Taking part in tonight’s three-game NFL Preseason slate, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on the New York Jets.
Plenty of attention has been made to Baker Mayfield’s contract outlook, as the Buccaneers’ quarterback enters the final year of his deal. Tampa Bay is looking to improve off an 8-9 season in which it narrowly missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019. In contrast, the New York Jets are entering the second season with Aaron Glenn at the head coaching helm and looking to improve off their 3-14 record last season.
Looking at the odds for the preseason matchup, the Jets enter as 6.5-point favorites and hold -258 odds of winning outright on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Buccaneers hold +210 odds of pulling off the upset, with the game total set at 34.5 points.
Buccaneers at Jets prediction, pick
Tampa Bay Buccaneers preview
It has been 225 days since the Buccaneers last suited up for a football game, and they will be building from the ground up this season. Baker Mayfield will be held out of this matchup, as announced by head coach Todd Bowles. There are further questions about the quarterback outlook for Tampa Bay, as backup quarterback Jake Browning suffered a back injury during the joint practice with the Jets. Browning has 10 career starts to his name, but is not expected to suit up for this matchup now.
This opens the door for a pair of undrafted free agents in Connor Bazelak and Jalon Daniels to make their mark on the game. Bazelak is officially listed at third on the depth chart after spending six seasons in college at Missouri, Indiana, and Bowling Green. He was an undrafted rookie last year and spent the bulk of the season on the Buccaneers’ practice squad. Daniels spent all six of his collegiate seasons at Kansas, where he showcased an enticing duel-threat skillset, and this will be his first look at NFL action. Bowles has not provided clarity on how the snaps will be split up, but expect both quarterbacks to be given plenty of chances. This also will be the first look at new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, after he previously served in this role with the Falcons.
Beyond the quarterback spot, there are plenty of other questions about the availability of the roster. Tampa Bay could hold out as many as its top three running backs, with Josh Williams being the player with the most to prove. The 26-year-old logged just four carries last year after going undrafted. There seems to be plenty still undecided across the Tampa Bay depth chart, with the wide receiver, tight end, and several offensive line spots set to be under close watch. Expect the Buccaneers to be approaching this game with a mindset of evaluation and development over results. Tampa Bay brought in an impressive collective rookie class, headlined by 15th-overall pick Rueben Bain Jr. at the EDGE position, as well as OLB Josiah Trotter and CB Keionte Scott. Expect the rookies to look to make a strong first effort.
New York Jets preview
There have been plenty of reports of a different vibe surrounding this year’s Jets training camp. Aaron Glenn is in his second season as head coach and will be looking to take a major step forward after a disappointing 2025. New York got active in the offseason, selecting David Bailey with the second-overall pick as the headlining addition. They also added former Bengals standout Joseph Ossai, former Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, and a number of other expected upgrades. Brian Duker was brought in as the new defensive coordinator, looking to improve a defense that ranked 31st in opponent points per game and recorded the second-fewest sacks.
Geno Smith was brought back to the franchise that first drafted him back in 2013. Smith deserves credit for getting his career back on track following his disappointing first tenure in New York, and will look to provide a level of competence to this Jets offense that desperately needs it. The passing game limited New York’s offensive ceiling last year, causing the team to finish 29th in total points and yards, as well as 32nd in passing yards and 31st in passing touchdowns.
Head coach Aaron Glenn has left no doubts that all notable starters will be on the field for this opening preseason matchup. He has not committed to how he will split up the snaps, but made it clear he values getting this new-look roster repetitions in this type of setting. It has been made extremely clear that Glenn is attempting to spearhead a culture change in New York after last year’s disappointment, and this will be the first opportunity for the team to show this on the field.
Buccaneers at Jets best bet
It is clear that the Jets are approaching the preseason with a level of seriousness that few teams match. Aaron Glenn is making a clear effort to establish a new culture and foundation. However, results do not come from just wanting it more in the NFL. There are plenty of moving parts with this new-look Jets team, including both coordinator positions. Expect there to be some growing pains as they settle in.
Even with Baker Mayfield sidelined and backup Jake Browning also expected to miss, there is plenty to note about the outlook for the Buccaneers. Both Connor Bazelak and Jalon Daniels will be playing with a level of desperation as they attempt to solidify their NFL future. Daniels is especially worth noting, as he briefly played himself into some Heisman talks during his collegiate career. A shoulder injury derailed these hopes, but he finished last season with 22 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions, and combined for 2,935 passing and rushing yards. Some of Daniels’ best moments have come in ad-lib situations where his legs are an asset, and I expect this style to produce some positive results in this preseason setting.
Tampa Bay went 2-1 in preseason in each of the last three years. Anything can happen in these types of preseason settings, with a key turnover or muffed punt sometimes the difference. There is a level of floor the Buccaneers have established that the Jets are still aspiring to, and I am backing the points with this in mind. This is especially the case with plenty of rookies expected to be hungry in their first taste of NFL action for Tampa Bay. Even if the Jets are able to get off to a stronger start in this game, expect Daniels to open some eyes later on. All the right signs are coming out of Jets camp, but sometimes a matchup with an opposing team reveals more flaws than an organization realizes, so don’t be shocked if this is the case tonight. 6.5 points is a significant spread for a preseason setting, but expect this matchup to remain competitive throughout. Back Tampa Bay to keep this game competitive throughout and be viewed as live underdogs in the preseason opener.
