NFL
Buccaneers Rout NFL Champs Eagles in Season Home Opener 27-21
TAMPA, Fla (FNN SPORTS) – Raymond James Stadium was abuzz Sunday to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host NFL Champions the Philadelphia Eagles. Tampa returned home with the wind in their sails after winning their first season match in New Orleans against the Saints. Philadelphia came into Sunday’s match with a 18-12 win against the Atlanta Falcons.
FIRST HALF
The Buccaneers wasted literally no time scoring, getting on the board with their first play. Fitzpatrick fired off a 75-yard touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson, who rushed past two Eagles to find the end zone–the longest opening play from scrimmage in Buccaneers franchise history.
On the Bucs’ next scoring series, the Eagles were able to sack Fitzpatrick, causing a 7-yard loss.
The Eagles sustained a series of penalties that found them at 3rd and 41 with seven minutes left in the first quarter.
With less than a minute left in the first, Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles fired off the ball the moment Kwon Alexander tackled him, resulting in a fumble, which the Bucs recovered. However, the Eagles flipped that around in the next play: Fitzpatrick passed to Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard, which resulted in an interception by Eagles corner back Ronald Darby. On the next play, Foles was sacked by Jason Pierre-Paul.
In the second quarter, the Eagles scored their first touchdown with running back Cory Clement’s 15-yard carry, tying the game at 7-7.
With five minutes left in the half, O.J. Howard completed Fitzpatrick’s 75-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead 13-7.
The Buccaneers scored their third touchdown with less than a minute left in the half with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin, making the score 20-7.
The Eagles used their timeouts to stretch the clock and create another opportunity to score as best they could. Tampa used all of their timeouts as well, and in the final few seconds of the half, Philadelphia attempted but missed a field goal, leaving the score 20-7 at halftime.
In the first half, OJ Howard led in pass receiving with 90 yards while Philly’s Zack Ertz led with 68 yards. In rushing, Shaun Wilson led for Tampa with 9 yards while Philly’s Smallwood led with 24 yards.
SECOND HALF
The Buccaneers made a splash in the third quarter with 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Evans, bringing Tampa Bay’s lead to 20 points, 27-7.
On the Eagles’ next drive, Bucs offensive tackle sacked Foles for a 9-yard loss.
Philadelphia Eagles TE Zach Ertz (86) tackle by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Florida. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)
With just over two left in the third quarter, the Eagles began a fierce battle for the endzone, starting with a 50-yard pass to Nelson Agholor. However, the Bucs were able to break up a touchdown pass meant for Zack Ertz that would’ve narrowed the Bucs’ lead. Even with the next snap to Clement, the Bucs ran him out of bounds before he could gain too many yards. Foles gained some more for the Eagles with the next pass to Agholor, and at the end zone, Jay Ajayi ran the ball in two yards for the Eagles’ second touchdown, making the score 27-14 at the end of the third.
In the fourth, the Eagles’ Angolor completed a two-yard touchdown pass for their third, bringing the score to 27-21 (Tampa) with less than three minutes left in the fourth, which became the final score.
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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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