What To Watch For In Week 2

Following an exhilarating 23-20 win of their season opener in opposition to the Falcons, the Bucs have an additional day to arrange for his or her Week 2 matchup, as they’re going to play within the entrance half of a Monday Evening Soccer doubleheader. Tampa Bay will probably be in Houston to tackle the Texans, in search of a fourth consecutive 2-0 begin below head coach Todd Bowles and a ninth straight Week 2 victory.

Week 1 was a loopy one for the Bucs, as they misplaced a fourth-quarter lead, regained it with below a minute to go after which barely held onto it and averted extra time due to a missed discipline purpose. No matter went on in that sport, the tip end result was a 1-0 begin for Bowles and Co., and now the group will look to be street warriors once more in pursuit of a 2-0 begin. The divisional win over the Falcons already means lots within the grand scheme of issues, however the Bucs would like to return to Raymond James Stadium in Week 3 with two street wins below their belts.

The Texans, then again, are set for his or her residence opener and seeking to keep away from an 0-2 begin after final week’s 14-9 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles. Historical past hasn’t been variety to groups that begin off 0-2 when it comes to making the playoffs, even when the Texans themselves proved in 2023 that it was attainable to proper the ship after dropping the primary two video games of the season. Nonetheless, there have been some worrying issues from the Houston offense in Week 1 and DeMeco Ryans will probably be in search of third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud to bounce again and put up extra factors in primetime.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA As we speak

Talking of primetime, the Bucs want to reverse their fortunes below the intense lights. They went 0-5 in primetime final 12 months and maintain a 1-7 in primetime video games over Baker Mayfield’s first two years in Tampa Bay. The group has three extra primetime video games on the schedule, so it might be good to snap the dropping streak now earlier than it will get much more out of hand.

The Bucs are battling in opposition to one other unhealthy development on this sport, too, as they’re 1-5 all-time in opposition to the Texans. They’ve by no means crushed them in Houston and have misplaced 5 straight within the collection, with their first assembly in 2003 being their solely win.

Following this Monday night time sport, the Bucs return to Raymond James Stadium for his or her residence opener, which comes in opposition to the Jets. In the meantime, the Texans head again out on the street in Week 3 as they’re going to go to the Jaguars for his or her AFC South opener.

Let’s dive into what would possibly determine this matchup, in addition to some key gamers to observe in Monday night time’s contest at NRG Stadium:

What May Resolve This Bucs-Texans Matchup?

Offensively, this sport is prone to come right down to the Bucs offensive line and the way nicely it might maintain up in opposition to a robust Texans cross rush. Tampa Bay stunned a complete lot of individuals when it introduced shortly earlier than final week’s sport that it was going with Graham Barton, not Charlie Heck, at left deal with. Left guard Ben Bredeson slid over into the middle place, left vacant by Barton, whereas apply squad elevation Michael Jordan stepped into Bredeson’s regular spot.

That makeshift unit was initially one thing the Bucs labored on in apply for emergency conditions, because the plan all through coaching camp was for Heck to step into the left deal with place whereas All-Professional Tristan Wirfs works his approach again from knee surgical procedure. However Todd Bowles and his teaching workers ended up liking the emergency offensive line configuration higher, so that they rolled with it. The unit held up nicely in opposition to a fairly common Falcons cross rush, however largely struggled to open up operating lanes for Bucky Irving.

Bucs LT Graham Barton, LG Mike Jordan, C Ben Bredeson and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Holding the Atlanta cross rush at bay is one factor. Monday will convey a stiffer problem for this offensive line, as Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter paved the way off the sting with Mario Edwards Jr. and Sheldon Rankins holding issues down on the within. Anderson had an 11-sack season in 2024, whereas Hunter has six double-digit sacks to his identify, together with a 12-sack marketing campaign final 12 months. Assuming Barton is at left deal with, he’ll face a serious problem. And with proper deal with Luke Goedeke battling a foot harm heading into the weekend, he will not have it any simpler.

It could assist in an enormous approach if the group can get some push up entrance and open issues up for Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker within the run sport. Irving was held to 2.6 yards per stick with it 14 carries final week, and it was Baker Mayfield who completed because the Bucs’ main rusher with 39 yards on 5 carries (7.8 avg.). Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard can assist Mayfield, the offensive line and the passing sport if he can get the run sport going, and discovering some success within the display/brief passing sport can be enormous, too. No matter will get the ball out of Mayfield’s fingers shortly and retains Anderson and Hunter from impacting the sport, proper?

Defensively for the Bucs, they should get their very own cross rush rolling. Haason Reddick had a robust debut in pink, white and pewter final week, however Tampa Bay wants extra from Yaya Diaby, in addition to Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. Kancey was particularly quiet in Week 1, and with the harm to Houston heart Jake Andrews, he and Vea have to trigger some havoc on the inside to maintain quarterback C.J. Stroud off schedule.

So far as the again half of the Tampa Bay protection, the secondary badly wants to carry on to any potential interceptions that come its approach. It is a story as previous as time for the Bucs protection, sadly, and after seeing Zyon McCollum drop two final week, there’s lots of “right here we go once more” narratives constructing for that group. Maybe the potential debut of 2025 second-round decide Benjamin Morrison can assist, or perhaps fellow 2025 draft decide Jacob Parrish reveals off his ballhawking skills this week. After all, do not be stunned if safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith are in place to create some takeaways.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and cross sport coordinator George Edwards – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

The opposite massive deciding issue on this sport for the Bucs protection would be the cash downs. Tampa Bay allowed Atlanta to go 6-of-15 on third down and 3-of-4 on fourth final week, and it led to a time of possession drawback of greater than 10 minutes. The Bucs merely could not get off the sphere in massive moments, whether or not it was an precise conversion or a expensive penalty. Bowles’ group cannot let that occur once more Monday night time in opposition to Stroud and the Texans.

