NFL
Buccaneers Lose Their Nerve Against Steelers
TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Pittsburgh Steelers brought the aggression to a packed-out Raymond James Stadium Monday night, showing early on that a Bucs win wouldn’t come without a fight.
FIRST HALF
The first sign was a Steelers helmet-first tackle during the Bucs’ first scoring drive, which wasn’t called, then the more overt hand-to-the-helmet shove-off by tight end Vance McDonald on Peyton Barber as he ran to the end zone, which also wasn’t called. In almost spiteful irony, the Steelers missed the extra point. By then, the Bucs had already scored thier first touchdown with Ryan Fitzpatrick’s successful pass to Cameron Brate, making the score 7-6.
Before the first quarter was over, the Steelers had three flags, including defensive tackle Daniel McCulliers being flagged for illegal use of the hand to the face, though the penalty was declined.
For the Buccaneers’ part, Gerald McCoy was flagged for roughing the passer, resulting in a 15-yard penalty with less than a minute left in the first.
Early in the second quarter, Buccaneers safety Isaiah Johnson made a dangerous crash into the wall in an effort to catch a touchdown pass. He was down on the field for a minute, but was able to rise and walk off. At the same time, Chris Conte was ruled out of the game due to a knee injury.
The Steelers flipped the lead in their favor with a field goal in the first three minutes of the second quarter, bringing the score to 9-7.
The Bucs took a hit when Peyton Barber fumbled the ball after completing his pass. Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton recovered the ball. On their next play, Ben Roethlisberger completed the 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Brown. This time, the Steelers’ extra point attempt was good, bringing the score to 16-7.
In continuing physicality, Steelers’ Jon Bostic grabbed Shaun Wilson’s facemask on the return, resulting in a 15-yard penalty, Mike Hilton next got flagged for personal foul on Mike Evans after the completed pass which was another 15-yard penalty, and the Steelers were next hit for holding.
The Bucs lost their red zone opportunity when the Steelers deflected Fitzpatrick’s next pass, which led to an interception by Mike Hilton.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul hit with one of four roughing the passer penalties called by NFL officials during Monday Night Football at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)
On the Steelers’ next scoring drive, Jason Pierre-Paul was flagged for roughing the passer, resulting in a 15-yard penalty.
On the Buccaneers’ next scoring drive, the Steelers got flagged for roughing the passer penalty.
Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds intercepted Fitzpatrick’s next pass, and Bucs’ McCoy and Curry got revenge by sacking Roethlisberger on the next play, while Jason Pierre-Paul sacked him on the third down.
Fitzpatrick then threw another interception recovered by Dupree, who ran it 10 yards for the Steelers’ next touchdown, making the score 23-7 with less than two minutes left in the first half.
While the Bucs managed a field goal, the Steelers widened the lead further by the end of the half with another touchdown on their next scoring drive, ending the half with a score of 30-10.
All in all, Fitzpatrick had a rough first half, with only 11 for 21 in pass completions, 1 for 4 in third down conversions, 1 for 3 in red zone efficiency, three interceptions and one sack. Roethlisberger, by contrast, was 21 for 25 in pass completions, threw three touchdown passes, was 1 for 3 in third down conversions, with one interception and two sacks.
SECOND HALF
The Buccaneers squeezed in another field goal in the third quarter, bringing the score to 30-13. In the fourth quarter, Fitzpatrick put the Bucs back on the board with a four-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin, shrinking the Steelers lead to ten points, 30-20.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson (11) punt return touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers was called back when safety Isaiah Johnson was called for a holding penalty. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)
DeSean Jackson ran the punt return 90 yards for a touchdown, but a holding penalty completely nullified the effort.
Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Mike Evans (13 ) makes franchise history for the most touchdown passes received (35) Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)
Mike Evans made the repeat effort worthwhile, completing the 24-yard touchdown pass on the third down, bringing the Bucs within a field goal of tying the game at 30-27 and making franchise history for the most touchdown passes received (35). Fitzpatrick, despite his rough game, also made franchise history for the most passing yards. Unfortunately, however, the Bucs couldn’t close the gap, and the Steelers ended up defeating them with the final 30-27 score.
The Buccaneers hit the road for two weeks to face the Chicago Bears then the Atlanta Falcons before returning home on October 21 to host the Cleveland Browns. The Pittsburgh Steelers return home for the next two weeks to host the Baltimore Ravens and the Atlanta Falcons.
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Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) beat the Indianapolis Colts (2-6) 42-7 at EverBank Stadium today. Today’s victory tied the second-longest home winning streak in stadium history, with seven straight wins. The Jaguars also tied the record held by two other teams by winning seven straight games at home scoring 34 or more points in each game. The Denver Broncos had seven such victories from Dec. 23, 2012 to Oct. 27, 2013, while the Los Angeles Chargers had a similar streak from Nov. 27, 1960 to Nov. 5, 1961. This was also the Jaguars 12th straight victory at home against the Colts, dating back to Dec. 13, 2015.
The Jaguars also introduced their Nike NFL “Rivalries” alternate uniform, nicknamed “Bold City,” with a teal helmet and leopard-print accents. The helmet includes the 904 area code on the front bumper and “DUUUVAL” on the back bumper. The inside of the back collar says “Bold City,” while the outside says “Since ‘95” (the Jaguars’ inaugural season). Hidden within the spots on the pants are the names of Jacksonville neighborhoods.
