In 2023 and 2024, the calendar turning to October meant bad news for Todd Bowles and the Bucs. After going 2-6 in October over the last two seasons, they came into Sunday’s game against the Seahawks in Seattle looking to reverse their fortunes. Not only that, but they were looking to avoid back-to-back losses.

Perhaps predictably, this matchup between two 3-1 teams was a back-and-forth affair. Tampa Bay got a better start this week than it did in past weeks, taking a 6-0 lead before turning a takeaway into points for a 13-0 lead. But Seattle scored at the end of the first half and to start the second for its first lead of the day.

From there, it was punch for punch. The Bucs took a 21-14 lead, the Seahawks tied it. The Bucs then scored again to go up 28-21 near the end of the third quarter, only for the Seahawks to come right back and tie the game. Then, when Tampa Bay’s offense gave Seattle an opening, it took it. The home team went up 35-28 with 3:18 to go, meaning if Baker Mayfield and Co. were going to get to 4-1, it was going to have to be another late-game comeback, a fourth in five games.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

They got exactly that. Mayfield led a five-play, 70-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard with 1:08 to go. And then, improbably, the Buccaneer defense came through. A Sam Darnold pass went off Logan Hall’s helmet and into the arms of Lavonte David for a massive interception. One first down by Rachaad White later, Tampa Bay was able to walk it off with a game-winning 39-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin, who battled through an illness all weekend.

More late-game magic meant a 38-35 win, getting the Bucs to 4-1 on the year.

Here’s a recap of all the action from a wild one on Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field in Seattle:

Bucs 38, Seahawks 35

The Bucs got the ball to open the game and immediately went to work, with Baker Mayfield connecting with Chris Godwin Jr. for 13 yards to move the chains before a big 27-yard completion to Cade Otton into Seahawks territory. Rachaad White then ran a few times for another first down before a 12-yard pass to Otton into the red zone. But a completion to Sean Tucker that lost four yards on first down set the drive back, and Tampa Bay ultimately had to settle for a 30-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal to take an early 3-0 lead after a seven-minute opening drive.

Bucs K Chase McLaughlin – Photo by: USA Today

The Seahawks offense started quickly on its first drive, too, with Sam Darnold finding Cooper Kupp for 24 yards and Kenneth Walker III getting 14 on his first carry. But a holding call on rookie Grey Zabel eventually set the drive back, and when Jason Myers came on to try to tie the game, he hooked his 44-yard field goal wide left, keeping it a 3-0 lead for the Bucs.

Mayfield and the offense got moving again on their ensuing possession, with Emeka Egbuka picking up his first catch in his return to Washington, then a roughing the passer penalty moving the chains again. But another third-down miss left Tampa Bay to settle for a 36-yard McLaughlin field goal to make it a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter.

After the two teams traded punts from there, Seattle’s offense once again got into Tampa Bay territory. But rookie quarterback Jalen Milroe came into the game to run an option play, but his pitch back to Walker was too high to handle and the ball hit the ground. Tykee Smith recovered it, giving the Buccaneer defense the game’s first takeaway.

And the offense took advantage of it, too. Mayfield found Egbuka for a 24-yard gain, Otton came up with a 17-yard catch and run on 3rd & 14 and White eventually ran for a touchdown from seven yards out to give the Bucs a 13-0 lead just before the two-minute warning in the first half.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Dareke Young gave the home team a spark on the ensuing kickoff, returning it 43 yards near midfield. A third-down conversion from Darnold to Kupp got the ball into Buccaneer territory, then an 11-yard catch by Tory Horton set the Seahawks up with a first down at the 33. Another third-down conversion, this one to Elijah Arroyo, kept the drive moving inside one minute. A.J. Barnet then picked up 12 to set up 1st & Goal.

Zyon McCollum came up with a pass breakup at the goal line at the nine-second mark, but Darnold connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown on the next play to cut into the deficit just before halftime. At the break, the Bucs led 13-7.

The Seahawks kept all of their momentum going out of halftime, with a 36-yard pass from Darnold to Young and a 31-yard run by Walker setting up a short touchdown run by Zach Charbonnet. The four-play, 77-yard drive took only 1:59 and gave the home team its first lead of the day.

