TAMPA, FL – Baker Mayfield has made a career of proving doubters wrong. Sunday’s thrilling 29-27 victory over the New York Jets was just the latest chapter in his remarkable Tampa Bay story – and the roar inside Raymond James Stadium told the whole story of another heart-stopping finish that left 62,872 fans emotionally drained but euphoric.
Chase McLaughlin’s 36-yard field goal as time expired capped another dramatic comeback. The Buccaneers improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2005. They’re now the first team in Super Bowl era history to win in the final minute of the fourth quarter in each of their first three games.
Clutch Performance Under Pressure
Mayfield delivered when it mattered most. With 1:49 remaining and Tampa Bay trailing 27-26, the veteran quarterback engineered the game-winning drive with surgical precision.
He found Emeka Egbuka for 28 yards. Then he connected with Sterling Shepard for 20 more. Those completions set up McLaughlin’s winning kick with no time left on the clock.
“Resilient group,” Mayfield said of his 3-0 team. “We stick together. When one part or phase is a little down, others step up. That’s what this team is all about.”
The performance was vintage Mayfield. He finished 19-of-29 for 233 yards and one touchdown without an interception. More importantly, he delivered the decisive points in the final minute for the third consecutive game.
His teammates see this leadership every single day, and rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka’s assessment captured what Bucs fans have witnessed all season:
“He’s a natural-born leader,” Egbuka said. “Someone who is willing to die on the field before giving up or shutting down. I think it’s pretty special to have someone like that at the helm of your offense and at the helm of your team, so we’re in good hands.”
The Championship Mentality
Head coach Todd Bowles summed up the team’s DNA perfectly in the postgame press conference, his voice carrying the satisfaction of a coach who’s watched his team mature before his eyes.
“It doesn’t matter how you do it; a win is a win,” Bowles said, the relief evident in his tone. “We’ve had really complementary football. The defense has stepped up, offense has stepped up, special teams have stepped up at different points throughout these first three games.”
🏴☠️ RAYMOND JAMES WAS ELECTRIC! A general view from the 300 level captures the incredible atmosphere as 62,872 fans witnessed history in the making. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers completed another heart-stopping comeback, defeating the New York Jets 29-27 to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2005. This is what championship atmosphere looks like! ⚡ | Credit: Chris Pearce/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
🚀 CANNON UNLEASHED! Baker Mayfield #6 delivers a LASER throw against the Jets’ secondary, showcasing why he’s become the heart of Tampa Bay’s explosive offense. Another crucial play in the Bucs’ historic 29-27 comeback! 🎯 | Credit: Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
🤯 ROOKIE MAGIC! Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is hauling in a spectacular one-handed catch along the sidelines against the New York Jets. This kid is absolutely SPECIAL! “He’s a natural-born leader, someone who is willing to die on the field before giving up,” teammates say about the future star. The catch helped fuel the Bucs’ historic 29-27 comeback victory! 🌟 | Credit: Doug Defelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
🏃♂️ MAYFIELD ON THE MOVE! Baker Mayfield #6 shows his mobility, rushing for a crucial gain against the New York Jets defense. Another example of how this quarterback does EVERYTHING to win! Part of the Bucs’ historic 29-27 comeback that improved them to 3-0! 💪 | Credit: Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
💥 PLAYMAKER ALERT! Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 forces a crucial fumble by New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor #2. This defense steps up when it matters MOST! Championship teams make championship plays, and that’s exactly what BUCS DEFENSE delivered in this thrilling 29-27 comeback victory. Winfield’s forced turnover was one of several key defensive plays that helped Tampa Bay complete their historic 3-0 start! 🛡️ | Credit: Doug Defelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This 3-0 start represents Tampa Bay’s best beginning in two decades. The Buccaneers are only the fifth franchise in team history to start unbeaten through three games. They join elite company as just the third team since 1970 to score winning points in the final minute of three consecutive games.
“Three-and-0 is important,” Bowles continued. “A lot of teams be crying because they lost close games. We lost some last year. We’re winning them this year, so we’re extremely happy about that.”
The victory also gave Bowles a satisfying win over his former team. He coached the Jets from 2015-18 before finding success in Tampa Bay.
Personal Revenge: Mayfield’s Message to Steve Wilks
But for Mayfield, this victory carried deeper meaning than just another comeback win. The game held special significance that went far beyond the standings, and the quarterback didn’t hide his satisfaction afterward.
“I loved it,” Mayfield said with unmistakable relish. “And also their D-coordinator was the one that cut me in Carolina. Lot of stuff was personal today.”
