Stroud’s Late Heroics Lift Texans Over Bucs in Thriller

The Houston Texans pulled off a stunning comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, scoring the game-winning touchdown with six seconds left on the clock. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud threw five touchdown passes, including the decisive 15-yard strike to fellow rookie Tank Dell, to lead the Texans to a 39-37 win at NRG Stadium. The Texans improved to 6-3 on the season, while the Bucs dropped to 3-6 after their fourth straight loss.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading leads and big plays throughout. The Bucs took a 30-27 lead early in the fourth quarter, when Baker Mayfield connected with Cade Otton for a 10-yard touchdown. The Texans responded with a field goal by former Bucs running back Dare Ogunbowale, who filled in as the kicker after Ka’imi Fairbairn suffered an injury in the first half. Ogunbowale’s 29-yard kick gave the Texans a 33-30 lead with five minutes left.

The Bucs then mounted a 10-play, 61-yard drive, capped by another touchdown pass from Mayfield to Otton, this time from 14 yards out. The Bucs went for two, but failed to convert, leaving them with a 36-33 lead with 46 seconds remaining.

That proved to be enough time for Stroud, who had a stellar performance in his ninth NFL start. The former Ohio State star completed 28 of 38 passes for 389 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions, posting a passer rating of 144.9. He also ran for 31 yards on six carries, showing his dual-threat ability. Stroud led the Texans on a six-play, 75-yard drive in the final seconds, finding Dell in the end zone for the go-ahead score. Dell, a fourth-round pick out of Clemson, had a breakout game with seven catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

Bucs’ defense struggles to contain Texans’ offense

The Bucs’ defense, which had been one of the best in the league in the first half of the season, had a rough day against the Texans’ explosive offense. The Bucs allowed 494 total yards, 27 first downs and six touchdowns to the Texans, who converted 10 of 14 third downs and 2 of 2 fourth downs. The Bucs also failed to force any turnovers or sacks, and gave up several big plays, including a 64-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to Nico Collins in the second quarter.

The Bucs’ secondary, which was missing starting cornerback Carlton Davis due to a hamstring injury, had trouble covering the Texans’ receivers, who repeatedly found open spaces in the Bucs’ zone coverage. The Texans’ tight end duo of Brevin Jordan and Jordan Akins also caused problems for the Bucs’ linebackers and safeties, combining for 10 catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bucs’ defensive coordinator Todd Bowles took the blame for the defensive breakdowns, saying that he did not prepare his players well enough for the Texans’ scheme and personnel.

“We didn’t play good fundamentals or technique,” Bowles said. “We busted some things that we do every day in practice. You can’t do that, you can’t play in this game.”

Bowles also praised Stroud for his poise and accuracy, saying that he made some “unbelievable throws” under pressure.

“He’s a heck of a player,” Bowles said. “He’s got a bright future in this league.”

Bucs’ offense shows improvement, but falls short in the end

The Bucs’ offense, which had been struggling to score points and sustain drives in the previous three losses, showed some signs of improvement against the Texans, but ultimately could not keep up with the Texans’ scoring pace. The Bucs scored 37 points, their highest total of the season, and gained 381 total yards, with a balanced attack of 256 passing yards and 125 rushing yards. The Bucs also did not commit any turnovers, and converted 7 of 13 third downs and 2 of 2 fourth downs.

Mayfield had a solid game, completing 21 of 30 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, for a passer rating of 119.4. He also ran for 19 yards on four carries, and scored on a one-yard sneak in the first quarter. Mayfield’s favorite target was Otton, the rookie tight end who had a career-high eight catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Otton, a third-round pick out of Washington, has emerged as a reliable weapon for the Bucs’ offense, especially in the red zone.

The Bucs’ running game also showed some improvement, as Rachaad White ran for 73 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. White, a second-year pro out of Arizona State, has taken over the lead role in the Bucs’ backfield, after Leonard Fournette was traded to the New York Jets last week. White scored on two one-yard runs in the second and third quarters, giving the Bucs a 17-14 and 24-21 lead, respectively.

The Bucs’ kicker Chase McLaughlin also had a good day, making all three of his field goal attempts, including a career-long 55-yarder in the third quarter. McLaughlin, who was signed by the Bucs in September after Ryan Succop suffered a season-ending injury, has made 12 of 13 field goals and 18 of 19 extra points this season.

However, the Bucs’ offense also left some points on the board, as they settled for field goals on two drives that reached the Texans’ red zone in the first half. The Bucs also failed to convert a two-point attempt after their final touchdown, which proved to be costly in the end.

The Bucs’ head coach Bruce Arians said that he was proud of his team’s effort and resilience, but also disappointed by the outcome.

“We fought hard, we played hard, we just didn’t make enough plays to win the game,” Arians said. “We had some opportunities, we didn’t capitalize on them. We’ve got to give credit to the Texans, they made more plays than we did.”

Arians also said that he still believes in his team, and that they will not give up on the season.

“We’re not going to quit, we’re not going to hang our heads, we’re going to keep working and keep trying to get better,” Arians said. “We’ve got a lot of football left to play, and we’ve got a lot of talent on this team. We’ve just got to find a way to win these close games.”

The Bucs will try to snap their losing streak next week, when they host the Atlanta Falcons, who are 4-5 after beating the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The Texans will look to extend their winning streak to four games, when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 2-7 after losing to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.