Talking of Stroud, he’ll be the important thing for Houston come Monday night time. His coming-out occasion throughout his rookie season got here in opposition to the Bucs, as he threw for an NFL rookie report 470 yards and 5 touchdowns in a come-from-behind 39-37 win. He threw for 3,638 yards and 18 touchdowns in 14 different video games that 12 months, however the massive efficiency in opposition to Bowles’ protection ballooned his numbers to 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns throughout his Rookie of the 12 months season.

Stroud took a step again in 2024, throwing for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, and his 2025 debut was definitely lower than stellar as he went 19-of-27 for 188 yards and an interception. He’ll have to get the Texans offense going in opposition to the Bucs protection if his group goes to keep away from an 0-2 begin.

It might probably’t all be on Stroud, although, as he’ll want his pass-catchers to step up and create some separation. Eight totally different Texans caught passes final week, however it was rookie Jayden Higgins who led the best way with simply 32 yards. That kind of manufacturing from the passing sport will not reduce it in most video games, so Higgins, fellow Iowa State product Jaylin Noel, Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz should step up in opposition to the Bucs in Week 2.

The offensive line, which could possibly be lacking its heart, will have to be higher this week as nicely. That group allowed three sacks and 7 quarterback hits in opposition to the Rams in Week 1, so dialing in on Reddick, Diaby, Vea and Kancey and protecting them out of Stroud’s face is a crucial key to Houston’s success on offense on this one.

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. – Picture by: USA As we speak

As a lot enchancment as there must be from Stroud and the Texans offense in Week 2, it is possible that DeMeco Ryans‘ protection will probably be charged with main the best way to a victory over the Bucs. That aspect of the ball had Houston within the sport final week, solely permitting 14 factors to a potent Rams offense. Will Anderson Jr. was one in every of three Texans to sack Matthew Stafford in that sport, and each he and Danielle Hunter are prone to be main components Monday night time.

In lots of methods, although, Houston’s protection will probably be seeking to make among the similar strides as Tampa Bay’s protection this week. The Texans did power and get well a fumble in final week’s loss, however extra takeaways are so as from what’s a particularly proficient unit. Not solely that, however it is a protection that allowed Los Angeles to go 7-of-13 on third downs and 1-of-1 on fourth downs, so getting off the sphere on cash downs is sure to be simply as massive of a spotlight for the Texans as it will likely be for the Bucs.

It will be paramount for the Houston protection to key in on rookie vast receiver Emeka Egbuka Monday night time after the 2025 first-round decide burst onto the scene in Week 1 with two touchdowns – together with the game-winner – in opposition to the Falcons. On the similar time, the Texans cannot lose sight of Mike Evans, so it’s going to be a lot difficult for the secondary, which options Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and previous foe C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

Key Gamers To Watch

It was mentioned all summer time and into coaching camp and the preseason. And in Week 1, it turned even clearer. Rookie vast receiver Emeka Egbuka is the actual deal. He caught 4 of his six targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns in his common season debut, making it clear that the hype is legit. It is laborious to ask the previous Ohio State star to repeat that two-score efficiency in Week 2, however search for him to proceed making an affect. Not solely will he proceed to provide, however it’ll fascinating to see how a lot consideration he can draw away from Mike Evans, as that would open up one other game-changing aspect of Tampa Bay’s offense.

Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

The primary focus for the Bucs protection this week is inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis. Final week was an up-and-down return to motion for the 2023 fifth-round decide who missed a lot of the 2024 season with a shoulder harm. The Falcons went after him and located success with Bijan Robinson making a mismatch, and there have been moments when it regarded like Dennis was unplayable. However he recovered nicely late within the sport and made some key stops in opposition to the run. Maybe it was rust or perhaps it was rising pains for a man who has performed sparingly over his first two NFL seasons. No matter it’s, he’ll must shake it off in Houston.

If C.J. Stroud goes to rebound from a poor displaying in Week 1, he’ll have to get extra out of Nico Collins. Collins, a 2021 third-round pick of Michigan, is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. And over these two seasons, he caught 15 touchdowns. He is Stroud’s go-to man, however he was held in test final week to the tune of three catches on 5 targets for 25 yards. He must do extra if Houston’s offense goes to get going. He could draw Zyon McCollum fairly a bit on Monday night time, and that is going to be one of many important matchups that would go a good distance in deciding this sport.

Texans QB CJ Stroud and WR Nico Collins – Picture by: USA As we speak

At one time this offseason, Derek Stingley Jr. was the highest-paid defensive again in soccer. The previous LSU Tiger had back-to-back five-interception seasons in 2023 and 2024, and he stays one of many sport’s highest cornerbacks and the chief of the Texans secondary. Regardless of who he attracts from the Bucs offense, it is sure to be an ideal matchup, and it will be one which performs an enormous position within the sport’s consequence. If he manages to remove Mike Evans utterly or he attracts Emeka Egbuka and may shut him down, it’s going to power Baker Mayfield to go to choices three, 4, 5 and so forth. That will surely work within the favor of the Texans protection.