Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It's time for Scott Reynolds' 2-Point Conversion post-game column, which features two statements, two questions and two predictions based on the latest Bucs game.

Tampa Bay improved to 3-0 after another stunning comeback win in the final moments – this time against the Jets, 29-27, in the 2025 home opener. The Bucs defense recorded its first two takeaways of the year, including a pick-six from Jamel Dean, while Baker Mayfield led the offense down the field for another late scoring drive. Chase McLaughlin shook off some early season missed field goals to connect on all five field goals – outside of a blocked kick late in the fourth quarter that was returned for a touchdown.

Up next are the visiting 3-0 Eagles in what will be a clash of undefeated NFC powerhouses next Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

2 BIG STATEMENTS


STATEMENT 1. Baker Mayfield And The Clutchaneers

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is newly elected mayor of Clutchville where he and his Clutchaneers moved to 3-0 after yet another improbable come-from-behind victory, a 29-27 thriller over the visiting New York Jets.

A blocked field goal by Will McDonald IV was returned 50 yards for a touchdown to put the Jets ahead, 27-26, with 1:49 left in regulation. Instead of being up nine points with less than two minutes to go, the Bucs trailed by a point. So Mayfield and his makeshift offensive line had to take the field one more time to win the game, which has been a common occurrence this season.

No Mike Evans on the final drive? No problem for Mayfield and the Clutchaneers.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After missing a wide open Tez Johnson on a post pattern that would have been the go-ahead touchdown if not for an overthrow, Mayfield connected with rookie Emeka Egbuka for a 28-yard gain down the sidelines at the Jets 38-yard line. Two plays later, Mayfield hits Sterling Shepard with a screen pass that the 32-year old receiver took for a 20-yard gain down to the New York 18-yard line.

That set up Chase McLaughlin, who connected on five field goals aside from his blocked kick, to nail the 36-yard game-winner as time expired.

Tampa Bay was already the first team in NFL history to win each of its first two games of a season with touchdowns in the final minute. In Sunday's 29-27 over the Jets, the Bucs became the first team since the 1970 merger with a game-winning score in the final minute of regulation in each of their first three games of the season. The Buccaneers became the third team in NFL history (also, 1994 New York Giants, 2017 Pittsburgh Steelers) to have three straight games in a single season in which they record a go-ahead score in the final minute of a game.

Bucs K Chase McLaughlin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Apparently Tampa Bay does not favor having the lead in games. I suppose the Bucs just don't seem to enjoy being ahead on the scoreboard and want to have Mayfield be their weekly hero instead.

This is getting crazy, right?

For three straight game days Mayfield has woken up feeling dangerous, and 2025 is truly the year of living dangerously for he and his Tampa Bay teammates. A total of six points separate the 3-0 Bucs from being 0-3.

With just two out of his five regular offensive linemen blocking for him – and left tackle Graham Barton and center Ben Bredeson were playing out of position – Mayfield was only sacked once by the Jets. And two of his offensive linemen on Sunday versus the Jets – guards Elijah Klein and Luke Haggard – were getting their first NFL starts.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Yet Mayfield completed 19-of-29 passes for 233 yards with one touchdown – and no interceptions for the third straight game this season. He also ran for 44 yards on four carries, including a season-long 33-yarder in the fourth quarter. Sunday's heroics further state the case for Mayfield's MVP-caliber season so far.

Hey, at least the Bucs are winning close games as compared to a year ago where the team was 1-6 in games decided by one score or less, including a 23-20 home playoff loss to the Commanders.

Just make sure you are taking your high blood pressure medicine prior to kickoff in 2025.


STATEMENT 2. These Bucs Keep Ending Dubious Streaks

There is something about this year's Bucs squad. Todd Bowles and his team are living right – so far – despite a slew of major injuries this team appears to be overcoming. Not only did Tampa Bay avenge its two losses to the Falcons last year in a Week 1 win at Atlanta, but the Bucs also got their first win in franchise history in the city of Houston in Week 2.

Tampa Bay also won a primetime game on Monday Night Football in Houston. The Bucs were 0-5 in primetime games last year, including the team's home playoff loss to the Commanders.

Then the Bucs did something they haven't done in Week 3 against the Jets on Sunday – actually win in Week 3. Tampa Bay had been winless in Week 3 under head coach Todd Bowles and had not claimed a Week 3 victory since the 2020 season.

Now the Bucs are 3-0 to start the 2025 campaign, which is something they haven't been since they started 3-0 way back in 2005. The team finished that year 11-5 and won an NFC South title under head coach Jon Gruden.

Sunday's win also marked the first time Tampa Bay won a game in an alternate uniform for the first time since 2009. That was the first year the Bucs brought back the Bucco Bruce throwback uniforms since ditching those uniforms in 1996.

And of course, the Bucs trotted out their 1976 original uniforms with the orange numbers for the Jets game and recorded the first win in them in franchise history. Tampa Bay went 0-14 in those jerseys and wound up switching to red numbers on the white uniforms in 1977 and wore them through the 1996 season.

2 PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1. Was That Really Jamel Dean With The Pick-Six?!

Don't make a scene, it's just Jamel Dean. Yes, that was Dean with a timely pick-six right before halftime to increase Tampa Bay's lead to 20-6.

Thank goodness blitzing rookie nickelback Jacob Parrish missed his second sack of the game on the play, but it hurried Tyrod Taylor's throw and allowed Dean to make a play on the ball. Dean raced 55 yards to the end zone for his second career pick-six and his first interception of the season, which is also the team's first pick of the season.

