The Buccaneers and the Houston Texans will match up on Monday Night Football at NRG Stadium in Houston.
The Buccaneers are coming off a thrilling 23-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons in their season opener last week in Atlanta.
The Texans are coming off a 14-9 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams in their season opener last week.
This will be Tampa’s first Interconference game this year, and the Buccaneers will try to win the first two games of the season for the fifth consecutive year.
The Buccaneers have struggled in prime time, but quarterback Baker Mayfield is excited to be a part of Monday Night Football.
“Monday Night Football is just so awesome. Growing up and watching it, it’s a surreal thing to be able to do, knowing you’re the only game of the night and the whole nation’s watching.”
The Texans will not be an easy out. They are coming off an 11-7 season and won the NFC South the first two years under head coach DeMeco Ryans.
The last time these two teams matched up in Houston in 2023, 76 points were scored, with the Texans winning 39-37.
The Texans feature two excellent edge rushers, Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.
With Tristan Wirfs still out this week for the Buccaneers and Luke Goedeke not 100 percent, the Texans’ front seven versus the Bucs’ offensive line will be one of the key matchups to watch in this game.
Don’t let the nine points the Texans scored in their season opener fool you.
The Texans are very potent offensively, starting with quarterback CJ Stroud.
Stroud, the 2023 offensive Rookie of the Year, battered the Buccaneer defense with 470 yards and five touchdowns in that 39-37 shootout.
At wide receiver, the Texans boast Nico Collins, who has had two straight 1,000-yard seasons.
Add in Christian Kirk and rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and the Buccaneers’ secondary will have its work cut out on Monday night.
Todd Bowles talked about the Texans’ playmakers. “Very quick release, very strong arm, very accurate,” said Bowles, talking about CJ Stroud. “He can run, he can see the blitzes coming, he can read coverages very well, and he’s very accurate. When he gets to plant his feet and survey the field, he can kill you.
“With Nico, it’s size and speed. He’s very athletic that way. Kirk can get down the field. They drafted Higgins from Iowa State. They got two from Iowa State, who can play well, very good-sized receivers, very good hands. They can hurt you.”
The Buccaneers, of course, have Baker Mayfield, who has had 72 touchdown passes since 2023, which leads the NFL.
Ryans had this to say about Buccaneer quarterback Baker Mayfield.
“Baker’s doing a really nice job. The thing that sets him apart, where I’ve seen him grow as a quarterback, is how he escapes the pocket. Whether that’s keeping his eyes downfield to find open receivers or just scrambling to get the first down, he does a really great job. He’s gutsy, he has everything you want.”
Defensively, one player to watch is edge rusher Hasson Reddick.
Reddick had a nice debut for the Buccaneers, getting his first sack in a Tampa uniform and having a 22.6 percent pressure rate.
Tykee Smith, who had a career-high 11 tackles last week, will also be looking to build on his excellent week one performance.
In addition to Mayfield, look for wide receiver Emeka Egbuka to continue to make big plays for this offense. Egbuka had two touchdown catches in his first game as a Buccaneer last week against Atlanta.
Chris Godwin and Tristan Wirfs are the Buccaneers who have been ruled out for Monday Night’s game.
Benjamin Morrison, Christian Izien, and Zyon McCollum practiced on Friday and should be ready to go against the Texans.
Vegas has made the Texans a 2.5-point favorite on Monday Night.
Author’s Prediction
Both teams have some injuries along the offensive line. The Buccaneers have had some nagging injuries in the secondary, but they have more versatility offensively than the Texans.
I’ll take the Bucs by a field goal, 23-20, to improve to 2-0 on the season.