Bucs Swamp Commanders for Season-Opening Win The Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored on their first five possessions on Sunday en route to a 37-20 victory over the visiting Washington Commanders in their 2024 season opener at Raymond James Stadium. QB Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes to Mike Evans and one each to Chris Godwin and rookie Jalen McMillan while completing 24 of 30 passes for 289 yards, no interceptions and a 146.4 passer rating. Mayfield also ran for 21 yards, including an 11-yarder on third down that set up the Bucs' final touchdown. "I thought Baker did a heck of a job," said Head Coach Todd Bowles. "He was good with his plays, he was good with his reads, with his checks. Everything was on point. He was excited. He ran when he had to, made some nice plays with his feet. He played a great overall game." The Buccaneers scored 37 points in a game for the first time since a dramatic 39-27 loss in Houston in Week Nine of last season, and their most in a season opener since a 48-40 shootout win in New Orleans in 2018. It was a promising debut for the offense designed by first-year Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen. "I thought Liam did a great job coming out," said Bowles. "I mean, he put up 37 points. There's some things we can be better at, that we've got to get better at. But the first game, I'm happy to win, happy to score 37 points and we'll move on from there." The Buccaneers started 1-0 for the fourth season in a row, tied for the second-longest streak in the NFL behind the New Orleans Saints' six in a row. The Saints extended their streak on Sunday with a 47-10 drubbing of Carolina while the Atlanta Falcons lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 18-10, to give the Bucs and Saints a share of first place in the NFC South. Tampa Bay is seeking its fourth consecutive division title. Tampa Bay's defense had its hands full with rookie QB Jayden Daniels, the second-overall pick in the draft who ran for 88 yards and two touchdown on 16 carries, most of them on scrambles. However, Washington's running backs were held to just 50 yards and star wideout Terry McLaurin caught just two passes for 17 yards. The Buccaneers allowed Washington to convert only two of their eight third-down attempts. The home team's defense held strong despite a troubling rash of injuries both before and during the game. The Bucs started the game without three of the six defensive linemen on their roster, including starters Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall, both of whom recently suffered injuries on the practice field. During the game, injuries knocked out cornerbacks Zyon McCollum (concussion), Josh Hayes (ankle) and Bryce Hall (ankle), forcing safety Christian Izien into the game at outside cornerback. "I thought they did an excellent job – Izzy at corner, and with [DL C.J.] Brewer and [DL] Mike Greene coming up and [DL Ben] Stille coming up," said Bowles. "Those guys did a heck of a job inside on the line with Will [Gholston] and [Greg] Gaines playing out of position as well." Mayfield's favorite target was Godwin, who hauled in eight passes for 83 yards and the four-yard score in the third quarter that gave the Bucs a 16-point lead. Seven of Godwin's eight catches resulted in first downs, including four that converted third downs in the first half. "Chris feels really good right now," said Mayfield. "Physically he feels good, and just this offense, it plays to his strengths. He's always been a smart football player. He's willing to do whatever the coaches are going to ask, but this is now his opportunity to really shine, get back to [where he was] at least. He's always been a stud. Chris looks really good." Evans gained 61 on five catches and recorded the 95th and 96th touchdown receptions of his career, surpassing the Raiders' Davante Adams for the 12th most in NFL history. Both were extremely difficult grabs with defenders in good position. Godwin's touchdown catch was the 35th of career, giving him sole possession of second place in that category in team history behind Evans. McMillan's 32-yard touchdown catch came on his first NFL reception in the fourth quarter. "I don't know he does it, man," said Mayfield of Evans. "I'm just trying to put the ball in his vicinity. The first one, I don't know how he got around [CB Benjamin St.-Juste] and put his paws on it, but somehow he did. That's what he does. That second touchdown to him was not really a good throw at all. He made an unbelievable play again. One-on-one coverage with Mike is not 50-50 balls. It's leaning towards Mr. Evans." The Bucs' efforts on offense and defense were complemented by strong special teams. K Chase McLaughlin made all three of his field goal attempts, including a 56-yarder to finish the game's first drive. McLaughlin is now eight of nine on attempts of 50-plus yards since joining the Buccaneers last season, and he owns four of the 10 successful shots of 56 or more yards in franchise annals. P Jake Camarda only had to punt once but he was precise on kickoffs, getting touchbacks when the coaches asked for them and helping the Bucs avoid any long returns. Trey Palmer got 15 yards on his only punt return. Tampa Bay's offense moved the ball well throughout the first half, gaining a total of 205 yards and 11 first downs and scoring on all four of its possessions. The Bucs unfortunately settled for field goals on three of them but still had a 16-7 lead at the intermission. Mayfield was 16 of 19 in the half for 174 yards and a touchdown and