Can the Buccaneers win in anything but a dramatic fashion? Tampa Bay defeated the New York Jets off a last-second field goal by Chase McLaughlin after giving up 21 points in the fourth quarter. Leading most of the game, the Bucs did not encounter much life in the Jets’ offense until late. The Bucs offense struggled too, largely because of the continued reshuffling of the offensive line.
Fortunately, the Bucs’ playmakers stepped up when needed. The defense did more than enough in the first half to give Tampa Bay a significant lead that they squandered in the last two minutes of the game. Then, Baker Mayfield went to work, even as he lost Mike Evans to another hamstring injury. The Bucs quarterback willed his team to victory yet again and has Tampa Bay leading the division at 3-0, their best start since 2005.
Here are the studs and duds from the Bucs’ Week 3 win over the Jets.
STUD: Baker Mayfield
It is becoming increasingly difficult to argue that Baker Mayfield is not one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the NFL. For three straight weeks, Baker Mayfield has led game-winning comeback drives in the final minute of the game. This week, he did it without three of his starting offensive linemen, and ultimately, without Mike Evans. Despite throwing behind a porous and penalty-prone offensive line, Mayfield finished the day completing 19-of-29 for 233 yards and a touchdown, while adding 44 yards on the ground. Three seasons into this Bucs career, Mayfield has nearly made Tampa Bay’s identity his own.
DUD: Luke Haggard and Elijah Klein
It may be harsh to criticize backup players for playing like backups, but guards Luke Haggard and Elijah Klein were nearly the downfall of the Bucs’ offense against the Jets. Playing against a good New York defensive line, Haggard and Klein were mostly overmatched in pass protection and run blocking, but their biggest issues came with their penalties. Haggard and Klein combined for four of the Bucs’ 14(!) penalties in Week 3, which often led to Tampa Bay settling for field goals rather than finding the endzone. Tampa Bay can only hope that Tristan Wirfs returns next week, if only to limit the offensive line to playing just one of these two guards.
STUD: Jamel Dean
Coming into Week 3, Jamel Dean was all but written off by Tampa Bay fandom. The addition of Benjamin Morrison and Dean’s recent pay cut heralded the imminent end of his time with the Bucs. Dean had other ideas on Sunday, recording his second career pick-six against the Jets. Although he does not produce a high number of turnovers, Dean is still a quality starter and made a huge difference against the Jets.
STUD: Antoine Winfield Jr.
After struggling with injuries last year, Antoine Winfield Jr. looks like his old play-making self. Winfield Jr. recorded his first turnover of the season, strip-sacking Tyrod Taylor in the second quarter to set up a Bucs field goal. Winfield Jr. also recorded two tackles for a loss and two quarterback hits, largely making Taylor’s job impossible for much of the game. With so many injuries on offense, the Bucs are counting on Winfield Jr. to continue being the playmaker he has proved he can be.
DUD: Lavonte David
It took a while, but the veteran linebacker is starting to show his age. Once one of the best tacklers in the NFL, Lavonte David could not buy a tackle against the Jets. He slipped off Tyrod Taylor twice in the backfield, allowing him to make big gains with his feet. David missed at least one more tackle and was called for defensive pass interference. David did get one sack on Taylor and led the team in tackles, but he is not the player he used to be, which could be trouble for the Bucs late in the season.
STUD: Chase McLaughlin
After two weeks of shaky play, kicker Chase McLaughlin redeemed himself in the Bucs’ home opener. McLaughlin went five-of-six on field goals and was perfect on extra points. His only miss was a blocked kick in which Jets linebacker Will McDonald cleanly jumped the line. McLaughlin’s walk-off field goal following the blocked kick should assure Tampa Bay that he is mentally ready for whatever the season has in store.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Studs and duds from the Bucs’ Week 3 win over the Jets
