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After a slow first quarter, the Bucs were able to turn it up the rest of the game, sparked by two interceptions in the second quarter, including a pick-six. As the offense got it together in the second half, Tampa Bay was able to pull away and win the game 24-16 over the Jets in MetLife Stadium for their preseason opener.

These were the most impressive players in the game for the Bucs.

CB Ayden Garnes

It was the rookie undrafted free agent Garnes who scored the Bucs’ first touchdown of the season when he intercepted a pass from Jets quarterback Bailey Zappe and it took it to the house for a 47-yard pick-six. Garnes has had a great training camp and brought that over to the game, showing his playmaking ability to tie the game up at 10-10. Garnes also showed a great willingness to get his nose dirty in the run game, making a tackle for loss on Breece Hall early in the game.

Bucs CB Ayden Garnes – Photo by: Reuters/Imagn

Another impact that Garnes had was made on a separate tackle of Hall. While it was a 14-yard gain on the run, Garnes tripped up Hall enough to prevent him from scoring a touchdown, and eventually the Bucs held the Jets to a field goal. The rookie was aggressive all night, and it paid off.

QB Jalon Daniels

All eyes were on Daniels when he got all of the offensive snaps in the second half. He orchestrated an 80-yard touchdown drive the first time he took the field in the game. He made smart throws and even had a big third down completion to Garrett Greene to move the sticks. His mobility was on display as he avoided some tackles and scrambled for a first down earlier in the drive, too.

Following a quick second drive at their own goal line, Daniels threaded the needle great when they had the ball next. He fit a perfect pass in a tight window to tight end Devin Culp for a first down. Then, he found Bauer Sharp on a fourth and five to keep the drive going and get into scoring range and eventually punching in a rushing touchdown of his own.

In three second half drives, the offense scored two touchdowns with Daniels under center and closed out the game. If Daniels can continue to stay in the pocket and read plays while mixing in his rushing ability when necessary, he’ll have a role with this group.

DT Elijah Roberts

What a start it was for the second year defensive tackle. Once the game moved to the second quarter, Roberts took over. He recorded a sack on Bailey Zappe not long after Tampa Bay’s pick-six by Garnes to keep the momentum. The sack by Roberts must have rattled the Jets, as Tampa Bay recorded an interception on the following play following a botched reception.

Bucs DT Elijah Roberts – Photo by: Reuters/Imagn

Roberts showed he can get it done on the ground, too, recording a tackle for loss on the following drive. He got into the backfield so fast that Jets running back Kene Nwangwu had nowhere to go with it. We’ve known that Roberts has pass rushing prowess, but it’s being able to stop the run that’ll get him more snaps this season.

S Rashad Wisdom 

The momentum was riding high for the Bucs in the second half following a pick-six. The next turnover came from Wisdom, who was the beneficiary of a bobbled ball that Jets receiver Isaiah Williams was trying to catch. Instead, it went into the hands of Wisdom, getting the Bucs their second turnover of the evening. Sometimes its good to be in the right spot.

WR Ted Hurst

With better quarterback play, Hurst would have had an incredible night. Hurst found ways to get open, and both of his catches were for first downs as he had two catches for 19 yards. The fact that he had six targets shows that he put himself in situations where quarterbacks looked at him.

Bucs WR Ted Hurst III – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Quite honestly, Hurst’s move on Jets’ corner Maury Bamba on third and goal was maybe his most impressive moment of the night. He left Bamba in his tracks to get open in the end zone, but the throw by Bazelak was behind him. Hurst got his hands on the ball but couldn’t hold on. He showed enough with the opportunities he had that he can be a primary target at receiver.

RB Josh Williams

Playing with a sense of urgency, Williams was looking fast and hitting the hole hard when it he got more opportunities in the second half. The highlight moment for him came on a 12-yard touchdown run to give the Bucs the lead for the first time in the game. Williams averaged five yards per rush attempt at one point in the game and ended up with 27 yards total.

CB Pepe Williams 

Williams had the unenviable task of having to cover the Jets top wide receiver Garrett Wilson at the beginning, which would be a struggle for most. But Williams covered Wilson just good enough to stop him from scoring a touchdown on the Jets’ opening drive, instead forcing a field goal.

Williams was involved often in the game, leading the team with 11 tackles and even recording a sack as he essentially escorted quarterback Cade Klubnik out of bounds. A solid game for a player who has a legit chance to make this team.

OLB Jack Pyburn

It was a great second half for Pyburn, who recorded two sacks in the game. His second came in a big moment as the Jets were driving late in the game trying to tie it up. His sack made it second and 13, and following the two more incompletions, the game was over. His stock went up after this game.