Tampa Bay’s defense surged with energy Saturday, flashing a faster, more dynamic frontline as Bowles challenged his young edge rushers to grow. Chris Braswell Jr. stood out, delivering the kind of early impact the Buccaneers’ depth has chased all offseason. The unit’s speed contrasted with an offense missing key pieces, underscoring why TB prioritizes a versatile front seven. Bowles praised the quartet of Braswell, Jose Ramirez, Markees Watts and Warren Peeples Jr., while stressing that growth must be mental as much as physical. With the preseason finale against Buffalo upcoming, the spotlight remains on whether this young crop can translate practice tempo to real-game snaps and push the rotation forward.

The Buccaneers have quietly fortified edge and linebacker depth this offseason, building a squad capable of multiple looks. Skylar Thompson’s athleticism was noted as part of the performance against the Steelers, while Bowles emphasized the need for players to put together the complete package—mentally, then physically. Buffalo looms on the road as a stern test, and how TB handles the Bills’ high-powered offense could shape early-season expectations for the edge group. The takeaway: the next steps are clear, and the next game will be telling for this developmental cohort.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured a 28-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, moving to 3-0 after their bye week and claiming the top spot in the NFC South.

Despite missing key defensive players, including All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., the Buccaneers' defense managed to perform well against a struggling Raiders offense, recording two sacks and an interception.

Key defensive performances included cornerback Tykee Smith, who received the highest PFF grade, while Winfield Jr. had the lowest due to his injury.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured their sixth victory of the season, defeating the Carolina Panthers 26-23. This win ties them with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South and improves their standing in the NFC Wild Card race.

Post-game drama unfolded when Panthers captain Sam Franklin Jr. attempted to confront Buccaneers linebacker Jose Ramirez, leading to a need for restraint. Franklin later issued an apology for his actions, emphasizing the importance of professionalism in the NFL.

Panthers coach Dave Canales addressed Franklin's behavior, discussing the need for passion while maintaining composure. The two players are set to meet again in their next matchup.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured a narrow victory over the Carolina Panthers, finishing 26-23. Post-game tensions escalated as players from both teams seemed to engage in a heated exchange.

Carolina's Sam Franklin Jr. confronted Tampa Bay's Jose Ramirez, expressing his frustrations loudly. The incident highlighted the competitive nature of the matchup, which is set to continue when the teams meet again later in the season.

Baker Mayfield's Buccaneers faced significant challenges ahead of their game against the Kansas City Chiefs, with multiple key receivers sidelined due to injuries.

With Jalen McMillan ruled out and Chris Godwin on injured reserve, the Buccaneers were already short-handed. Mike Evans was also out with a hamstring issue, leaving Mayfield with limited options.

On the other side, the Chiefs also dealt with injuries, missing JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Jared Wiley, who was placed on IR after an ACL tear.