Don't look now, but Dean is actually the best cornerback on the Bucs this year so far – and that's with rookie nickelback Jacob Parrish playing lights out and the newly-extended Zyon McCollum also off to a good start.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, who has given Dean a hard time in the past for dropping interceptions, praised the veteran cornerback after the game.

"It was huge," Bowles said. "It was right before the half. It really gave us a boost, getting the ball back in the second half as well. He caught it with his hands. He had a good game. He's been playing good the past couple of weeks. And you know, it shows."

Dean took a big pay cut this year after injuries and dropped interceptions over the last couple of seasons lowered his stock inside the walls of One Buccaneer Place. The trade-off for his pay cut was to become a free agent in the 2026 offseason. So to suggest that Dean is highly motivated this year would be an understatement.

Dean reduced his base salary from $12.5 million in 2025 to $4.5 million with performance bonuses of up to $750,000. Wouldn't it be something if Dean had a fantastic career and wound up being re-signed by the Bucs in the offseason? Stranger things have happened.

"It was just more like I'm comfortable here," Dean told the Tampa Bay Times. "So it's just really not about the money anymore. I'm not in the mood to try to figure out a whole new team and city and go through all I went through my rookie year. So just to save me a headache."

Do you remember what happened the last time Dean had a pick-six? That came against Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2020 – the year the Bucs won their last Super Bowl.

QUESTION 2. Is Tampa Bay's Pass Rush Really Coming On?

Statistically speaking, yes. After recording just one sack in Week 1 against Atlanta's Michael Penix Jr., the Bucs notched three sacks against C.J. Stroud last week in Houston. On Sunday against the Jets, the Bucs had a season-high four sacks despite missing several other opportunities against New York's backup quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, whose nickname is T-Mobile.

Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby had his first sack of the year, as did free safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who forced a fumble and caused Tampa Bay's first takeaway of the year on defense. Linebacker Lavonte David got his first full sack of the year versus New York after splitting one with rookie defensive tackle Elijah Roberts last week in Houston. Rookie nickelback Jacob Parrish got his first NFL sack on Sunday after safety Tykee Smith recorded his first NFL sack against Stroud last week.

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jets QB Tyrod Taylor – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Of the team's eight sacks this year, 5.5 of which come from David, who has 1.5 to lead the Bucs, or blitzing defensive backs.

"They're good blitzers. Parish and Winfield can get there in a hurry – Tykee as well. They hit the quarterback numerous times. They were just short of coming up with two or three of them. But schematically, we saw some things – that they can take off and go, and they were very good at it."

Tampa Bay had 10 official QB hits of Taylor, including two each by David, Parrish, Winfield and Diaby, who played his best game of the year against Jets first-round offensive tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou. The sacks by Winfield and Parrish came on third downs where Tampa Bay's defense held New York to just 3-of-11 (27.3%) conversions. The Bucs were also impressive on fourth downs, allowing just 1-of-3 (33.3%) conversions.

Of course what is making these sacks possible is getting opponents into obvious passing downs and situations. Tampa Bay's run defense has been superb this year. Bowles' unit is on quite a tear, not allowing opponents to rush for 100 yards, which dates back to last year. The Jets came close though, finishing with 99 yards – thanks to the scrambling of Tyrod Taylor, who had a team-high 48 yards on eight carries.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1. Tristan Wirfs Returns Next Week vs. Eagles

Both left tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. returned to practice a few weeks ago after missing all of the offseason OTAs and training camp. Wirfs has been rehabbing after knee surgery in early July, while Godwin is making a comeback from a broken ankle he suffered nearly a year ago in Week 7 in a loss to Baltimore. But I think Wirfs is closer to returning to action than Godwin is, and I predict the All-Pro left tackle suits up for the first time this season in Week 4 versus the Eagles.

That would be welcomed news for Baker Mayfield and the offense, which was playing without three of its starting offensive linemen in the 29-27 win over the Jets on Sunday. Wirfs' return to left tackle would allow Graham Barton to go back to center and Ben Bredeson to return to left guard. At least the left side of the line should be stout. And I suspect that newly acquired "Dirty Dan" Feeney gets the start at right guard over Luke Haggard, who really struggled in his first NFL start, since the 31-year old veteran will have had a full week of practice in Tampa Bay.

The Bucs would love to have Godwin back too against the Eagles, especially if Mike Evans is out with a hamstring injury. But I feel like he needs another week or two worth of practice to get back in playing shape and shake off some rust. Look for Godwin to make his 2025 debut either in Seattle or at home versus San Francisco in Week 6.

PREDICTION 2. Bucs Lose Their First Game Of The Season

Tampa Bay has to lose at some point this season, and I think the first loss of the year will be to Philadelphia. I don't see this Bucs team going 17-0 in 2025, do you? With so many starters out of the lineup early in the year – and the possibility of not having Mike Evans on Sunday due to a hamstring injury versus the Jets, it will be tough to defeat the undefeated defending Super Bowl champs. And after being throttled by Tampa Bay the last two trips to Raymond James Stadium, you can bet that Philly is out for revenge.

But at least Tampa Bay won't have to contend with that absolutely gawd-awful officiating crew, who were led by referee Adrian Hill aka Stevie Wonder, next week. The refs were literally addicting to throwing flags on Sunday in the win over the Jets with a combined 21 penalties for 205 yards, including 12 infractions on the first 18 plays of the game, which is just shameful.

Tampa Bay was penalized 14 times for 124 yards. Such an embarrassing performance by those officials. The NFL should be ashamed of that crew.