Jalon Daniels may have stolen the headlines on Saturday night, but the Bucs defense provided the foundation for Tampa Bay’s comeback win.

Tampa Bay limited the Chiefs to 15 points, with the starting defense allowing just 13 yards on its first six plays. After the game, both head coach Todd Bowles and cornerback Zyon McCollum discussed the progress made and where things stand before joint practices and the preseason finale against the Jaguars this week.

Todd Bowles Is A Big Fan Of The Bucs’ Defensive Energy

Leading off his press conference following the Bucs preseason win, Todd Bowles commended the starting defense for how they fared.

“I like the energy,” Bowles said. “I like the way they flew around. They came out and played as one, so that was encouraging.”

It was encouraging to see outside linebackers Yaya Diaby and Rueben Bain Jr. come off the edge and create pressure. The secondary also held its own in forcing incompletions and showcasing the physicality to wrap guys up, with cornerback Zyon McCollum and rookie nickelback Keionte Scott each making key tackles.

When it came to what the pass rush provided, with Diaby and Bain leading things off, Bowles was pleased.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

“They were getting off the ball,” Bowles said about the pass rushing duo. “It was exciting to see them get off the ball and [I was] happy to see them play.”

That trend continued as David Walker added three pressures, while Anthony Nelson recorded 1.5 sacks and Mohamed Kamara continued making a strong case for a roster or practice-squad spot.

“I know he had some pretty good rushes,” Bowles said about Walker in particular. “I’ve got to look at the overall part of the game, but I did see two good rushes.”

While these comments were the defensive play-caller’s initial comments after the game, he provided more of an assessment about what he likes about the unit on Sunday morning.

“I think them understanding each other, especially up front, understanding the pass rush games and playing together,” Bowles said. “I think they know they have to set the tone. I think throughout camp they’ve been doing a good job at that defensively.”

Zyon McCollum Is Happy But Not Satisfied

Allowing 13 yards in six plays is an admittedly small sample size, but it was the first glimpse at the Bucs’ starting defense. It looked like a more cohesive effort, with the pass rush getting home quickly enough for the secondary to hold up and prevent big plays. Doing it against Justin Fields in the preseason is one thing. Doing it against opposing starting quarterbacks when the games count will be the real test.

Bucs CBs Zyon McCollum and Keionte Scott – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR

Cornerback Zyon McCollum is one of the players under pressure to perform in 2026, and he was one of many players who took the first step toward rising to the occasion.

“It feels great,” McCollum said. “We put pressure on ourselves going into the game, whether it’s a preseason game or the Super Bowl; we want everything to be the same, so having that intensity and being able to go out and execute is a good feeling. It makes us know that we are in the right spot going into Jacksonville.”

Tampa Bay has a lot to prove this season, but the defense has now had a taste of what it looks like when it can dictate a game and make life difficult for opposing offenses.

“I mean I’m happy, but never satisfied,” McCollum said about Saturday night’s win. “We’re going to have to look at the tape to get the details down, but we’re starting to learn how to win, how to finish games and so it’s a good feeling know that we’ve emphasized that throughout camp and it’s coming to fruition.”