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BUCCANEERS vs. JETS
WHEN: Sunday, September 21, 2025 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium | KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. ET | TV: FOX
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Kenny Albert | ANALYST: Jonathan Vilma | SIDELINE: Megan Olivi
RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives
Game day is approaching, and it's time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week's matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.
Scott Reynolds: Stop Breece Hall And Win The Game
If the Bucs offense was at full strength, this might be a blowout win. But missing three-fifths of the starting offensive line means this game will be closer than most expect. That's okay, Tampa Bay has proven to be clutch in the first two weeks of the season and has shown it can win close games. I think the Buccaneers will do that again on Sunday and finally win a game in Week 3, which is something that hasn't happened since 2020.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The key to victory will be to stop Breece Hall on defense. Todd Bowles' unit is very good against the run and that needs to continue. Hall is an elite back and the Jets will lean on him with Tyrod Taylor starting in place of the injured Justin Fields. Are backup quarterbacks Bowles' kryptonite? He hasn't had the best luck against them in the past, but Taylor is 36 years old and doesn't have a lot of weapons to work with in the passing game outside of Garrett Wilson. So contain Hall, especially on screens and in the passing game where the Bucs have been hurt twice this year, and Tampa Bay should win.
Playing turnover-free football has been a key to success on offense. Baker Mayfield has started out hot with five touchdowns and no interceptions through two games. Mayfield playing error-free again and helping the Bucs get off to a hot start offensively and build a lead will also help. The Jets aren't built to come from behind. Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard should lean on the running game of Bucky Irving and Rachaad White to help the team's makeshift offensive line up front. Chase McLaughlin also has a perfect day as we all breathe a sigh of relief in win No. 3 for Tampa Bay.
REYNOLDS' GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 26, Jets 20
REYNOLDS' SEASON RECORD: 2-0
Matt Matera: Bucs Survive With Reconstructed Offensive Line
The Bucs offensive line is in shambles. They're missing three starters, have two new players coming in, and their regular starters are playing different positions. It's a very difficult task for offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. But as we've seen with Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers, they're a resilient group.
Bucs OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Expect a high dosage of Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker in the ground game. Yes, I said all three because the Bucs are going to rely on running the ball a lot to protect their backup lineman from having to pass block. Plus, with the heat in Tampa, it's best to use all three backs. The Jets have a very tough defensive line with Quinnen Williams and edge rusher Will McDonald, but McDonald can be run against. Play-action will also be huge for Tampa Bay.
I actually think the Jets offense will be better with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback than Justin Fields. Taylor's more consistent and he targets Garrett Wilson a ton. The Jets can't play from behind, though, and they want to run the ball with Breece Hall. The Bucs will need a big game from Vita Vea and we'll see if Logan Hall can step up without Calijah Kancey. This will be close, and there will be more points than expected. Somehow the Bucs find a way to win and stay undefeated.
MATERA'S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 28, Jets 24
MATERA'S SEASON RECORD: 2-0
Adam Slivon: Bucs Pull Off Close Win In Home Opener
Only a couple of weeks into the season, and Sunday's game already looks a lot different than it once did on paper. For the Bucs, their offensive line has been decimated, while the defensive line saw Calijah Kancey suffer a season-ending injury. Primed to have a chance at an upset, the Jets will be without Justin Fields, relying on veteran Tyrod Taylor under center. New York will also be without Jermaine Johnson, a key pass rusher upfront. With all of this in mind, this has the makings of another low-scoring matchup.
Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: USA Today
The Bucs' offense has been resilient over the first two games, finding ways to move the ball despite being without key starters. This will the hardest test to date, but not one Baker Mayfield hasn't overcame before. Stating the obvious here, all eyes will be on how much time the offensive line gives the passing game to develop while also opening lanes for the running backs to hit. Getting to the 20-point threshold would be an accomplishment, all things considered.
Defensively, things are trending upward for Tampa Bay's defense. New York's offense lacks serious firepower outside of Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. With Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean limiting Drake London and Nico Collins in the first two games, one would expect the same defensive gameplan to neutralize Wilson. That makes stopping Hall a key focus, but the run defense has been stout and just needs to play the sidelines to not allow him to get a big catch-and-run.
It's hard expecting either side to put up a lot of points, but the Bucs still have the edge in talent to pull off a win in the home opener. Doing so will not only get them to 3-0, but also shake the bad luck the team has had in the throwback uniforms.
SLIVON'S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 20, Jets 17
SLIVON'S SEASON RECORD: 2-0
Bailey Adams: Injuries Could Catch Up To The Bucs, But Not This Week
Look, at some point, the undefeated start to this Bucs season is going to come to an end, especially considering the pile-up of injuries the team is dealing with just two weeks into the season. But I don't think this is the week for that to happen. It's more likely to happen next week when the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles come to town. In Week 3, though, even a battered Bucs team will have more talent and should handle business against the 0-2 Jets on the way to the franchise's first 3-0 start since 2005.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of the Buccaneers
Until further notice, I'm simply going to back Baker Mayfield to make do with the offensive line he's playing behind and will the offense to enough points to win. We're still waiting for our big Mike Evans game of the season, but in the meantime, he's done a great job getting key yards in big moments while drawing enough coverage away from Emeka Egbuka to let the rookie eat. Look for those two to keep the passing game rolling with Mayfield, and expect a big afternoon from both Bucky Irving and Rachaad White against a Jets run defense that was torn up by Buffalo's James Cook last week.
Defensively, I think this could be the breakout game Tampa Bay needs in terms of turnovers. Tyrod Taylor is a capable backup quarterback, but this is a New York offense that doesn't feature a whole lot of weapons right now. That should open things up for Todd Bowles' defense to rack up 3+ sacks and bring in its first takeaway of the season… and perhaps its second as well. On top of all of that, I can't pick this team to lose its home opener, especially in these excellent 1976 throwback uniforms.
ADAMS' GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 26, Jets 13
ADAMS' SEASON RECORD: 2-0
Josh Queipo: Bucs Win Battle of Battered Rosters
Yes, the Bucs are reeling from a litany of injuries. As of this writing, they may be without four of their top 10 linemen, including both of their starting tackles and multiple guards who have factored into their recent lineups. They will likely trot out a starting lineup that will have exactly zero players where they were intended to be just two short months ago.
Bucs DTs Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
But Tampa Bay isn't the only team in this matchup dealing with injuries. The Jets will be without their starting quarterback. Additionally, they are looking less likely to have starting receiver Josh Reynolds and defensive end Jermaine Johnson II. They had already lost standout guard Alijah Vera-Tucker for the season. And we must not forget the Jets are working from a more talent-deficient place than the Bucs are.
New York has been the third-worst defense in the NFL as measured by EPA/play this year. They have allowed 32 points per game, including 34 to a Steelers offense that isn't that good. And despite the reputation of some of their pass rushers, the Jets are pressuring opposing quarterbacks just 25.8% of the time according to Next Gen Stats. And their run defense has been a sieve, giving up 4.4 yards per carry and +0.15 EPA/play. As unlikely as it sounds, the Bucs offense – despite all of their injuries – should still put up points against a surprisingly inept Jets defense.
And on defense, the game plan should be fairly simple, especially with the new-look secondary. Bracket Garrett Wilson now that you have a versatile back end that can execute multiple roles and continue to devote assets to controlling running back Breece Hall. It isn't complex, nor should it be. The Bucs can execute winning game plans against a rebuilding team that still hasn't found it's groove and is dealing with injuries of their own.
QUEIPO'S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Jets 10
QUEIPO'S SEASON RECORD: 2-0
