NFL
Buccaneers Make Season-Ready Showing Against Lions Despite 33-30 Loss
TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers returned to Raymond James Stadium for their first preseason home game of the preseason against the Detroit Lions. A late thunderstorm with lightning slowed things down a bit, delaying the game by an hour with an 8:59pm kickoff. However, the fans remained loyal, despite the rain.
The Lions entered Friday’s game with no wins this preseason, but they were looking to center Wesley Johnson to make a difference. For the Buccaneers’ part, they entered the game without 13 players, including Kendell Beckwith, Justin Evans, Vita Vea, Ali Marpet, Donovan Smith and Charles Sims III, who was placed on injured reserve this week.
FIRST HALF
Peyton Barber was the Bucs’ running man in the first quarter, taking the Bucs 66 yards to the game’s first touchdown with a 14-yard touchdown carry within the first four-and-a-half minutes.
Despite the Bucs defense, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford made a significant 36-yard pass play on their third down before Chris Conte could make the tackle, getting them in the red zone and bringing them back to first down.
On the Lions’ next third down, Stafford tried to make a touchdown pass, but Tampa’s Hargreaves broke it up, forcing Matt Prater to kick a 24-yard field goal to make sure the Lions were on the board. The score was 7-3 with 5:25 left in the quarter.
On the Bucs’ next run, Ronald Jones II completed the 37-yard pass straight out of the gate, sending the crowd into a roar. Quarterback Fitzpatrick had a close call on the third down, though–he was open for a sack for a good fifteen seconds while searching for a passing target before tossing the ball to O.J. Howard to get the first down.
On the next second down, Fitzpatrick was sacked by Sylvester Williams, costing the Bucs seven yards. On the third down, Fitzpatrick passed to Mike Evans, who completed the pass, but was flagged for a double play. In an interesting reaction, Evans remained on the ground for a few minutes, appearing to be injured, but once approached for help, he stood up fully intact and cursed the penalty call.
On the Lions’ next run, the Bucs kept the pressure on, stopping the run as much as possible. However on the third down, Tampa Bay’s Jordan Whitehead was hit with a pass interference penalty, giving the Lions an automatic first down within 20 yards of the goal. After a total of 13 plays, the Lions got on the board with another field goal, shrinking Tampa’s lead to one point: 7-6.
On the Bucs’ next scoring drive, Winston subbed in for Fitzpatrick. With four minutes left in the half, Winston made a successful 10-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin, bringing their lead to 13-6.
The most epic play of the first half came on the Lions’ final fourth down of the half with just seven seconds left. The Lions attempted a 63-yard field goal, which Tampa Bay’s Adam Humphries returned for a 109-yard touchdown, closing out the half with a score of 20-6.
SECOND HALF
In the Bucs first drive out of halftime, Ryan Griffin completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Martino, spreading the Bucs lead to 27-6.
With less than four minutes left in the third quarter, Detroit’s Theo Riddick ran the ball 10 yards for the team’s first tocuhdown of the game, bringing the score to 27-13.
With 1:15 left in the third quarter, the Lions attempted a 53-yard field goal, which hit the left goalpost. However, the Bucs were hit with an illegal formation penalty, allowing the Lions to replay their fourth down, and that’s all it took. The Lions made a one-yard carry for the first down and continued their scoring drive until the end of the third quarter.
The Lions scored their next touchdown in the red zone in the fourth quarter with QB Matt Cassel’s three-yard touchdown toss to Bradley Marquez. Tampa Bay’s Cameron Lynch was close enough to break up the pass, but wasn’t quick enough to make a move. The Lions were at that point one touchdown away from tying the game. However, the Buccaneers extended the lead with their first field goal of the game, making the score 30-20.
With five minutes left in the game, the Lions’s Powell took a page from Humphries’ book, making an 80-yard touchdown punt return, making the score 30-26. The Lions attempted a two-point conversion, but the pass was incomplete.