Jaguars’ RB Bhayshul Tuten scores twice in new “Bold City” uniform. Photo credit: Arthur “Dell” Morgan, Florida National News
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence threw a 12 yard touchdown pass to WR Brian Thomas Jr., followed by K Cam Little’s extra point to put the first points on the scoreboard. The score remained 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Jaguars DE Bryan Thomas Jr. recovered a fumble by Colts RB Jonathan Taylor, but the Jags lost DT DaVon Hamilton to a knee injury on that play, and he had to be taken off the field in a golf cart. But Jacksonville’s drive ended four plays later with a 31 yard touchdown pass by Trevor Lawrence to TE Nate Boerkircher, with Little adding the XP. On the Jags’ next drive, RB Bhayshul Tuten ran 39 yards for a touchdown, followed by another Little extra point. Late in the quarter, Jaguars S Rayuan Lane III intercepted a QB Daniel Jones pass intended for TE Tyler Warren and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown, and after Little’s XP, the Jaguars were up 28-0 at halftime.
DT DaVon Hamilton had to be taken off the field in a golf cart after a knee injury. Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News
RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. ran for a 28 yard touchdown, with another Little extra point for the first points of the third quarter, extending the Jaguars lead to 35-0. But the Colts did manage to score their first points of the game as Daniel Jones threw to WR Josh Downs for a 6 yard touchdown pass, with an extra point by K Spencer Shrader. But Lawrence threw a 25 yard touchdown pass to Bhayshul Tuten, and Little’s XP put the Jaguars ahead 42-7 at the end of the third quarter, which remained the score at the end of the game.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 210 passing yards and 3 TDs. Bhayshul Tuten led the Jaguars’ rushing with 104 yards and 1 TD. Tuten was also the leading receiver with 55 yards and 1 TD. To hear Bhayshul Tuten discuss the factors that led to his success in today’s game, click here: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1WgGP3j5FA/?mibextid=wwXIfr
The Jaguars will be on the road for the next three games. They face the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, November 5th at 8:15 p.m., the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, November 15th at 1:00 p.m., and the New York Giants on Sunday, November 22nd at 1:00 p.m. The Jags return to The ‘Bank on Sunday, November 29th at 1:00 p.m., when they host the Titans in an AFC South matchup. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) beat the New England Patriots (1-2) 35-6 at EverBank Stadium today. The Jaguars have now won six consecutive home games dating back to November 16, 2025. The Jaguars lost their nine game regular season winning streak last week in Denver with their 20-13 loss to the Broncos.
The first quarter was a defensive battle, highlighted by the Jaguars sacking Patriots QB Drake Maye to force a fumble, which was recovered by NT DaVon Hamilton. But neither team put points on the board.
Early in the second quarter, Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence found WR Josh Cameron in the end zone for a 12 yard touchdown, followed by K Cam Little’s extra point, to put the Jags ahead 7-0. Soon after, it looked as though Maye had scrambled into the end zone for a 21 yard touchdown run, but that play was nullified by an offensive holding penalty by Patriots RT Morgan Moses. They did manage to score on a 35 yard field goal by K Andy Borregales, to narrow their deficit to 7-3. But the Jags extended their lead as Lawrence completed a 10 yard pass for WR Jakobi Meyers’ 25th career touchdown pass. That was also Lawrence’s 104th passing touchdown of his career, moving him past QB Blake Bortles for sole possession of second place on the Jaguars all-time list. QB Mark Brunell currently holds the team record with 144. After Little’s extra point, the Jags were up 14-3. The Patriots came close to scoring late in the second quarter, but Jaguars CB Travis Hunter had his first career interception, grabbing a pass by Maye intended for WR Efton Chism III in the end zone. The Jaguars gave Cam Little an opportunity to break his own NFL regular season record with a 70 yard field goal attempt, but it went wide right. The score remained 14-3 at the half.
Travis Hunter’s First Career Interception. (Photo Credit Arthur “Dell” Morgan)
On the Patriots first drive of the third quarter, Borregales attempted a 38 yard field goal, but it went wide right. Late in the quarter, Lawrence completed a 17 yard touchdown pass to WR Parker Washington, followed by Little’s XP, extending the lead to 21-3. As the Patriots took possession, Jaguars CB Jarrian Jones intercepted a Drake Maye pass intended for WR Kyle Williams. On the next play, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. ran for a five yard touchdown. After another Little XP, the Jags were up 28-3 at the end of the third.
Early in the fourth quarter, Borregales redeemed himself with a 40 yard field goal, but the Pats remained down 28-6. The Jags added to their lead as RB Bhayshul Tuten ran for a 1 yard touchdown, and with Little’s extra point they finished the game up 35-6.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 182 passing yards and 3 TDs. Bhayshul Tuten led the Jaguars’ rushing with 73 yards and 1 TD. Jakobi Meyers was the leading receiver with 64 yards and 1 TD.
The Jaguars will be on the road for the month of October. They face the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday, October 4th at 1:00 p.m. Their next two games will be across the pond in London, where they’ll play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, October 11th at 9:30 a.m. EST at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Houston Texans on Sunday, October 18th at 9:30 a.m. EST at Wembley Stadium. The Jaguars have a bye for NFL Week 7, then return home to host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, November 1st at 1:00 p.m. at EverBank Stadium. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
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