Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defeat New York Jets in Close Match

TAMPA, Fla. — Tyrod Taylor’s debut as the starting quarterback for the Jets was quite the roller coaster ride.

There were definitely highs and lows, but ultimately, the team ended up where it started—with no wins.

In a nail-biting 29-27 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday, Taylor completed 26 of 36 passes for 197 yards.

He threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, pulling the Jets from a 23-6 deficit to a brief lead in the final two minutes.

On the bright side, he managed to rush for 48 yards through eight scrambles, showcasing his ability to evade tackles.

However, there were setbacks too. Taylor threw a pick-six to Jamel Dean, and the offense could only muster six points in the first three quarters.

“In the second half, we really adjusted our approach, which added some pressure,” Taylor noted, referring to the Bucs’ defense. He stepped into the starting role due to Justin Fields’ concussion.

“At halftime, we talked about sticking to our aggressive game plan. We felt like we could exploit their defensive lapses,” he added.

During the game, the Jets were trailing 13-6 in the second quarter when they faced a tough second down on their own 45-yard line with just 28 seconds left.

As Taylor scrambled out of the pocket, he aimed for Wilson, ten yards downfield to the left. But Dean intercepted the pass, returning it for a 55-yard touchdown.

In hindsight, Taylor admitted he should have opted for a shorter, safer route. “Dean played exceptionally. Turnovers are costly in this league. We can learn from this,” he commented.

Despite finishing with over 72% accuracy, the Jets averaged only 4.2 yards per pass play, and Taylor was sacked four times.

He targeted Wilson 13 times, resulting in 84 yards and a touchdown that reduced the deficit to 23-13 early in the fourth quarter. After a Bucs field goal, he connected with Lazard for a 4-yard touchdown, which led to a tense replay review.

At 26-20 with 3:40 left, it was Taylor’s last opportunity to lead his team.

The Jets had a blocked field goal from Wil McDonald IV and a 50-yard touchdown return, but the Bucs had enough time for Baker Mayfield to set up McLaughlin’s winning kick.

“No matter what, Tyrod brings us together,” Wilson said after the game. “It’s good to have him as a teammate. I need to improve for him and make some plays to avoid those mistakes.”