The Detroit Lions turned the tables near the end, blindsiding the Bucs with a touchdown to snatch the lead, making the final score 33-30.
The Bucs next host the Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday, August 30 at 7:30pm.
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Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) lost to the Seattle Seahawks (4-2) 20-12 at EverBank Stadium today. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence was sacked seven times during the game.
The Jaguars were the first to score, on a Trevor Lawrence 21 yard touchdown pass to WR Brian Thomas Jr. K Cam Little missed his first ever point after touchdown, so the Jaguars were up 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. Little had held a perfect record of making his extra points, not just with the Jags, but even in college and high school.
In the second quarter, K Jason Myers kicked a 24 yard field goal for the Seahawks. Seattle added a 61 yard touchdown pass from QB Sam Darnold to WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and with Myers’ XP, the Seahawks were up 10-6. Cam Little missed a 50 yard field goal attempt for the Jaguars with a minute to go before the half. Myers added a 53 yard field goal shortly after, to put the Seahawks ahead 13-6 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Vikings added another touchdown pass by Darnold for 11 yards to WR Cooper Kupp, followed by Myers’ XP. Late in the quarter, a Trevor Lawrence 54 yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr. was nullified by an offside penalty called against rookie WR/CB Travis Hunter. The Seahawks led 20-6 at the end of the third quarter.
On the first drive of the fourth, Trevor Lawrence completed a 26 yard touchdown pass to WR Tim Patrick, but WR Bhayshul Tuten missed a two point conversion attempt, to narrow the Jags’ deficit to 20-12. Myers later made a 27 yard field goal for Seattle that was reversed because of a holding penalty by the Jaguars’ DE Dawuane Smoot, but the final score remained 20-12.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 258 passing yards and 2 TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 27 yards. Brian Thomas Jr. was the leading receiver with 90 yards and 1 TD. Today’s attendance was 61,056.
Earlier this week, the Jaguars traded CB Tyson Campbell and a seventh round 2026 draft pick to the Cleveland Browns for CB Greg Newsome II and a sixth round 2026 pick.
The Jaguars helped to spread the word about fighting cancer through early detection and risk reduction as part of the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative. Pink ribbons were handed out to fans before the game in the Fan Entertainment Zone, along with customizable “I Stand For” signs, in support of those who have been impacted by cancer.
Jaguars help spread the word about fighting cancer through the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative. Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News
The Jaguars travel to London to play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Oct. 19 at Wembley Stadium. Kickoff is at 9:30 a.m. The Jags have a bye week after that followed by road games against the Raiders and the Texans before returning to EverBank Stadium on Nov. 16 to face the Los Angeles Chargers. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) came back late in the game to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) 31-28. Today’s game marked the Jaguars’ 13th Monday Night Football appearance in Jacksonville, improving their all-time MNF record to 8-5 at home.
ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown Crew Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News
The Chiefs were the first to put points on the board, with a QB Patrick Mahomes 2 yard touchdown pass to TE Travis Kelce, followed by the extra point from K Harrison Butker. The score remained 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Jaguars went for it on 4th and 1, but QB Trevor Lawrence was called for fumbling the ball as he tried to run up the middle for a touchdown. Officials reviewed the play which looked like a possible touchdown on the stadium replay, but the fumble ruling stood. On the next series, the Chiefs’ drive finished with Mahomes running 9 yards for a touchdown, followed by another Butker XP. But Lawrence’s 3 yard touchdown pass to WR Parker Washington, followed by K Cam Little’s extra point narrowed the gap. Just before halftime, LB Foye Oluokun got his 500th tackle as a Jaguar. The Chiefs led 14-7 heading into halftime.
In the third quarter, fans cheered loudly when Jaguars two-way rookie phenom WR Travis Hunter caught a 44 yard pass from Trevor Lawrence. Hunter followed with a 1 yard reception, but the scoring drive ended four plays later as Lawrence ran 10 yards for a touchdown followed by Little’s XP, tying the game. Late in the third quarter, LB Devin Lloyd intercepted a Patrick Mahomes pass and ran it 99 yards for a “pick six,” followed by Little’s XP, putting the Jags ahead 21-14.
