It’s been a back-and-forth contest in Buffalo on Sunday, with the Buccaneers largely taking advantage of the Bills’ turnovers.
But the tables turned in favor of the home team midway through the third quarter.
Baker Mayfield was intercepted by safety Cole Bishop, and on the next play, Josh Allen hit James Cook for a 25-yard touchdown.
That gave the Bills a 31-26 lead with 3:48 left in the third period.
Mayfield had been playing well for the most part on Sunday before his pick. But the Bucs have had much more success with the run than the pass, as they’ve put up 175 yards on the ground, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
But that turnover — the first of the day for the Bucs — turned the tide.
Previously in the third quarter, Mecole Hardman fumbled a punt return, allowing the Buccaneers to retain possession. Sean Tucker put the ball in the box with a 6-yard touchdown to put the Bucs up 26-21 at the time.
But a Matt Prater 39-yard field goal along with Allen’s scoring strike to Cook put Buffalo back ahead.
There have been seven lead changes so far on Sunday between the Bucs and Bills.
It’s been a back-and-forth, competitive first half between the Buccaneers and Bills, with Buffalo holding a slim 21-20 lead at halftime.
The Bucs have been running all over the Bills, totaling 136 yards on the ground at an average of 5.9 yards per carry. But Tampa Bay’s defense has not been able to prevent Buffalo’s explosive touchdowns.
Tampa Bay’s run game was best exemplified by Sean Tucker’s 43-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter. He finished the first half with 71 yards on nine carries. Rachaad White has 48 yards on nine carries.
Mayfield also had 23 yards rushing in the first half, including a 4-yard touchdown early in the second period.
On the other side, the Bills offensive struggles from last week’s loss to Miami looked like they might continue early. Josh Allen tossed an ugly interception on Buffalo’s second play from scrimmage deep in the team’s own territory. But the Bucs were able to just net a 23-yard field goal out of the extra possession.
Then Allen led the Bills to two scoring drives, putting in a 2-yard touchdown run before also connecting with Tyrell Shavers for a 43-yard TD midway through the second quarter.
Allen threw his second interception on fourth-and-2 from the Tampa Bay 43, as the ball was tipped up into the air on a pass to Dawson Knox.
But after a punt, Allen helped put the Bills back on top, as his short pass to Ty Johnson went 52 yards for a go-ahead touchdown with just 36 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Bucs responded with a 24-yard field goal as time expired int he second quarter to shave Buffalo’s lead to one point.
Allen was 8-of-17 for 155 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the first half. Allen is also the club’s leading rusher with 14 yards on three carries with a TD.
On the other side, Mayfield is 10-of-14 for 95 yards.
The Bucs and Bills will not stop scoring.
Tampa Bay running back Sean Tucker has now gotten in the mix, gashing Buffalo’s defense for a 43-yard rushing touchdown.
Tucker, who played his college ball at Syracuse, got the ball on a handoff to the right and used his speed to get down the sideline for an explosive score.
It was Tucker’s third rushing touchdown of the season, giving him a new career-high.
The Bucs already have 111 rushing yards in the first half, averaging 6.2 yards per carry against Buffalo’s beleaguered run defense.
While neither the Bills nor the Buccaneers scored on their first drives, it’s been nothing but points on each possession since.
It looks like a shootout in Buffalo.
Josh Allen connected on a 43-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tyrell Shavers to put the Bills back ahead of the Buccaneers, 14-10.
Tampa Bay had only rushed three players on third-and-3, which helped give Allen plenty of time in the backfield. While things initially may have been covered, Allen then found Shavers streaking toward the end zone and hit him with an accurate deep shot for the score.
Allen now has 16 touchdown passes in 2025.
Josh Allen scored a rushing touchdown and now Baker Mayfield has matched him.
Mayfield scored on a 4-yard, fourth-down run to put the Bucs ahead of the Bills 10-7 early in the second quarter.
Tampa Bay had fourth-and-inches after Mayfield’s 7-yard pass to Rachaad White on third-and-8 was just short of the sticks. On the snap, Mayfield faked a handoff, then with an open lane, kept the ball and ran to his right where the seas had parted for the score.
It was Mayfield’s first rushing touchdown of the season.
So far on Sunday, Mayfield is 5-of-7 passing for 33 yards. He’ also rushed three times for 23 yards.