That defensive coordinator is Steve Wilks, who, as Carolina’s interim head coach in 2022, planned to make Mayfield the Panthers’ No. 3 quarterback behind P.J. Walker and Sam Darnold. Rather than accept that demotion, Mayfield and the Panthers agreed to his release. He landed in Los Angeles under Sean McVay, and his career rejuvenation began.
Now, with back-to-back Pro Bowl selections and leading Tampa Bay to its best start in nearly two decades, Mayfield had the perfect opportunity to deliver his message to Wilks. And he did so in the most emphatic way possible – by calmly dissecting Wilks’ defense in the final moments to set up the game-winning field goal.
The personal motivation seemed to fuel every throw, every decision, every clutch moment in that final drive. This wasn’t just about winning a football game; it was about proving that cutting Baker Mayfield was one of the worst decisions Wilks ever made.
“There’s nobody I’d rather have than Baker right in the two-minute drill at the end,” offensive lineman Ben Bredeson said, perfectly capturing why Wilks’ decision looks so foolish in hindsight.
Mayfield became just the fourth quarterback since 2000 with three game-winning drives in his team’s first three games of the season, joining elite company with Nick Foles (2014), Matt Ryan (2015), and Ryan Tannehill (2020).
Dramatic Fourth Quarter Collapse and Ice-Cold Redemption
The Bucs appeared to have the game in hand, leading 23-6 entering the fourth quarter. Then everything unraveled. The Jets scored 21 unanswered points to take a 27-26 lead with 1:49 remaining.
The most stunning moment came when Will McDonald blocked McLaughlin’s 43-yard field goal attempt. The Jets linebacker returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. Tampa Bay went from potentially leading by 10 points to trailing by one in a matter of seconds.
A play that should have been flagged for a 15-yard penalty on the Jets, as Will McDonald clearly runs forward before leaping the line to make the block. Another moment in time that the referees and video review failed the game and its athletes in the game. The other was the Emeka Egbuka at the Jets’ 15-yard line, which the referees and video review again refused to review the play as they were legally obligated to do. Both instances could have cost the Buccaneers the game.
But McLaughlin never lost faith. After the blocked kick, he knew exactly what would happen next.
“I told Evan and Riley that we’re gonna get another shot at it,” McLaughlin recalled. “And we knew Baker and the boys were gonna get us down in range and be able to get another chance and pull through for the team.”
When that moment arrived, the veteran kicker’s ice-cold composure embodied everything Bucs fans have come to expect from this resilient group.
“Just like any other kick,” McLaughlin said with a slight smile. “Maybe your heart beats a little bit more, but you’ve done the same reps millions of times, so just execute.”
“The confidence the team had in me was really reassuring,” McLaughlin added. “Just like Todd said after the game, it doesn’t matter how you get a win. We’re 3-0 and that’s all that matters.”
McLaughlin’s redemption kick capped a remarkable day for the kicker. He made five field goals, including attempts from 54, 33, 28, and 55 yards before the game-winner.
Defensive Playmakers Shine
Tampa Bay’s defense provided crucial momentum shifts throughout the game. Jamel Dean’s 55-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter gave the Bucs a 20-6 halftime lead.
The veteran cornerback read Tyrod Taylor’s pass perfectly. He stepped in front of the intended receiver and raced untouched to the end zone. The moment that may have saved the season came with Dean breaking a two-year drought for Buccaneers defensive touchdowns.
“It felt great, man, especially when you go so many years without seeing the end zone,” Dean said, still grinning. “And then it’s a different feeling knowing that instead of the receiver catching the touchdown, you’re scoring. So it’s like, so this is how you guys be feeling?”
Antoine Winfield Jr. added another key turnover with a forced fumble. The defense recorded four sacks and consistently pressured Taylor throughout the game. Their performance kept Tampa Bay in control until the fourth quarter collapse.
Next Man Up Philosophy in Action
The victory came with some concerning injury news. Mike Evans left the game with a hamstring injury after catching four passes for 33 yards and one touchdown. His 5-yard scoring reception in the second quarter helped build Tampa Bay’s early lead.
Bowles didn’t sugarcoat the reality of losing his superstar receiver.
“You can’t replace a Mike Evans,” he admitted. “Other guys can do other things, and we’re trying to tailor towards those types of things, but you can’t replace a Mike Evans.”
What they can do – and did – was rally around each other. The offensive line, already decimated by injuries, continued to battle with a patchwork unit that would make most quarterbacks nervous. Not Baker Mayfield.
