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Up to date 47s in the past<\/span>
Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers<\/a> are in Houston taking up C.J. Stroud<\/a> and the Texans<\/a> in an early-season conflict between two playoff contenders. <\/strong>
Observe under for perception and evaluation from The Athletic<\/em>\u2019s crew of NFL<\/a> reporters.
Does anybody within the league throw the ball throughout the center higher than Baker Mayfield<\/strong>? OK, there could also be somebody, however there aren\u2019t many QBs who do it higher. And it was on show on the Bucs\u2019 opening drive.
Mayfield hit a few photographs over the center to spark the drive: one on a third-down conversion to Mike Evans and one other to Cade Otton.
These performs sparked what become a landing for the Bucs. That was a gorgeous drive by Mayfield.<\/p>\n
Commercial Q1 11:58 – Texans 7, Bucs 0 <\/strong>
Q1 7:12 – Bucs 7, Texans 7<\/strong>
Offensive go interference penalty for Mike Evans<\/strong>? <\/strong>No drawback for the Bucs.
Baker Mayfield, <\/strong>seeing Mike Evans <\/strong>and Emeka Egbuka <\/strong>lined, connects with Ryan Miller <\/strong>on the 20-yard landing reception. It’s Miller\u2019s first catch of the yr, on Mayfield\u2019s third development.
What a response for Tampa Bay. Each groups open the sport with touchdowns.
Q1 8:23 – Texans 7, Bucs 0<\/strong>
Ooof! That\u2019s a expensive offensive go interference penalty from Mike Evans. <\/strong>He makes the 17-yard reception, nevertheless it\u2019s so apparent he pushed Texans nook Derek Stingley Jr. <\/strong>to take action.
Now, it\u2019s first-and-20 for the Bucs, who are actually at Houston\u2019s 30-yard line.
Q1 10:28 – Texans 7, Bucs 0<\/strong>
Wow! Baker Mayfield <\/strong>is VERY lucky that go wasn\u2019t picked off. Severely underthrown ball supposed for Emeka Egbuka<\/strong>, <\/strong>that was almost intercepted by Azeez Al-Shaair<\/strong>.
The Texans linebacker couldn\u2019t corral the ball. Tampa retains occurring offense.
Q1 11:05 – Texans 7, Bucs 0<\/strong>
Baker Mayfield <\/strong>is going through stress early on this sport from this potent Texans protection. On third-and-6, the Bucs quarterback finds Mike Evans <\/strong>for the eight-yard reception.
Tampa Bay\u2019s drive retains going. A pleasant begin for Evans, the Texas A&M alum who grew up in close by Galveston, Texas.
Earlier immediately, I wrote that I felt more confident in backing the under<\/a> (the entire was at 42.5 on betMGM earlier than kickoff) than choosing a winner.
Naturally, we have now a landing on the opening drive with simply over three minutes of sport time elapsed.
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What a throw from C.J. Stroud<\/strong> and catch from Nico Collins.<\/strong>
The important thing on that drive was the display go catch-and-run from Nick Chubb<\/strong> for 27 yards. Chubb appeared comfy chopping in the course of that run usually, appears to be like as wholesome as he has been in a number of seasons.
After 4 agonizing quarters of offensive soccer in opposition to the Rams final week, Houston finds the top zone.
The Houston Texans <\/strong>didn’t get any performs final week of 25-plus yards on offense. They’ve two on the opening drive: one on a display go to Nick Chubb <\/strong>(27 yards) and the opposite to Nico Collins <\/strong>for the landing reception (29 yards).
Massive begin for the Texans offense, who solely put up 9 factors in a Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. <\/strong>
Boy, that was not the beginning the Bucs\u2019 protection needed on this sport. The Texans went proper down the sphere, and Tampa Bay didn\u2019t put up a lot resistance. It should get higher if the Bucs are going to stay undefeated tonight.
Houston lined the 64 yards in simply six performs. The Bucs should tighten up shortly.<\/p>\n
The ruling on the sphere stands. Nico Collins <\/strong>will get each toes in bounds, finishing the 29-yard landing reception.
