Bucs edge Texans 20-19 in Houston, flipping the script from 2023 and escaping with a late touchdown drive after a pair of injury-riddled halves. Tampa Bay moves to 2-0, headlined by a fourth-quarter march capped by a Rachaad White score, while Baker Mayfield navigates a battered line and Emeka Egbuka shines on a crucial screen completion.

Houston pressed with a late momentum swing—Jaylin Noel’s punt return set up a Nick Chubb TD and a 19-14 lead—but the Buccaneers answered in the final minutes, aided by a late defensive stand and a Key field goal run, sealing the comeback at NRG Stadium. The win leaves Tampa Bay eyeing Week 3 with momentum and health concerns for several linemen.

Injuries dominated the storyline: Luke Goedeke exited early for Tampa Bay, Calijah Kancey left later, and the defense still found lanes to pressure Stroud. The Texans showed resilience, but the Bucs prevailed, improving mood around the division and setting up a nationally watched home matchup with the Jets.

Chase McLaughlin’s shaky start to the season included a 44-yard miss and a late PAT miss that left Tampa Bay clinging to a 3-point cushion in a 23-20 win over Atlanta. The drama peaked when Younghoe Koo missed a potential game-tying FG, sealing the Buccaneers’ Week 1 victory. Fantasy angle: kicker reliability and late-game sequences loom large as Week 2 approaches.

For fantasy managers, the takeaway centers on kickers’ upside and the offense’s ability to close out drives. The Falcons pushed late but faltered, underscoring how even small edge-wut margins swing scoring opportunities. Monitor kicking reps and red-zone efficiency in Tampa Bay’s next game to gauge Week 2 expectations.

Top-10 upside fantasy kickers for 2025 are laid out with clear paths to weekly points and fantasy-season impact. Brandon Aubrey anchors the list after a 192-point 2024; Cameron Dicker provides high-volume, reliable scoring from 42 field goal attempts; Jake Bates and Chase McLaughlin offer steady floor with multiple double-digit weeks. Daniel Carlson and Wil Lutz bring proven accuracy and indoor-friendly environments, while Ka'imi Fairbairn pairs range with Houston’s indoor-friendly schedule. Matt Gay stabilizes Washington’s kicking game after a carousel of 2024, and Chris Boswell remains a veteran anchor in Pittsburgh. Cameron Little adds late-round upside in Jacksonville, with Cam Little’s long range showing a ceiling that could tilt some weeks. The piece emphasizes venue, scoring opportunities, and offense quality as the core driver of fantasy kicker value in 2025.

Indoors, chassis-friendly offenses, and field-position advantages drive the upside, but volume and the ability to convert from 50-plus yards separate the top tier from the rest. Expect some volatility—kickers are game-script dependent—but the leaders provide a blend of high range, reliability, and week-to-week upside that fantasy managers crave in kicking-heavy leagues. This guide helps you target early, but also identifies sleepers who could explode in favorable home environments or shootout weeks.

Baker Mayfield's performance in the wild-card round ended in disappointment as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Washington Commanders 23-20, marking the end of their playoff run. Mayfield's crucial fourth-quarter fumble led to a touchdown, allowing Washington to take a brief lead. Despite completing 15 of 18 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, the Bucs couldn't capitalize on their opportunities, leaving them to reflect on what could have been.

The game saw a resilient performance from the Bucs' offense, as they managed to hold a 17-13 lead. However, a botched handoff attempt to Jalen McMillan turned the tide, with Bobby Wagner recovering the fumble, leading to Washington's comeback. After a tied score, Tampa Bay faced the misfortune of not regaining possession, sealing their fate in the playoffs.