the Bucs converted five of their eight third down attempts. The Bucs' offense also drove for a touchdown on its first possession of the second half, marking the first time it had scored on its first five possession of a game since a 44-27 drubbing of the Falcons in the 2020 regular season finale. After one three-and-out and their first punt of the game, the Bucs scored touchdowns on their next two drives to put the game out of reach. The Bucs received the opening kickoff and started the first drive at their own 30 following a touchback. White found a hole over right guard on the first play and hit it for four yards, then fought threw several tackles on the left sideline after catching a swing pass that got five more. On third-and-one, Mayfield lofted a ball a bit of McMillan's reach but the drive got a new set of downs thanks to an illegal-hands-to-the-face penalty on Washington. A quick out got 11 more to the Commanders' 45, and two more White runs made it third-and-three at the 38. Mayfield found McMillan open on a flag route but the rookie couldn't quite haul in a leaping catch. McLaughlin came on to drill a 56-yard field goal to open the game's scoring. Washington also started at the 30 after a touchback but their first play went badly. Daniels tried to throw a little swing pass to RB Brian Robinson but it hit the ground and was deemed to have gone backward so the ball was live. Neither team could get a handle on it and it went out of bounds back at the 15. Two plays later, on third-and-21, Daniels scrambled for the first time but Jamel Dean ran him out of bounds after a gain of just four. Trey Palmer returned a 53-yard punt 14 yards to the Bucs' 38. Mayfield started the Bucs' second drive with a precise out to Evans for 13 yards, quickly getting the ball back into Washington territory. A diving pass breakup by CB Benjamin St.-Juste helped make it third-and-11, though the Commanders gifted the offense five yards by having 12 men on the field. Mayfield then moved the chains with another flag route to Evans, with the receiver making an impressive reaching snap at the Washington 21. A downfield holding call on Palmer erased a 14-yard ramble by Godwin on a tunnel screen and made it second-and-15 at the 26. Mayfield impressively avoided sacks on consecutive plays but his two scrambles left the Bucs in fourth-and-five and McLaughlin came on again to easily punch through a 34-yard field goal. Another touchback put Washington back at the 30. A Daniels scramble after he was flushed from the pocket by Yaya Diaby gave Washington it's initial first down of the game at the 41. Three plays later, Daniels broke free again, tiptoeing down the left sideline for a gain of 17 to the Bucs' 36. The Bucs brought a big blitz on the next third down and Daniels recognized it and threw over the rush to Robinson for a long gain. However, an illegal block penalty on Washington erased most of the gain and on the resulting third-and-three Daniels threw incomplete. Washington sent out Cade York to try a 47-yard field goal. His kick slid just barely outside the right upright, keeping the score at 6-0 with 16 seconds left in the first quarter. The Bucs took over at their own 37 and Irving's first NFL carry was a good one, an eight-yard gash over left guard to end the period. After two straight false start pushed the offense back 10 yards, Mayfield scrambled out of trouble on third-and-seven and side armed a quick pass over the middle to Godwin for a first down just across midfield. Irving was met by a swarm of tacklers right after getting the ball on the next down and he lost four yards. Mayfield got it back and more with a nice drop into an open spot in coverage that Palmer hauled in for a gain of 19. Mayfield then stood in against a blitz and dropped the ball off to White, who evaded two tacklers to get to the sideline and dash for 19 more. On the next snap, Mayfield looked for Evans on a go down the left sideline and the receiver made a dazzling catch in very tight coverage to haul it in for the 17-yard score. LB K.J. Britt got a free run at Daniels on a second-down blitz but Daniels sidestepped him and dashed for 16 yards. Ekeler bounced off two defenders on a short catch to get downfield on a short catch, getting 22 yards to the Bucs' 34. After a deep pass attempt to Terry McLaurin was well-covered by Bryce Hall, Daniels took off again for another gain of 12 and then took a personal foul from Hall that moved the ball all the way down to the 11. Two plays later, Robinson ran it in for a seven-yard touchdown. Washington's ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving the Bucs a drive start of their own 40-yard line. The Bucs faced a third down moments later at the 48 and Godwin pulled in a low pass while falling to the ground to move the chains. White went over left guard on the next snap to get a quick six to the Commanders' 41, and the visitors called a timeout moments later before the Bucs could run a third-and-three play. After the break, Mayfield zipped quick slant to Godwin that was good for 14 yards and a first down at the 26. White tripped and lost three yards on his next carry, but Mayfield improvised a short flip to the back on second down to get seven back. That play brought on the two-minute warning with the Bucs facing third-and-six at the 22. Mayfield solved that problem by once again looking to Godwin, who got two feet inbounds on a long out to the left side for a first down at the 13. A run and a catch by White combined to pick up three yards but a false start made it third-and-eight. Mayfield