The last two times that the Texans faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a nail-biter ensued, yet the Texans came out on top in each matchup. In 2019, the Texans jumped out to a big lead courtesy of Tampa Bay QB Jameis Winston's gifts of interceptions, then, along with the help of current Texans WR Justin Watson, Winston got Tampa Bay back in the game. But, a fourth quarter drive, and Kai'mi Fairbairn field goal, salted away the win and the 2019 AFC South championship.
Two years ago at NRG Stadium, though, the Bucs' offense put on a show and took a late lead on a Baker Mayfield to Cade Otton TD late in the fourth quarter. But, the rookie wunderkind C.J. Stroud found his pal, star rookie WR Tank Dell in the end zone with just seven seconds remaining for an improbable 39-37 win over Mayfield's Bucs.
Flash forward to the present day and it's time for these two South Division champions to take the field on Monday Night Football in week two and it's going to be a doozy. The Texans took a tough defeat on the chin out in Los Angeles in week one, while the Bucs came back from behind to beat the Falcons in Atlanta 23-20. Mayfield was brilliant down the stretch in that win and rookie WR Emeka Egbuka had two touchdowns in his first game. This one should be a football war.
As such, let's get to Know the Texans' Week 2 Foe for Monday Night - the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2025 Schedule (1-0)
Week 1 - W @ Atlanta Falcons 23-20
Week 2 - @ Houston Texans (MNF)
Week 3 - New York Jets
Week 4 - Philadelphia Eagles
Week 5 - @ Seattle Seahawks
Week 6 - San Francisco 49ers
Week 7 - @ Detroit Lions
Week 8 - @ New Orleans Saints
Week 9 - Bye Week
Week 10 - New England Patriots
Week 11 - @ Buffalo Bills
Week 12 - @ Los Angeles Rams
Week 13 - Arizona Cardinals
Week 14 - New Orleans Saints
Week 15 - Atlanta Falcons
Week 16 - @ Carolina Panthers
Week 17 - @ Miami Dolphins
Week 18 - Carolina Panthers
Buccaneers OFFENSE (in 2025 regular season)
Rushing Yards Per game - 101.0 ypg (17th in the NFL)
Passing Yards Per game - 159.0 ypg (22nd)
Total offense per game - 260.0 ypg (24th)
Turnovers lost - None
Expected Buccaneers starting offense for Week 2
QB - BAKER MAYFIELD
RB - Bucky Irving
WR - Mike Evans
WR - Sterling Shepard or Chris Godwin (originally thought to be out for weeks)
WR - EMEKA EGBUKA
TE - Cade Otton
TE - Payne Durham
LT - Graham Barton or Tristan Wirfs (originally thought to be out for weeks)
LG - Michael Jordan (started last week at Atlanta) or Elijah Klein
C - Ben Bredeson
RG - Cody Mauch
RT - Luke Goedeke
Other Key Offensive pieces
OT - CHARLIE HECK
RB - Rachaad White
TE - Ko Kieft
WR - Ryan Miller
WR - TEZ JOHNSON
Italics - Rookie
ALL CAPS - New to team in 2025
Keys to winning v. the Buccaneers Offense
- Baker's Dozen - I know that I should ONLY be a HUGE fan of my guy C.J. Stroud (and I am), but I've always had great respect and admiration for Bucs QB Baker Mayfield. I love the way he plays, his style, his confidence and his ability to make big plays happen at key times. Against Atlanta in the opener, he ran for key first downs on third down. He was clutch in the fourth quarter, dropping a DIME on rookie WR Emeka Egbuka for the game winning TD. He drilled throws to Mike Evans on crossers/slants/etc…at key times throughout the game. I get the impression that Tampa Bay feels as if it isn't out of any game, at ANY time, because Mayfield is under center. There are all kinds of issues for the Texans defense because Mayfield won't be in the same spot in the pocket each and every time he throws the ball, unlike Rams QB Matt Stafford who was in that same spot every time he dropped to throw. Keeping Mayfield in the well and forcing him to throw outside the hashes from that well could be the ticket to slowing him down throughout the game. I mean, this guy has thrown the MOST TD in the entire NFL since 2023; the Texans have to disrupt his rhythm immediately and often.
