The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are off to a strong start in 2025, thanks to quarterback Baker Mayfield, whose resilience led to a thrilling Baker Mayfield Buccaneers win over the Houston Texans. On Monday night, Mayfield orchestrated a game-winning drive to give Tampa Bay a 20-19 victory — his first prime-time regular-season win with the Bucs.
This performance not only pushed the Bucs to a 2-0 record but also reinforced Mayfield’s vow earlier this season for “more wins” and a stronger campaign.
Mayfield’s Clutch Drive Delivers
With just 1:32 left on the clock and Tampa Bay trailing 19-14, Mayfield scrambled for a pivotal fourth-down conversion to keep the drive alive. He followed it up with five straight completions, including two crucial catches by rookie running back Bucky Irving, who gained 40 yards in back-to-back plays. The drive ended with Rachaad White’s two-yard touchdown run, sealing another Baker Mayfield Buccaneers win.
Mayfield finished 25 of 38 for 215 yards and two touchdowns to Emeka Egbuka and Ryan Miller. His composure under pressure silenced doubts about his prime-time struggles, having entered the game 0-6 in night matchups.
Bucs Overcome Setbacks
Despite losing right tackle Luke Goedeke early and already missing All-Pro Tristan Wirfs, the Buccaneers’ offensive line held strong. The ground game delivered too, with Irving rushing for 71 yards and White adding 65.
However, Tampa Bay’s special teams stumbled as kicker Chase McLaughlin missed a 38-yard attempt — his third miss in two weeks.
Texans Fall Short at Home
The Houston Texans’ defense played well for most of the night, holding Tampa Bay to 360 total yards and sacking Mayfield four times. Running back Nick Chubb’s explosive 25-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left seemed like the dagger, but the Texans couldn’t hold on.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud posted 207 yards on 13-of-24 passing but looked unsettled, facing constant pressure behind a struggling offensive line. The Texans also gave up 169 rushing yards, raising concerns about their run defense ahead of next week’s divisional clash against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
What’s Next
The Buccaneers (2-0) return home to face the New York Jets, while the Texans (0-2) will try to rebound against the Jaguars, the league’s current rushing leaders.
For Tampa Bay, the story is clear: Baker Mayfield’s Buccaneers win wasn’t just a victory — it was a statement that this team is ready to compete in 2025.
