The Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans match player stats from Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season tell the story of a tight prime-time win. Tampa Bay beat Houston 20- 19 on September 15, 2025, at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Buccaneers arrived at 1-0 after a season-opening win over Atlanta, while the Texans came in at 0-1 following a loss to the Rams.
Tampa Bay played without wide receiver Chris Godwin and left tackle Tristan Wirfs, both sidelined by injury. Houston was missing receivers Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios along with starting center Jake Andrews. Baker Mayfield led an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Rachaad White’s two-yard touchdown run with six seconds left, and that final possession decided the outcome.
Match Overview Table
| Detail | Information |
| Date | September 15, 2025 |
| Venue | NRG Stadium, Houston, TX |
| Competition | NFL Regular Season, Week 2 |
| Final Score | Buccaneers 20, Texans 19 |
| Buccaneers Record After Game | 2-0 |
| Texans Record After Game | 0-2 |
Pre-Match Context
Tampa Bay entered Week 2 fresh off a 23-20 win over Atlanta, a game in which Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes. The Buccaneers were seeking back-to-back wins to open the season and continue their run atop the NFC South. Houston entered the week looking for its first win after a 14-9 loss to the Rams, with head coach DeMeco Ryans needing a response from a struggling offense.
Both teams dealt with notable absences. Tampa Bay moved center Graham Barton to left tackle and shifted Ben Bredeson to center to cover for Wirfs, while Chris Godwin remained out as he continued recovering from a prior ankle injury.
Houston was already missing running back Joe Mixon for the first several weeks of the season, and the receiver group took a further hit with Kirk and Berrios both out due to hamstring injuries. Right tackle Luke Goedeke was the lone question mark for Tampa Bay during the week but passed his pregame assessment and started for the Buccaneers.
Quarter by Quarter Score Table
| Quarter | Buccaneers | Texans |
| 1st | 7 | 10 |
| 2nd | 7 | 0 |
| 3rd | 0 | 0 |
| 4th | 6 | 9 |
| Final | 20 | 19 |
Quarter by Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter
Houston struck first when C.J. Stroud connected with Nico Collins for a 29-yard touchdown pass, capping a drive set up by a 27-yard screen pass to Nick Chubb. Tampa Bay answered on its first possession as Baker Mayfield found Ryan Miller for a 20-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. Houston responded with a Ka’imi Fairbairn 35-yard field goal to close the quarter, taking a 10-7 lead into the second period.
Second Quarter
The Buccaneers took the lead in the second quarter on a 14-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield to rookie Emeka Egbuka. That score put Tampa Bay ahead 14-10. Neither team found the end zone again before halftime, and the Buccaneers carried a four-point lead into the break.
Third Quarter
Both teams were held scoreless in the third quarter. Houston’s defense, led by pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., kept pressure on Mayfield, while Tampa Bay’s defense limited the Texans offense to little production. The score remained 14-10 in favor of Tampa Bay entering the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Houston opened the scoring in the final period with a 53-yard Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal, cutting the deficit to 14-13. The Texans then blocked a Riley Dixon punt, recovered near midfield, and turned the possession into a go-ahead score when Nick Chubb broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run, making it 19-14 after a failed two-point attempt.
Houston’s defense forced a stop, and a 53-yard punt return by rookie Jaylin Noel gave the Texans strong field position. Trailing 19-14, Tampa Bay took over with just over two minutes left and Mayfield drove the offense 80 yards in 11 plays, finishing the possession with a two-yard Rachaad White touchdown run with six seconds remaining. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the final score at 20-19 in favor of the Buccaneers.
Team Stats Comparison Table
| Stat | Buccaneers | Texans |
| Total Yards | 360 | 266 |
| 1st Downs | 25 | 12 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 6/14 | 2/9 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of Possession | 37:09 | 22:51 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
The statistical gap between these two teams was significant even though the final score was close. These numbers explain how Tampa Bay controlled most of the contest before needing a late drive to close it out.
- Tampa Bay outgained Houston 360 total yards to 266, a margin of nearly 100 yards.
- The Buccaneers converted 6 of 14 third downs while the Texans converted just 2 of 9.
- Tampa Bay held the ball for 37 minutes and 9 seconds compared to 22 minutes and 51 seconds for Houston.
- Neither team committed a turnover, keeping the game turnover-neutral throughout.
- Houston’s defense recorded 4 sacks compared to 3 for Tampa Bay, with Danielle Hunter accounting for 2 of them.
Full Box Score — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield ran the Buccaneers’ offense efficiently, completing 25 of 38 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, while also adding 33 rushing yards on three scrambles.
Bucky Irving and Rachaad White combined for 136 rushing yards and one touchdown out of the backfield, and Mike Evans led the receiving group with 56 yards on five catches. The defense limited Houston to under 270 total yards despite missing key personnel at points in the front seven rotation.
Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Baker Mayfield | 25/38 | 215 | 2 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Bucky Irving | 17 | 71 | 4.2 | 0 |
| Rachaad White | 10 | 65 | 6.5 | 1 |
| Baker Mayfield | 3 | 33 | 11.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Mike Evans | 5 | 56 | 11.2 | 0 |
| Bucky Irving | 6 | 50 | 8.3 | 0 |
| Sterling Shepard | 4 | 34 | 8.5 | 0 |
| Emeka Egbuka | 4 | 29 | 7.3 | 1 |
| Cade Otton | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 0 |
| Ryan Miller | 1 | 20 | 20.0 | 1 |
| Rachaad White | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | FG (Made/Att) | XP (Made/Att) | Total Points |
| Chase McLaughlin | 0/1 | 2/2 | 2 |
Returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Kameron Johnson (KR) | 2 | 42 | 21.0 |
| Sean Tucker (KR) | 1 | 26 | 26.0 |
| Kameron Johnson (PR) | 1 | 6 | 6.0 |
Defense (Top 8 by Tackles)
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key Play (INT/PD/FR) |
| Tykee Smith | 6 | 1.0 | – |
| Zyon McCollum | 5 | 0.0 | – |
| Antoine Winfield Jr. | 4 | 0.0 | – |
| SirVocea Dennis | 4 | 0.0 | – |
| Vita Vea | 3 | 0.0 | – |
| Jamel Dean | 3 | 0.0 | – |
| Kaevon Merriweather | 3 | 0.0 | – |
| Yaya Diaby | 2 | 0.0 | – |
Full Box Score — Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud completed 13 of 24 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Nico Collins for a game-high 52 receiving yards on three catches. Nick Chubb provided the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, finishing with 43 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries plus 29 receiving yards. Houston’s defense was led by Henry To’oTo’o’s 11 tackles, and Danielle Hunter added two sacks and a forced fumble in a losing effort.
Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| C.J. Stroud | 13/24 | 207 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Nick Chubb | 12 | 43 | 3.6 | 1 |
| C.J. Stroud | 4 | 27 | 6.8 | 0 |
| Woody Marks | 3 | 14 | 4.7 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Nico Collins | 3 | 52 | 17.3 | 1 |
| Woody Marks | 1 | 37 | 37.0 | 0 |
| Nick Chubb | 2 | 29 | 14.5 | 0 |
| Dalton Schultz | 3 | 29 | 9.7 | 0 |
| Xavier Hutchinson | 2 | 29 | 14.5 | 0 |
| Jayden Higgins | 1 | 28 | 28.0 | 0 |
| Justin Watson | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | FG (Made/Att) | XP (Made/Att) | Total Points |
| Ka’imi Fairbairn | 2/2 | 1/1 | 7 |
Returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Jaylin Noel (KR) | 3 | 78 | 26.0 |
| Tremon Smith (KR) | 1 | 29 | 29.0 |
| Jaylin Noel (PR) | 3 | 67 | 22.3 |
Defense (Top 8 by Tackles)
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key Play (INT/PD/FR) |
| Henry To’oTo’o | 11 | 0.0 | – |
| Azeez Al-Shaair | 10 | 0.0 | PD |
| C.J. Gardner-Johnson | 6 | 0.0 | – |
| Jalen Pitre | 6 | 0.0 | – |
| Kamari Lassiter | 5 | 0.0 | – |
| Danielle Hunter | 5 | 2.0 | FF |
| Will Anderson Jr. | 4 | 1.0 | – |
| Derek Stingley Jr. | 3 | 0.0 | – |
Game Leaders / Top Performers
Baker Mayfield was the most efficient player on the field, completing two-thirds of his passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover while also converting a critical fourth-and-10 scramble on the winning drive. Nico Collins was Houston’s most dangerous weapon, turning three catches into 52 yards and the game’s opening touchdown.
Henry To’oTo’o anchored the Texans defense with a game-high 11 tackles, showing up on nearly every Buccaneers drive. Rachaad White delivered the decisive play of the game, scoring the winning touchdown on a two-yard run with six seconds remaining after totaling 65 rushing yards on 10 carries.