- Big Mike - One BIG part of the reason why Mayfield leads the league in touchdowns is the presence of Galveston's own Mike Evans. The future Hall of Fame receiver is back for season 11 and is as important to his team's offense as at any point in his illustrious career. Although there still IS a deep element to his game, Evans has become the key go-to receiver on slants, digs and interior routes…the dirty work, if you will. Now, I've seen Mike up close a few times and I know he's still got the juice to run by an unsuspecting, or lazy, DB, so Derek Stingley Jr and Kamari Lassiter have to be disciplined in all situations. But, mostly, those two must prepare for all the interior body blows that Evans can put on the Texans defense in the middle of the field.
- Eliminate the Run - The 2023 contest turned into a passing festival, in large part because of the Texans defense's ability to stop the Bucs on the ground. The Texans yielded just 81 yards on 31 carries (2.6 yards per carry). Against the Rams last week, the Texans defense gave up just 2.9 per carry on 25 carries. That put the game all on Matt Stafford, so to speak. Now, he answered the bell every single time because he's a future Hall of Fame QB, but the Rams did only put up 14 points, and not because of the run game. The Bucs running backs ran for just 3.1 yards per carry against Atlanta and this Texans front is MUCH MORE stout at the point of attack than Atlanta. I'd imagine the Bucs offensive brain trust will try to get touches for Bucky Irving and Rachaad White away from the fray to provide run game effectiveness in a different manner.
Buccaneers DEFENSE (in 2025 regular season)
Rushing Yards Allowed Per game - 69.0 ypg (7th in the NFL)
Passing Yards Allowed Per game - 289.0 ypg (29th)
Total offense Allowed per game - 358.0 ypg (23rd)
Turnovers generated - None (Buccaneers are even in TO margin)
Expected Buccaneers starting defense for Week 2
OLB - HAASON REDDICK
DE - Logan Hall
NT - Vita Vea
DE - CALIJAH KANCEY
OLB - YaYa Diaby
LB - SirVocea Dennis
LB - Lavonte David
CB - Zyon McCollum
S - Antoine Winfield Jr.
S - Tykee Smith
CB - Jamel Dean
*Nickel - *HENRY PARRISH
Other Key Defensive pieces
Nickel - Christian Izien
OLB - Anthony Nelson
NT - Greg Gaines
S - Rashad Wisdom
Italics - Rookie
ALL CAPS - New to team in 2025
Keys to winning v. the Buccaneers Defense
- Big V - Last week it was the Rams positional flex studs all over the defensive line. This week it's arguably the most athletic BIG man in the NFL not named Dexter Lawrence. Bucs NT Vita Vea is THE key in this battle with the Bucs and for as long as he plays in this league, he will remain THE focal point of any matchup with the Bucs. In 2019, down in Tampa, the Texans couldn't run the ball at all due to Vea's presence in the middle. On 19 carries, the Texans running backs ran for 31 yards. THIRTY. ONE. In 2023, although the Texans threw for a million yards, they backed away from the run game because Vea tossed Texans interior blockers around like throw pillows. The Texans found some success last week in Los Angeles with the interior running game, but that will NOT happen unless this Texans front can get Big V occupied, or even moved out of the way.
- The anti Big V - When former Pitt star DT Calijah Kancey was drafted by the Bucs, my immediate response was that it wouldn't take long for the defensive line version of Thunder (Vea) and Lightning (Cancey) to wreak havoc on offensive interior trios. Kancey wasn't credited with a stat against Atlanta, but he chased after Falcons QB Michael Penix enough times to have me worried about Vea's opposite number. Kancey is hella-quick and gets upfield in a hurry, which is the perfect complement to Vea on the other side. If this turns into a passing competition, as it did in 2023, Kancey worries me because of his quickness to get upfield and into the face/purview of QB C.J. Stroud. He's not heavy, but he's stout, quick and strong and the interior has its hands full with Kancey, as well as Vea.
- 12 - In his day after the game press conference, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was asked about the involvement of Texans star WR Nico Collins in the passing game. He only had five targets in the opening game against the Rams yet he was open/available more than just those five times. However, due to pressure in the pocket or timing of the offense or what have you, Nico just saw those five targets. Coach Ryans responded, paraphrasing, "Nico is one of our best offensive players." I heard that and knew exactly what he meant. I thought immediately that the Bucs cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum would have their hands full with the number of opps headed Nico's way in this matchup. Now, McCollum was really good against the Falcons in week one and should've had two interceptions, but Nico's a different challenge for him and Dean. Time to open a can of whoop a-- on Bucs DBs with #12.