What an excellent catch from the Texans receiver. It’s Houston\u2019s first landing of the 2025 season.
Q1 11:58 – Bucs 0, Texans 0<\/strong>
Nick Chubb <\/strong>will get the primary down with a 27-yard display reception. Then, C.J. Stroud <\/strong>takes a shot to the top zone the place Nico Collins <\/strong>makes the catch.
The ruling on the sphere is a landing however the play is beneath evaluation. Did the Texans receiver get each toes in bounds to finish the catch?
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Q1 14:53 – Bucs 0, Texans 0<\/strong>
A pleasant kickoff return for Texans receiver Jaylin Noel. <\/strong>He goes 33 yards on the return, placing the Texans on the 36-yard line to begin.
Q1 15:00 – Bucs 0, Texans 0<\/strong>
We\u2019re underway from Houston with the Texans getting the ball first.
Hell yeah. That is what it\u2019s all about.
The Texans<\/strong> didn\u2019t discover the top zone final week in opposition to the Rams and a few of that needed to do with WR Nico Collins<\/strong> not displaying up on the stat sheet a lot.
Houston\u2019s prime receiver was focused 5 occasions in Week 1, catching three of these passes for 25 yards. It\u2019s a remarkably low goal share and output for Collins, who\u2019s confirmed to be C.J. Stroud's most dependable weapon.
Anticipate that to vary tonight. The Bucs gained't be shy in making an attempt to restrict Collins, although. Whereas tight finish Dalton Schultz is within the combine, free-agent acquisition Christian Kirk (hamstring) is out and throughout from Collins are two rookie WRs in Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins.
However the Texans can\u2019t win with out Nico Collins seeing extra targets.
The Texans\u2019 offensive line is in flux, however can the Buccaneers take benefit? They’d just one sack final week in opposition to the Falcons to open the season.
They have to be higher tonight and get off the sphere after they have the prospect. The Falcons dominated the time of possession in that sport (35:12 to 24:48) with 23 first downs and 358 yards to 16 and 260 for the Bucs.
In a sport that had no turnovers, it\u2019s sort of a miracle that the Bucs gained. They may want extra from the protection tonight to enhance to 2-0.
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Since Todd Bowles took over as Buccaneers head coach in 2022, Tampa Bay is undefeated in Weeks 1 and a pair of \u2014 the one NFL crew to carry that distinction over that span, per ESPN.
It\u2019s all anybody ever needs to speak about with the Texans nowadays.
Towards the Rams in Week 1, Houston gave up stress on 41.2 p.c of C.J. Stroud\u2019s dropbacks. Stroud was sacked thrice and hit seven occasions within the 14-9 loss. This got here after an offseason throughout which the offensive line was revamped, led by LT Laremy Tunsil\u2019s commerce to the Commanders. Stroud was sacked 55 occasions in 2024.
The offensive line\u2019s Week 1 efficiency comes with a caveat, although. Guard Ed Ingram (stomach) missed the sport, which shuffled the road on the fly. It pushed Cam Robinson into the beginning lineup at left deal with and extremely regarded rookie Aireontae Ersery to proper deal with, with Tytus Howard having to change to protect, which he has performed typically.
The offensive line Houston appeared most assured in on the finish of coaching camp had Ersery at left deal with and Howard at proper deal with, with Robinson as depth and Ingram beginning at proper guard. Ingram practiced all week and is beginning tonight.
NRG Stadium in Houston simply held a second of silence \u201cto honor all victims of violence and pure disasters throughout the nation.\u201d The general public tackle announcer added, \u201cIt's our hope that collectively we will finish all types of violence.\u201d
Following the homicide of Charlie Kirk final week, a second of silence was held in his honor earlier than Thursday evening's sport between the Commanders and Packers in Inexperienced Bay. The NFL then stated on Friday that it will be as much as the person golf equipment whether or not or not they maintain moments of silence throughout the remainder of Week 2.
The Texans' announcement didn’t point out Kirk by identify.
GO FURTHER
NFL explains resolution to carry second of silence for Charlie Kirk earlier than \u2018Thursday Night time Soccer\u2019<\/p>\n