But the Bucs offense came right back, with Godwin converting a third-down and Mayfield finding Tez Johnson for the big play, a 27-yard pass to the Seahawks’ 15. And even after a setback set up 3rd & 15, Mayfield fired a strike to Egbuka for a homecoming touchdown. The two then linked up again for the two-point conversion, giving Tampa Bay a 21-14 lead.

The Bucs defense couldn’t get a stop, though, allowing a big 53-yard completion from Darnold to Smith-Njigba setting up a touchdown pass from Darnold to A.J. Barner to tie the game at 21.

There was more to come in the third quarter for Mayfield and Co., though. Egbuka got the drive started with a 19-yard catch, then he got free for a 57-yard catch on a 3rd & 13 to get down to the Seattle 2-yard line. Two plays later, Rachaad White found the end zone again to give the visitors a 28-21 lead late in the third.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

As the fourth quarter got underway, it looked like the Buccaneer defense finally had another stop in the form of a takeaway, as Antoine Winfield Jr. intercepted a tipped Darnold pass. But a flag came in, and the call was a (questionable) illegal contact penalty on Zyon McCollum, negating the turnover. Seattle took advantage, too, going right down the field and tying the game with another Darnold-to-Barner touchdown that made it 28-28 with 9:48 left.

Tampa Bay’s offense looked to keep it rolling on its next possession with Tez Johnson making a 17-yard catch and White coming up with a 14-yard catch and run. But after Mayfield was sacked on second down, he missed Sterling Shepard on third down, leading to a punt. Riley Dixon kicked it beautifully and the coverage team downed it at the 1-yard line, but even that didn’t help the defense.

Yaya Diaby blew a point-blank pick-six opportunity to start the drive, as he read a screen perfectly and got his hands on the ball, only he tipped it instead of holding on, leading to a first down for Kupp. Walker then ran for 22 yards, Smith-Njigba caught a 22-yard pass and Logan Hall was called for roughing the passer to boot. Later in the drive, the Seahawks offense stayed on the field on 4th & 2, and it paid off. Despite Diaby being right there for what would’ve been a game-changing sack, Darnold avoided him and found a wide-open Tory Horton for a 21-yard touchdown.

With that, Seattle led 35-28 with 3:18 to go.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

So, once again, Baker Mayfield and the Bucs found themselves facing a late deficit. And once again, No. 6 came through in the clutch. He found Egbuka for a 25-yard gain to start the drive, then hit Otton for another 25 yards. On the other side of the two-minute warning, Mayfield made a big-time throw off a scramble, hitting Sterling Shepard for an 11-yard touchdown with 1:08 to go. With the PAT, the game was tied at 35-all.

Just when it looked like Darnold was going to lead the Seahawks on a late game-winning drive, Tampa Bay’s defense got the big-time play it needed in a tight game like this one. Darnold had his pass go off of Logan Hall’s helmet, and Lavonte David was there to bring it in for an interception.

Rachaad White managed to pick up a key third down on the ensuing possession, setting up a last-second field goal try. And sure enough, Chase McLaughlin came through as the hero, hitting on a 39-yard field goal to win the game 38-35.

Baker Mayfield was masterful on the day, completing 29 of his 33 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns. Emeka Egbuka starred in his return to his home state of Washington, catching all seven of his targets for 163 yards and his fifth touchdown of the year.

Cade Otton had his best game of the year as well, catching four passes for 81 yards. And Tez Johnson had his breakout game, catching four passes for 59 yards. Meanwhile, with Bucky Irving out, Rachaad White stepped up. He only ran for 2.9 yards per carry, but he scored twice and added four catches for 30 yards.

The Tampa Bay defense certainly wasn’t at its best on Sunday, allowing Sam Darnold to complete 28 of his 34 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Seattle ran up 463 yards of offense, too, and went 6-of-9 on third downs. But the defense did get two takeaways, with Tykee Smith recovering a fumble and Lavonte David coming up with the late interception. As it turned out, that 2-0 advantage in the turnover battle was a huge difference maker for the visiting team.

The Bucs (4-1) will now return home to Raymond James Stadium in Week 6 to host the 49ers (4-1). Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m.