spun out of sack and broke into the open but his throw to Evans in the back of the end zone was out of reach. McLaughlin came on to hit his third field goal, this one a 29-yarder. Washington had just 11 seconds to work with after the next kickoff. They chose to kneel it to bring on halftime. The Bucs kicked off to start the second half and Camarda hit it deep for a touchback. Daniels started the second half by going deep to McLaurin down the left side but the pass was out of reach. S Jordan Whitehead nearly picked off Daniels' next pass over the middle, and the Commanders used a timeout before third-and-10. Daniels tried to scramble for a first down but was forced out of bounds for a loss of two by Tryon-Shoyinka. However, a holding call on rookie DB Tykee Smith made it first-and-10 at the 35. An outlet pass to WR Jamison Crowder got five and Daniels scrambled again for 11 yards to the Bucs' 49. The Commanders faced a third-and-one at the 40 and Britt stopped Robinson for no gain on a run up the middle. Washington went for it on fourth down and Daniels kept it after faking a handoff, getting around the left edge for two yards. Two plays later, the Bucs' pass rush finally got to Daniels, as he was sacked from behind by Tryon-Shoyinka. Daniels lost the ball but center Tyler Biadasz fell on it back at the 46. On third-and-18, rookie WR Luke McCaffrey caught a short pass and looked poised to throw it back across the field to Daniels, but then tucked it and ran for eight yards. The Commanders sent out York to try a 56-yard field goal but he missed it to the right. The Bucs took possession at their own 46. On the first play, they had both White and Irving on the field together and Irving took a jet sweep around right end for a gain of 10. White then took it up the middle, dancing through tackles for 15 yards to the 30. Three plays later, on third-and-10, Mayfield tried to hit McMillan downfield, in the process drawing both pass interference and facemask penalties on CB Emmanuel Forbes, taking the ball down to the four. On first-and-goal, Godwin ran a shallow out, caught Mayfield's pass and extended the ball over the goal line. Tampa Bay's defense followed with a three-and-out, with Izien breaking up a third-down pass on the sideline intended for WR Olamides Zaccheaus. Washington countered with its first defensive stop of the game, with DE Clelin Ferrell dropping Mayfield for a loss of nine on third-and-three. Camarda's first punt of the day was fair caught at the Washington 40 with five minutes left in the third quarter. Daniels started the next possession with a pass over the middle to TE Zach Ertz for a gain of nine and Robinson got six more to make it first down at the Bucs' 45. Two more short gains made it first down at the Bucs' 33. Robinson then took a crossing pack left to right, picked up a great block and was able to rumble all the way down to the one. Daniels faked a handoff and ran it in on the next play to cut the Bucs' lead to nine points with two minutes left in the third quarter. RB Sean Tucker was dropped at the Bucs' 28 on the following kickoff. A five-yard pass to Otton was followed by a screen that White took deep into Washington territory, but the gain was briefly erased by an ineligible man downfield penalty. However, the replay assistant sent down a correction and White was given a 32-yard gain to the opposing 35. The Bucs were facing a third-and-seven at the 32 when the third quarter came to an end. On the first play of the fourth quarter, McMillan got wide open on a deep flag route and Mayfield found him for the 32-yard score. The Bucs got a touchback and an illegal formation penalty on Washington the kickoff, which put the ball at the 25. A short dumpoff to Ekeler was good for 11 yards to get the drive moving, and a designed run by Daniels picked up four more. A pass interference call on SirVocea Dennis made it first down at the Washington 45. Two plays later, Dennis got his revenge, blitzing into the backfield and dropping Daniels for a sack of 13 yards. A dropoff to Ekeler came up eight yards short and the Commanders punted from close to midfield as the clock ticked down to 11 minutes left. The Bucs' next drive started at their own nine, and Irving gave them some breathing room with a seven-yard run right guard. Irving did even more on the next snap, hitting a seam over right tackle and sprinting for a 31-yard run to the Bucs' 48. White came on to take the next two handoffs but was bottled up on the next two snaps for losses of three and five yards. Godwin took a tunnel screen on third-and-18 and somehow found his way through traffic for 24 yards and another first down in Washington territory. Irving got it next and exploded over left tackle for 11 yards to the Washington 25. Three plays later, on third-and-six, Mayfield got away from what seemed like a certain sack and scrambled all the way down to the 10-yard line. After two White runs made it third-and-goal at the one, Mayfield went back to Evans again for the receivers' second touchdown of the game. With the Tampa Bay defense more concerned with killing the last four minutes on the clock, Washington was able to take its final possession 70 yards for a touchdown, with Daniels completing it with a one-yard touchdown run on third-and-goal. The Commanders went for two and Daniels hit McCaffrey in the end zone but the receiver wasn't able to get two feet inbounds. Washington tried an unsuccessful onside kick and the Bucs knelt twice to kill the rest of the clock. Scott Smith, Buccaneers.com, published 9 September 2024