Bowles jokes 'secret lovers' with Payne Durham after Buccaneers' 29-27 win over Jets

TAMPA, Fla. — The Buccaneers remained undefeated through three games after a 29-27 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, sealed when Chase McLaughlin drilled a 36-yard field goal as time expired. The Jets had briefly reclaimed the lead in the fourth after a blocked kick was recovered for a Will McDonald touchdown, but Tampa Bay answered on the final drive to preserve the win.

Three-and-0 is important, Bowles said afterward, reflecting on the early-season success as he addressed reporters. "It’s important to win in this league. A lot of teams be crying because they lost close games. We lost some last year. We’re winning them this year, so we’re extremely happy about that." In the tunnels after the victory, Bowles also offered a light moment about his interaction with Payne Durham when ESPN’s Jenna Laine asked what Durham said to him as he wrapped his arm around the coach. Bowles replied, "Me and Payne have a relationship not many people know about, and we’re secret lovers." The remark drew laughs from the room.

Durham, the Buccaneers’ second tight end on the depth chart behind starter Cade Otton, reposted Bowles’ playful comments on X after the win. The Purdue product was a 2023 fifth-round pick, selected 171st overall by Tampa Bay, and remains in the mix as Tampa Bay continues to lean on its depth at tight end.

Mayfield, who spent time with Wilks when Wilks was the Panthers’ interim head coach, called the win personal as he celebrated the victory. "I loved it. It was also their defensive coordinator (who) cut me in Carolina," Mayfield said postgame, highlighting the layered rivalries now in play for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay coach Bowles, who coached the Jets from 2015-18, added perspective on the mood around his team after a tense finish and a midseason milestone for the 3-0 club.

The Buccaneers will try to keep the momentum going when they host the undefeated Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, in Week 4. The matchup sets up a true test for Tampa Bay as it seeks to sustain early success against one of the league’s best teams, and it comes with the sense that the team’s camaraderie and the coach’s lighthearted approach have helped foster a confident early-season vibe.