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There had to be a touchdown with just seconds left on the clock, and the conversion of a final drive by Baker Mayfield had pushed the Buccaneers to 2-0 on the season. Resilience by Tampa and a near-collapse by Houston in the dying moments brought reactions from all across the NFL.
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Top NFL insider Adam Schefter broke the news: “Bucs win front end of Monday Night Football doubleheader.” At the very least, it fails to begin to describe the reality of the situation. It was more than just a win. It was an entire statement.
The Buccaneers somehow defended a win, truly missing some of their key starters. Mayfield particularly impressed when it mattered most. This was a night for the player to escape trouble with a clutch throw. The game-winning drive and touchdown run with mere seconds remaining are exactly why the Bucs believe in him.
The action was instant. One declared it to be “the luckiest 2-0 team in the NFL.” This statement was just the echo of surprise that goes around in the world regarding Tampa Bay being undefeated, considering the tough schedule they have ahead.
Houston, on the other hand, was frustration personified. Multiple comments made note of a strangely familiar situation for Houston. “Crazy how the Texans can do everything right for 58 minutes just to remember they’re the Texans in the final 2,” one observer summarized the anguish for a fanbase that had seen this before. Criticism was also hurled towards the coaching with another user condemning the offensive playcalling as a “shitshow” and that “has put this franchise in trouble.”
Amidst analysis, Baker Mayfield redemption mode became the focal point of the narrative. Praise abounded for the QB. “Baker Mayfield is a hell of a QB,” one stated simply; another said, “The Browns tried to bury Mayfield, he went from back up to back up to bonafide STARTER…respects.” Each win is gaining momentum for the narrative of Mayfield proving critics wrong.
Of course, there were those who had different takes and less celebratory ones. A sour Texans fan simply said, “Not the outcome that I was hoping for.” Meanwhile, a minority opinion espoused the theory that the officials “gifted the Bucs the win,” though most clamor drowned it out in praise for the game excitement.
Others gave compliments to the contest. “Extremely entertaining game,” wrote one user. “One of those ‘too bad one team has to lose’ clashes.” Having been part of a classic Monday night showdown, regardless of the outcome, this is a sentiment that will forever stay with the fans.
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The win sets quite intriguing tones for either team. It is still a 2-0 start for Tampa Bay, a lot of hope, and many questions about sustain. For Houston, it’s yet another hard lesson on closing in on elite teams. Late May proved land the ugly win for the Bucks again. More often than not, is what spells a successful season. While the whole NFL community is glued now to the second half, the Bucs’ exhilarating escape is now the talk of the town.