The Bucs saved their best for last as Tampa Bay won its first preseason game, defeating the Texans, 23-16, at Houston on Saturday night. Tom Brady and the Bucs offense shook off an awful first series to score two touchdowns in the first half to take a 16-2 lead. Brady connected with Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown often, and running back Ronald Jones II scored a TD and looked good with his four carries on the night. Although the Bucs defense gave up too many yards on the ground, the starters pitched a shutout in the first half. Tampa Bay’s defense forced five takeaways throughout the game.

Here are this week’s most impressive Buccaneers as Tampa Bay gets ready to host Dallas in the 2021 season opener on Thursday, September 9.

WR Chris Godwin

Godwin started the game strong with a 28-yard gain down the middle of the field on the Bucs’ second possession. A few plays later he hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Brady, breaking a few tackles on his way to the end zone. Godwin’s third catch and final of the game, a 32-yarder, came on the last play of the first quarter. He finished the game with three catches for 84 yards and a TD.

QB Tom Brady

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today

After Brady misfired on his first two pass attempts on Tampa Bay’s initial series ended with a three-and-out, the 21-year veteran went 7-of-7 for 91 yards and a touchdown to give the Bucs a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Brady hit Godwin for two long gains down the field, including a 24-yard touchdown. He hit 10 throws in a row and finished the game completing 11-of-14 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown. Brady led the Bucs on two touchdown drives that were 90-plus yards and looked sharp.

ILB Lavonte David

David was a tackling machine in the first quarter with an amazing eight tackles. The problem is that most of those tackles came on Houston’s 18-yard, 77-yard drive that consumed 9:55 off the clock. Yet, the Texans didn’t score as the Bucs held on fourth-and-5. David was sound as a tackler and often beat fellow inside linebacker Devin White to the ball.

OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

For the second straight game, the Bucs’ first-round pick, recorded a sack, dropping Tyrod Taylor for a 5-yard loss in the second quarter. Tryon-Shoyinka forced a fumble on the play that was recovered by defensive tackle Khalil Davis at the Houston 33. The rookie pass rusher also had a big-time QB hit on Davis Mills and finished with four tackles. He finished the preseason as the Bucs’ sack leader with two.

CB Herb Miller

Miller made a diving interception at the Houston 45-yard line in the second quarter. Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said earlier in the week that he hadn’t seen enough from Miller yet. Arians has also praised Dee Delaney, who is fighting Miller for a roster spot, so it was important for Miller to make a splash play – and he did.

CB Dee Delaney

The problem for Miller in his quest for the fifth cornerback spot is that Delaney has been very good in the preseason and rose to the occasion on Saturday night. He started things off wih an interception of his own in the second quarter. That pick set up Jose Borregales’ second field goal to give Tampa Bay a 16-2 lead at halftime. Then he continued to shine on the night with another interception in the fourth quarter, in addition to a pass breakup on Houston’s two-point conversion attempt. Delaney finished the game with six tackles and two INTs and was more impressive than Miller.

RB Ronald Jones II

Bucs RB Ronald Jones II – Photo by: USA Today

Jones, who started the game, shook off his first carry for minus-3 yards and rebounded with 30 yards on his next three carries, including a 13-yard touchdown to give the Bucs a 13-0 lead in the second quarter. Jones started the game tonight and Leonard Fournette didn’t receive a carry. Fournette did catch one pass for three yards, but it seems all but certain that Jones has won the starting running back spot heading into the season opener.

QB Kyle Trask

After Trask and running back Ke’Shawn had a fumbled exchange in the third quarter, Trask completed 5-of-5 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. His 20-yard touch pass to tight end Codey McElroy gave the Bucs a 23-10 lead in the third quarter. That was his first of the preseason. Trask wasn’t perfect, and held on to the ball a bit too long as he got strip-sacked at the start of the fourth quarter. Right tackle Brad Seaton gave up too much ground in pass protection and also played a role in the turnover. Trask was sacked a couple of times on Saturday night, but finished the game completing 12-of-14 passes for 146 yards and one TD. It was easily his best showing of the preseason. Fellow reserve QB Ryan Griffin did not play on Saturday night.

ILB K.J. Britt

Britt’s night was far from perfect, as he missed a couple of tackles in Houston. But he finished the game with seven tackles and was much better against the run overall in this game than he was in the first two preseason games. Britt made two really nice tackles inside the Bucs’ own 5-yard line, including a stop at the goal line on fourth down to prevent a Texans touchdown. He has been the front-runner for the fourth inside linebacker spot ahead of Grant Stuard and Joe Jones during training camp. Britt’s performance on Saturday night only solidified his roster spot, and also finished with a special teams stop.

K Jose Borregales

The rookie kicker filled in for Ryan Succop, who was out for the game with COVID-19, and performed well. Borregales had his first extra point attempt blocked, but then made his next three kicks – two extra points and a 36-yard field goal. That field goal gave Tampa Bay a 16-2 lead at halftime. Borregales had a 49-yard field goal attempt blocked from the edge in the fourth quarter, which wasn’t his fault. Then Borregales made the tackle to prevent the Texans from scooping and scoring. Nice, head’s up play by the undrafted free agent Lou Groza Award winner.

DT Jeremiah Ledbetter

Ledbetter flashed on defense with a key stop on third down in the red zone on Houston’s 18-play, 77-yard drive in the first half. Then he made a nice tackle in the backfield for a loss in the fourth quarter. But Ledbetter’s best play of the night came on special teams where he recovered Vaughn’s fumble on a kickoff in the fourth quarter. Ledbetter, who finished with three tackles, probably won’t make the team, but he outplayed Benning Potoa’e and likely earned a spot on the Bucs’ practice squad.