The Bucs won despite a MASH-unit offensive line, missing three starters. Already without wideouts Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan, Mayfield lost his star receiver in the fourth quarter. None of it stopped the quarterback from making plays to earn his team the win, especially against the coordinator who once dismissed him.
“Just given the circumstances we’re missing all pro tackle… and just for Ben to slide over, and Charlie to step up, and Klein to step up, and Hag to step up. It’s not easy,” Mayfield said, his respect for his teammates evident. “And I think those guys deserve a lot of credit for what they did today.”
Evans’ injury status will be closely monitored heading into next week’s showdown with defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia. The Bucs will need their top receiver healthy for that crucial test.
Other injuries included defensive lineman Logan Hall (groin) and safety Christian Izien (quad). Both players’ availability for the Eagles game remains uncertain.
Jets’ Valiant Effort Falls Short
New York showed tremendous fight despite falling to 0-3. Tyrod Taylor, starting in place of the injured Justin Fields, nearly led a miraculous comeback. He finished 26-of-36 for 197 yards and two touchdowns.
Taylor’s fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Garrett Wilson (11 yards) and Allen Lazard (4 yards) erased Tampa Bay’s 17-point deficit. Wilson was particularly impressive with 10 catches for 84 yards.
“There’s no such thing as moral victories when it comes to us,” first-year Jets coach Aaron Glenn said. “We’re going to go to work next week, look at the things we need to fix.”
The loss dropped the Jets to 0-3 for the third time in six years. Glenn joins a short list of coaches to begin their Jets tenure winless through three games.
For Wilks, the defeat had to sting even more, knowing that the quarterback who delivered the dagger was the same one he deemed expendable just two years ago.
Special Atmosphere at Raymond James
The home opener featured a special celebration of franchise history. Tampa Bay wore its original white creamsicle uniforms. More than 100 former Buccaneers returned to Raymond James Stadium, including Hall of Famers Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, and Ronde Barber.
The 62,872 fans in attendance witnessed another chapter in the franchise’s storied history. This 3-0 start ranks among the best in team annals. Only four other times has Tampa Bay started a season unbeaten through three games.
Eyes on the Prize: Philadelphia Next
The undefeated Bucs now face their biggest test of the young season. Defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia visits Raymond James Stadium next week. The Eagles represent a significant step up in competition.
Bowles knows exactly what that matchup represents.
“They won the Super Bowl. That’s what we’re trying to get to,” he said matter-of-factly. “We know they’re a quality team. Coming in here, we think we’re a quality team that they’re going to play.”
The message is clear: this isn’t just about surviving early-season tests anymore. This is about proving they belong among the NFL’s elite.
Tampa Bay’s ability to win close games will be tested again. Their three victories have come by a combined 11 points. Each game has required fourth-quarter heroics from Mayfield and the offense.
The Jets, meanwhile, return to Florida for a Monday night matchup with the winless Miami Dolphins. Both teams desperately need their first victory of the season.
Building Something Special
This victory reinforced several key themes for Tampa Bay’s season. Mayfield continues to thrive in clutch situations. The defense creates timely turnovers. The team finds ways to win despite adversity.
Three games in, the evidence is mounting that something special is happening in Tampa Bay. The team’s assessment of their early success reflects a group that understands the bigger picture.
“It’s showing that we’re heading in the right direction, that we’re trending in the right direction,” one player noted. “This team is resilient in stressful situations.”
Most importantly, the Bucs are building championship-level confidence. They’ve now won three consecutive games in dramatic fashion. That experience could prove invaluable in January.
For Mayfield, this represents another step in his remarkable career transformation. Once considered a bust, once cut by Steve Wilks in Carolina, he’s now leading Tampa Bay to heights not seen in nearly two decades. The quarterback is in Tampa Bay in part because Wilks dismissed him – and that dismissal has become part of Mayfield’s incredible comeback arc.
For Bucs fans who’ve endured heartbreak and celebrated championships, this feels familiar – the kind of resilient, never-say-die attitude that defines special seasons. Add in the sweet taste of personal revenge, and this victory becomes even more satisfying.
The magic continues in Tampa Bay. And with Mayfield at the helm, proving doubters wrong one game at a time, these Buccaneers believe anything is possible. Three weeks, three comeback victories, and a growing belief that this team has the ingredients to make another championship run.
In Tampa Bay, that’s exactly how championship seasons begin – especially when they’re fueled by a quarterback with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.
The Buccaneers return to Raymond James Stadium next Sunday to face the Philadelphia Eagles in what promises to be another test of their championship mettle.
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