Buccaneers edge Jets on walk-off field goal after late Mayfield drive
Chase McLaughlin connects five times, including the game-winner, as Tampa Bay erases a late Jets lead and Loses: 29-27
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the New York Jets 29-27 on Sunday after orchestrating a late scoring drive that culminated in a game-winning field goal by Chase McLaughlin. Mayfield’s late sequence set up the 36-yard kick as time expired, lifting Tampa Bay after a back-and-forth finish.
McLaughlin finished 5-for-6 on field goals, including attempts from 53 and 54 yards. One of his kicks was blocked and returned for a touchdown about two minutes earlier, a swing that briefly shifted momentum in the Jets’ favor. Baker Mayfield completed 233 passing yards and one touchdown in the win.
Jamel Dean provided the decisive spark earlier with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown that turned a 13-6 Jets lead into a 20-6 cushion for Tampa Bay. The Jets had shown some early life, but that defensive takeaway helped tilt the game toward the Buccaneers as the second half unfolded.
New York’s defense limited pressure on Mayfield, recording only one sack and two quarterback hits despite facing an offensive line missing three starters. Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks didn’t have many answers on the late drive, and Tampa Bay capitalized with a patient, methodical march that ended with the winning kick.
The Jets’ offense started fast and finished fast, but faded in the middle, a pattern reflected in the key stat that their first-half drive sequence produced few first downs in the last five possessions. The numbers underscored the challenge New York faced in sustaining consistency against a defense that made timely plays and a late surge of points.
Quinnen Williams spoke for a locker room trying to fix the small mistakes that add up in close games: "We have to delete the negative things in our game, the small things that are helping us lose games. We have to get it out fast because … you don’t want to look up and be 0-10." His remarks captured the frustration of a Jets team that was within reach but unable to close it out.
The result added another chapter in a back-and-forth clash that showcased two teams still adapting to their recent regimes and injuries, with Tampa Bay finding late momentum on offense and defense and New York left to regroup after a costly late setback.
