HOUSTON – The Buccaneers flipped the script on the Texans, all the way down to the very second.
Two years in the past in the identical stadium, the Bucs rallied for a go-ahead landing late, solely to see Houston reply with a landing with six seconds left to stun them and win.
On Monday evening, the Texans scored 9 factors in simply over three minutes for a 19-14 lead, giving the ball again to the Bucs at their 20 with 2:10 left to play.
Baker Mayfield transformed a fourth-and-10 with a 15-yard scramble, went 7-for-9 for 63 yards on the drive, and Rachaad White ran the ball in with a two-yard landing with – sure – six seconds left for a wild 20-19 win over the Texans.
After an analogous comeback in Atlanta final week, the Bucs have gained back-to-back street video games with go-ahead touchdowns within the closing minute – no NFL workforce has executed that in additional than 25 years, for the reason that Dolphins in 1999.
“I’ve a variety of confidence in our guys,” Mayfield mentioned after the win. “It is in these moments once you’re shifting the ball down the sector, defenses cannot get sure blitzes and coverages dialed in. It is fundamental fundamentals, and a variety of counting on these Day 1 installs and rills. We do 2-minute on a regular basis, realizing you could have all these reps within the financial institution and counting on that.”
The Bucs offensive line had a protracted day, beginning with out All-Professional left sort out Tristan Wirfs and dropping proper sort out Luke Goedeke to a foot harm after the primary drive. Down two beginning tackles, they noticed Texans edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter mix for 3 sacks, however the line pulled via on the ultimate drive.
After Mayfield’s scramble, he accomplished 5 straight passes – eight, 22, 5, 11 and 5 yards – and regardless of having two time outs, the Bucs let the clock tick down, till there have been 9 seconds left on the 2-yard line. As a result of that they had time outs, they knew they may run the ball and cease the clock in the event that they did not get in. They introduced in two tight ends, and the play name got here in with one final problem for the offensive line – push for 2 yards, pull out a victory.
“Once you hear a run name to win the sport, that is what we wish as a O-lineman,” proper sort out Charlie Heck mentioned. “That reveals the religion in our skill to run the ball and end the sport, and we executed, in order that was superior.”
With Wirfs out, the Bucs had taken the daring step of shifting heart Graham Barton to left sort out, and he mentioned the road discovered confidence in one another, realizing the problem was one thing they might battle collectively.
“We now have two of the higher tackles within the NFL, and it is powerful once they’re not enjoying,” Barton mentioned. “I do know it wasn’t fairly. We simply battled. I am simply pleased with the blokes. We’re out-manned proper now. It is two of the higher D-ends on the earth, and we fought our butts off. To go down there on the finish and provides ourselves an opportunity to go rating, actually pleased with our group.”
The Bucs, of their historical past, had by no means gained in Houston – by no means towards the Oilers, by no means towards the Texans – and the sport was doubtless the ultimate cease right here for receiver Mike Evans, who was born and raised an hour southeast of Houston in Galveston. He caught an 11-yard move the the 7-yard line on the ultimate drive, and was grateful to have a win as a homecoming reward in entrance of family and friends.
“It was similar to two years in the past, however this time we had the ball final, and we bought a much-needed win,” Evans mentioned. “Everyone was calm. Clearly, we did it final week, just a little bit completely different state of affairs, however we observe two-minute religiously, and it was nice for our preparation to come back full-circle like that.”
Rachaad White (No. 1) scored the Bucs’ closing landing after Emeka Egbuka (No. 2) opened the scoring for Tampa Bay within the first half. (David Buono/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)
The Bucs protection had preserved the lead within the fourth quarter with an enormous goal-line stand, stopping the Texans on three performs on the 1-yard line. Nick Chubb was stopped for no acquire, after which C.J. Stroud threw a pair of incompletions for the turnover on downs.
A pair of special-teams gaffes had set Houston up for victory – the Texans blocked a Riley Dixon punt and bought a discipline purpose to drag inside a degree, after which a 53-yard punt return set them up with one other brief discipline. Chubb broke into the open discipline for a 25-yard landing, and the Texans led 19-14, trying like they’d pull off one other late-game comeback towards the Bucs.
“Heck of a job of situational soccer,” Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles mentioned. “Baker Mayfield on the fourth-and-10, utilizing his legs to get the primary down, it sort of catapulted all the pieces from there. The whole lot we practiced, all the pieces we talked about, all the pieces we have recognized about ending the ball recreation, they did a heck of a job ending.”
The Bucs are 2-0 for the fifth 12 months in a row, however they’re additionally conscious they’ve misplaced their third recreation in every of the final 4 years. Subsequent up is an 0-2 Jets workforce in Tampa Bay’s house opener on a brief week subsequent Sunday, however the Bucs will keep assured if it goes all the way down to the wire once more.
“Once more, resiliency,” Bowles mentioned. “The chemistry these guys have, being round one another. We discuss so much about tradition, and tradition helps you win ball video games, particularly on the street. We observe it time and again and over, in order that they know what to do, what coverages and what to see and the way they are going to react to it. Everyone’s purchased in.”
Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade protecting the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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