at 28. The Bucs were forced to punt on their next drive following a second-down sack and an incompletion to Sterling Shepard on third down.
With just over three minutes in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks capped off an eight-play, 99-yard touchdown drive with a 21-yard Horton score to put Seattle out in front, 35-28. The Bucs responded with a score of their own. 25-yard gains for Otton and Egbuka helped set up the 11-yard score for Sterling Shepard, which tied the game at 35. Lavonte David then intercepted Darnold’s pass at the Seattle 38-yard line and returned it three yards. The Bucs won with a walk-off 39-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin to make it a 38-35 final score at Lumen Field.
TOP PERFORMERS 🏈
- Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 29/33 for 379 yards – 2 TDs
- Rushing: RB Rachaad White: 14 rushes for 41 yards – 2 TDs
- Receiving: WR Emeka Egbuka: 7 catches for 163 yards – 1 TD
- Defense: LB Lavonte David: 9 total tackles, 1 INT
- Passing: QB Sam Darnold: 28/34 for 341 yards – 4 TDs & 1 INT
- Rushing: RB Kenneth Walker III: 10 rushes for 86 yards
- Receiving: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 8 catches for 132 yards – 1 TD
- Defense: LB Uchenna Nwosu: 4 total tackles, 0.5 sack
Source link
