David’s choose units up successful FG as Bucs beat Seahawks 38-35 in duel between Mayfield and Darnold
SEATTLE — SEATTLE (AP) — Lavonte David slid towards the center of the sector in anticipation as Buccaneers teammate Antoine Winfield Jr. pressured Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
After a deflection off defensive finish Logan Corridor’s helmet, David discovered himself in the suitable spot to intercept Darnold with 58 seconds left. His choose arrange Chase McLaughlin’s 39-yard subject objective as time expired, and Tampa Bay escaped with an exhilarating 38-35 win over Seattle on Sunday.
“Received a very good learn, and was capable of make it to a great spot to learn the quarterback,” David stated. “After I (noticed) the ball coming within the air, I needed to have it.”
Baker Mayfield tied it for the Bucs (4-1) by throwing an 11-yard landing go to Sterling Shepard with 1:08 remaining. That left time for Darnold and the Seahawks (3-2), however David made one of many few standout defensive performs in a sport that noticed the groups mix for 889 yards of offense.
In a duel between quarterbacks who struggled with the groups that drafted them, then spent a season collectively in Carolina earlier than reviving their careers elsewhere, Mayfield and Darnold mixed to throw for 720 yards with simply 10 incompletions.
Mayfield completed 29 of 33 for 379 yards and two touchdowns, and his 87.9% completion share was the very best by any quarterback in a sport this season. The Bucs wanted each a kind of profitable throws to bounce again from final week’s loss to Philadelphia.
“He was sharp,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles stated. “Baker doesn’t attempt to have two subpar video games in a row. He was nonetheless (ticked) from final week.”
Darnold was 28 of 34 for 341 yards with 4 TDs and the one, pricey choose whereas throwing off his again foot towards the center of the sector.
“On the finish of the day,” Darnold stated, “I obtained to guard the soccer in that scenario and may’t give them a brief subject to place the sport away like that.”
Tampa Bay took over on the Seattle 36. Rachaad White ran thrice for 15 yards to get the Bucs nicely inside McLaughlin’s vary, Mayfield took a knee to run the clock down, and McLaughlin ended it along with his third subject objective of the day.
Getting into the afternoon, Seattle’s protection had allowed the third-fewest factors within the NFL. However with out injured regulars DeMarcus Lawrence, Julian Love and Devon Witherspoon, the Seahawks struggled to decelerate the Bucs, who transformed 7 of 11 third downs.
“I’ve to do higher with our defensive sport plan and execution and the way we name it,” coach Mike Macdonald stated. “Once you put up a efficiency like that, it signifies that I didn’t put together them nicely sufficient. It hurts. It stings.”
Tampa Bay led 13-0 late within the second quarter thanks to 2 subject targets by McLaughlin and one among two speeding TDs by White, however Seattle went forward 14-13 early within the third on a 5-yard TD run by Zach Charbonnet.
The Bucs pushed again forward 28-21 close to the tip of the interval. Darnold threw two TD passes within the fourth quarter, the second a 21-yarder to Tory Horton that gave Seattle a 35-28 lead.
“Sam was nice. Performed an incredible soccer sport,” Macdonald stated. “Thought we have been going to have an opportunity to win the sport there on the finish.”
As an alternative, Tampa Bay grew to become the primary group in NFL historical past with 4 wins by three factors or fewer in its first 5 video games.
“I believe this was the fourth two-minute drive that we’ve had this yr out of 5 video games,” vast receiver Emeka Egbuka stated. “NFL is all the way down to the wire a number of the time. So, it’s a must to have somebody at quarterback that has that functionality, and Baker has that for positive.”
Two receivers out of Ohio State have been the primary beneficiaries of the high-level quarterback play. Egbuka had seven catches for 163 yards and a landing whereas Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba completed with eight receptions for 132 yards and a rating.
Mayfield, in his eighth season, stated he’s by no means seen a rookie who’s extra ready than Egbuka.
“He’s well-rounded, and never simply in soccer however in life,” Mayfield stated. “I believe he’s grounded, and I believe he’s real in all the pieces he does. He’s intentional, and also you simply don’t see that usually.”
Egbuka leads all rookies with 445 receiving yards.
Seahawks tight finish AJ Barner has 4 landing catches this yr, matching his complete from final season. Barner, in his second yr out of Michigan, caught all seven passes thrown to him, together with two for TDs.
The Seahawks launched veteran Noah Fant within the offseason, clearing the way in which for Barner to interrupt out.
“I’m able to get open, get a possibility, and I really feel like Seattle’s a fantastic match for me,” Barner stated.
McLaughlin, who went 3 of three on subject targets, was on the Bucs’ harm report Saturday with an sickness.
“He most likely must be sick extra usually,” Bowles stated. “It wasn’t fairly the Michael Jordan flu sport, however give Chase McLaughlin his flu sport right here in Seattle. He did a heck of a job.”
Buccaneers: RB Josh Williams was evaluated for a concussion within the third quarter and didn’t return.
Seahawks: LB Derick Corridor sustained an indirect harm and CB Riq Woolen was evaluated for a concussion, forcing each out of the sport.
Buccaneers: Host San Francisco subsequent Sunday.
Seahawks: Go to Jacksonville subsequent Sunday.
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