In the fourth, a Trevor Lawrence pass intended for Parker Washington was intercepted by CB Trent McDuffie. That set up Chiefs’ RB Kareem Hunt, who ran up the middle for a 5 yard touchdown, followed by Butker’s XP to tie the game. Cam Little’s 52 yard field goal later put the Jags up 24-21. But Hunt ran for another 2 yard touchdown, and with Butker’s XP, the Chiefs pulled ahead 28-24, with just 1:45 remaining. Trevor Lawrence wowed the crowd leading an impressive drive downfield. A pass interference call set up a Trevor Lawrence 1 yard touchdown run, and with Little’s XP, the Jaguars pulled ahead 31-28 with just 23 seconds to go. The Chiefs were unable to score on a Patrick Mahomes end of the game Hail Mary, securing the Jaguars’ victory.
Donna Kelce came to Jacksonville to see her sons. Travis plays for the Chiefs, while Jason is now part of ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown crew. Mama Kelce also wore a Taylor Swift inspired cap, in support of her future daughter-in-law.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 221 passing yards and one TD. Travis Etienne Jr. Trevor Lawrence led the Jaguars’ rushing with 54 yards and two TDs. Brian Thomas Jr. was the leading receiver with 80 yards. Today’s attendance was 69,329.
Also at today’s game, the Jaguars showed off the first part of their major stadium renovations. The first of four new grand staircases opened, leading fans to the main concourse. Construction on the Jaguars’ $1.4 billion dollar Stadium of the Future will continue through August 2028. Click here to see video of the official opening of the new grand staircase: Grand Staircase
The Jaguars take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1:00 p.m. The Jags then travel to London to play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Oct. 19 at Wembley Stadium. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) beat the Tennessee Titans (3-13) 20-13 on a rainy afternoon, as Jacksonville remained under a tornado watch for much of the game. Today’s game was the team’s annual “fan appreciation game,” celebrating the fans’ support of the Jaguars all season long, and for the past 30 years.
The Jaguars’ first drive ended with a 48 yard K Cam Little field goal. But neither team managed to score during the rest of the first quarter, as the score remained 3-0.
In the second quarter, Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd intercepted a QB Mason Rudolph pass intended for RB Julius Chestnut, which excited the hometown fans. The Jags capitalized on that opportunity, as QB Mac Jones threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to WR Parker Washington, followed by Cam Little’s extra point, to extend their lead to 10-0. Little later added a 44 yard field goal, but the Titans scored their first points of the game at the end of the second quarter on K Matthew Wright’s 39 yard field goal. The Jaguars were ahead 13-3 at the half.
QB Mac Jones and QB Mason Rudolph (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)
Midway through the third quarter, Mason Rudolph completed a 8 yard touchdown pass to TE Nick Vannett, followed by Matthew Wright’s extra point, narrowing the Jags’ lead to 13-10, which remained the score heading into the fourth.
Midway through the fourth, Mac Jones found WR Brian Thomas Jr. in the end zone for an 11 yard touchdown, followed by Little’s XP, to put them ahead 20-10. Matthew Wright’s 28 yard field goal moved the Titans within a touchdown at 20-13, just before the two-minute warning. The Titans had one final drive to score, but were stopped by the Jaguars defense.
DE Travon Walker’s sack today moved him into the top 10 in franchise history with 23.0, breaking his tie with Marcus Stroud and Bobby McCray. Brian Thomas Jr. also tied WR Randy Moss’ NFL rookie record of eight games with at least 60 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
Mac Jones finished with 174 yards and two TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 49 yards. Brian Thomas Jr. was the leading receiver with 91 yards and 1 TD. Today’s attendance was 61,995.
The Jaguars head to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Sunday, 1/5. Kickoff time has not yet been announced for this final game of the season. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
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