| Category | Player | Team | Stat Line |
| Passing | Baker Mayfield | TB | 25/38, 215 Yds, 2 TD |
| Passing | C.J. Stroud | HOU | 13/24, 207 Yds, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Bucky Irving | TB | 17 Car, 71 Yds |
| Rushing | Nick Chubb | HOU | 12 Car, 43 Yds, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Mike Evans | TB | 5 Rec, 56 Yds |
| Receiving | Nico Collins | HOU | 3 Rec, 52 Yds, 1 TD |
| Tackles | Henry To’oTo’o | HOU | 11 Tackles |
| Sacks | Danielle Hunter | HOU | 2.0 Sacks |
Starting Lineups Table
| Position | Buccaneers | Texans |
| QB | Baker Mayfield | C.J. Stroud |
| RB | Bucky Irving | Nick Chubb |
| WR | Mike Evans | Nico Collins |
| WR | Emeka Egbuka | Xavier Hutchinson |
| TE | Cade Otton | Dalton Schultz |
| LT | Graham Barton | Cam Robinson |
| C | Ben Bredeson | Jake Andrews (inactive, replaced) |
| RT | Luke Goedeke | Blake Fisher |
| EDGE | Haason Reddick | Danielle Hunter |
| EDGE | Yaya Diaby | Will Anderson Jr. |
| S | Antoine Winfield Jr. | Jalen Pitre |
| CB | Jamel Dean | Derek Stingley Jr. |
Injury Report Table
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Chris Godwin (TB) | Ankle | Inactive |
| Tristan Wirfs (TB) | Knee | Inactive |
| Devin Culp (TB) | Undisclosed | Inactive |
| Tez Johnson (TB) | Undisclosed | Inactive |
| Josh Williams (TB) | Undisclosed | Inactive |
| Rashad Wisdom (TB) | Undisclosed | Inactive |
| Christian Kirk (HOU) | Hamstring | Inactive |
| Braxton Berrios (HOU) | Hamstring | Inactive |
| Jake Andrews (HOU) | Ankle | Inactive |
| Joe Mixon (HOU) | Foot | Inactive |
| Tommy Togiai (HOU) | Undisclosed | Inactive |
Both teams played through significant absences. Tampa Bay’s offensive line was reshuffled without Tristan Wirfs, forcing Graham Barton to left tackle for a second straight week. Houston’s receiving corps lost two contributors in Kirk and Berrios, thinning a group that was already missing lead back Joe Mixon, which limited the Texans’ offensive versatility for most of the night.
Season Series and Head to Head
Houston entered the game leading the all-time series against Tampa Bay, and the Buccaneers’ win moved their record in the matchup closer but still trailing overall.
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Dec 14, 2003 | Buccaneers | 16-3 |
| Dec 9, 2007 | Texans | 28-14 |
| Nov 13, 2011 | Texans | 37-9 |
| Oct 20, 2019 | Texans | 30-23 |
| Nov 5, 2023 | Texans | 39-37 |
| Sep 15, 2025 | Buccaneers | 20-19 |
Conference / League Standings
At the time of this game, both teams were division champions from the previous season looking to build early-season momentum. Tampa Bay improved to 2-0 with the win, while Houston fell to 0-2 to start its defense of its AFC South title.
| Team | Record After Game | Division |
| Buccaneers | 2-0 | NFC South |
| Texans | 0-2 | AFC South |
Broadcast and Stream Information Table
| Detail | Information |
| National TV | ABC, ESPN |
| Announcers | Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge |
| Streaming | NFL+, ESPN App |
| Kickoff Time | 7:00 p.m. ET |
What was the final score of the Buccaneers vs Texans game?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Houston Texans 20-19 in a Monday Night Football game played on September 15, 2025 at NRG Stadium.
Who threw the game-winning touchdown for Tampa Bay?
Baker Mayfield did not throw the winning score. Running back Rachaad White scored the go-ahead touchdown on a two-yard run with six seconds left in the fourth quarter.
How many total yards did each team gain in the game?
Tampa Bay finished with 360 total yards while Houston finished with 266 total yards, giving the Buccaneers a nearly 100-yard advantage on offense.
Which players were ruled inactive for this game?
Tampa Bay was without Chris Godwin and Tristan Wirfs due to injury, while Houston was missing receivers Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios along with center Jake Andrews and running back Joe Mixon.
Who led both teams in tackles during the game?
Henry To’oTo’o led all players with 11 total tackles for the Texans, while Tykee Smith led the Buccaneers defense with 6 tackles.
Did either team commit a turnover in this game?
No. Neither the Buccaneers nor the Texans lost a fumble or threw an interception during the entire game.
What is the all-time series record between the Buccaneers and Texans?
Houston led the all-time series entering this game, and the two teams have met six times since 2003, with Houston winning four of the first five meetings before Tampa Bay’s win in 2025.
Conclusion
This result gave Tampa Bay a 2-0 start to the 2025 season and its first regular-season win in Houston in franchise history. Efficient quarterback play from Baker Mayfield, a heavy dose of the ground game, and a defense that limited Houston to under 270 yards proved decisive across four quarters. For Houston, the loss dropped the Texans to 0-2 and raised questions about an offense that managed only 12 first downs and struggled on third down for most of the night. Tampa Bay moved forward looking to build on its early momentum in the NFC South, while Houston searched for its first win of the season in the weeks that followed.
