Jets' fourth quarter comeback wasted in 29-27 loss to Buccaneers
The Jets mounted an incredible comeback on Sunday, as they overturned a 17-point fourth quarter lead in dramatic fashion to go ahead by one with two minutes to go, only to then give up a late field goal to lose in heartbreaking fashion, 29-27.
For much of the game, it never really looked like being anything other than a comfortable Bucs win, but the Jets scored two late touchdowns to make it a one-possession game and then Will McDonald's incredible field goal block and touchdown return suddenly had the Jets on top.
Despite an abject first half performance, the Jets somehow managed to keep the game close until just before halftime, but then Tyrod Taylor threw a pick-six to Jamel Dean in the final minute, and the Bucs led 20-6 at the half. That 14-point lead felt unassailable given how badly the Jets had struggled on offense.
New York had led 6-3 after an early exchange of field goals, but Baker Mayfield's five-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans made it 10-6 in the second quarter and they added one more field goal before Dean's defensive score.
After the Bucs stretched their lead to 23-6 with another field goal, Taylor put together the Jets' best drive of the game in the fourth quarter and threw a touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson to cut the lead to 23-13. Then, after the fourth Bucs field goal of the game, Taylor drove the Jets downfield again and threw a fourth down touchdown to Allen Lazard to cut it to 26-20 with 3:40 to go.
New York then took a shock lead with less than two minutes to go when McDonald jumped over the line and blocked Chase McLaughlin's field goal, which he then picked up and returned 50 yards for a touchdown. However, McLaughlin got another shot as time expired and made no mistake.
The Jets lost linebacker Quincy Williams to a shoulder injury right before halftime and cornerback Sauce Gardner also left the game after being banged up in the fourth quarter, but he returned.
Here are the key takeaways...-Taylor, starting for the injured Justin Fields, completed his first pass of the second quarter, at which stage he was 7-for-8 for 55 yards, and Nick Folk's field goal capped his second successful drive to start the game to make it 6-3 Jets. Over the remainder of the half, Taylor got absolutely nothing going, as he completed three of eight passes for zero yards with the pick-six and was sacked twice, losing a fumble. He padded his stats on the two late drive to end up with almost 200 passing yards.
-Garrett Wilson shares some of the blame for the interception, as he didn't come back to the football, but he had a productive game with 10 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. Compared to last season, one thing the Jets have done better on offense so far is to get the ball to Wilson more consistently, even when the passing game isn't working.
-From the start, it was clear the Jets were overmatched in the trenches when they had the ball. Taylor was constantly having to elude free rushers, and the Jets could not get anything going on the ground. That included a turnover on downs near midfield as a Braelon Allen run was bottled up with multiple players penetrating into the backfield and former Jet Haason Reddick making the play.
-The Bucs mostly seemed to be trying to target whomever Gardner wasn't covering, but they weren't completely afraid to go at him as Emeka Egbuka had a one-handed 30-yard catch on him and Evans beat him for three first downs and a costly pass interference penalty on third-and-29. Evans' touchdown came against Brandon Stephens though.
-The Gardner penalty, which set up a field goal, came after the Jets had stopped the Bucs on third and long, but opted to accept a penalty and push the Bucs back instead of forcing the Bucs to kick. Given what happened last week with Micheal Clemons' big third and long penalty, it's surprising Aaron Glenn didn't just quit while he was ahead there.
-Glenn criticized the Jets for over-pursuing on James Cook's backbreaking touchdown run last week and the Bucs tested that regularly by throwing a lot of passes to the flat. The first time they did this, four or five Jets players over-pursued, and Bucky Irving cut back against the grain for a big gain. It has to be frustrating for Glenn to see his players making the same mistakes week-in and week-out. The Bucs continued to have success on plays like this as the game went on with the Jets missing too many tackles.
-With Quincy Williams out the Jets were seriously lacking in experience in their linebacker unit. Marcelino McCrary-Ball and rookie Kiko Mauigoa got plenty of extra reps. Each had played sparingly during the first two games, after they entered the season with just three defensive snaps of NFL experience between them. If Williams will miss significant time, that will be a major loss.
Highlightsway to absorb contact
- New York Jets (@nyjets)September 21, 2025
: #NYJvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/eg8H1e5O2X
pitch and catch
- New York Jets (@nyjets)September 21, 2025
: #NYJvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/JsDX4h0kOH
Game MVP: Bucs QB Baker MayfieldMayfield's numbers weren't eye-popping, as he had just 233 passing yards and another 44 on the ground. However, he made a couple of huge completions on the last drive to set up the game-winning field goal.What's Nextnot a bad first TD of your career @WILL_JUN1OR
- New York Jets (@nyjets)September 21, 2025
: #NYJvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/itAM2FwjB0
The Jets remain on the road next weekend but will have an extra day to prepare, as they face the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football with the kickoff scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.