Bucs Beat Seahawks 38-35 in Mayfield Showdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Lavonte David’s interception in the final minute set up a game-winning field goal as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers edged the Seattle Seahawks 38-35 in a quarterback duel between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. Mayfield passed for 379 yards and two touchdowns, while Darnold threw four scores but committed a late turnover. The Bucs improved to 4-1, handing Seattle their second loss of the season.
Buccaneers vs Seahawks Quick Looks
- Lavonte David’s interception with 58 seconds left set up the game-winning field goal.
- Chase McLaughlin nailed a 39-yard kick as time expired, finishing 3-for-3 on the day.
- Baker Mayfield completed 87.9% of his passes — best in the NFL this season.
- Mayfield threw for 379 yards and 2 TDs; Sam Darnold had 341 yards and 4 TDs.
- The Bucs and Seahawks combined for 889 total yards in an offensive showcase.
- Rachaad White scored two rushing touchdowns for Tampa Bay.
- Seattle’s defense struggled without key starters like Julian Love and Devon Witherspoon.
- Rookie Emeka Egbuka led all receivers with 163 yards and a touchdown.
- Bucs became the first team in NFL history with four wins by three points or fewer through five games.
- Seahawks tight end AJ Barner caught two touchdowns, bringing his season total to four.
Deep Look
David’s Clutch Interception, McLaughlin’s Field Goal Lift Buccaneers Over Seahawks 38-35 in Shootout
SEATTLE — In a game dominated by offense, it was a defensive play by veteran linebacker Lavonte David that made all the difference. With 58 seconds left and the score tied 35-35, David picked off Sam Darnold after a deflection off Logan Hall’s helmet, setting up Chase McLaughlin’s 39-yard game-winning field goal to lift the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a thrilling 38-35 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
“When I saw the ball in the air, I knew I had to have it,” David said after the game. “It was just about being in the right spot.”
McLaughlin’s third field goal of the game capped a wild back-and-forth battle that featured 889 yards of total offense, dramatic lead changes, and a quarterback duel between two former top draft picks—Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold—who were once teammates and now are rebuilding their careers on new teams.
Mayfield Masterclass, Darnold Dazzles
Baker Mayfield was lights out, completing 29 of 33 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns, marking the highest completion percentage (87.9%) by any NFL quarterback this season.
“He was sharp,” said Bucs coach Todd Bowles. “Baker doesn’t let a bad game linger. He bounced back big time.”
The game marked a redemption moment for Mayfield, who had been frustrated after a subpar performance against Philadelphia in Week 4.
On the other sideline, Sam Darnold was nearly as impressive, throwing 28-of-34 for 341 yards and 4 touchdowns, but it was his final throw—off his back foot and into the middle of the field—that proved costly.
“I have to protect the ball in that spot,” Darnold said. “We were in a good position. That one’s on me.”
Late Drama Defines the Game
After Darnold gave Seattle a 35-28 lead on a 21-yard TD pass to Tory Horton midway through the fourth quarter, Mayfield answered with a clutch 11-yard touchdown strike to Sterling Shepard with 1:08 left.
That left the door open for Darnold to lead a potential game-winning drive — until David’s interception changed everything.
Tampa Bay took over at Seattle’s 36. Rachaad White carried three times for 15 yards to put the Bucs in easy field goal range. Mayfield then took a knee to drain the clock, and McLaughlin hit the decisive kick as time expired.
Offensive Explosion and Rookie Breakouts
The offensive fireworks weren’t limited to the quarterbacks.
- Rookie Emeka Egbuka exploded for 7 catches, 163 yards, and a touchdown for Tampa Bay.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, his fellow Ohio State alum, led Seattle with 8 receptions for 132 yards and a score.
- Rachaad White added two rushing touchdowns, helping the Bucs stay balanced.
“Baker’s command was unbelievable, and Emeka—he’s just built different,” said Bowles.
Egbuka now leads all NFL rookies with 445 receiving yards through five games.
Seahawks Defense Falters, Despite Strong Start
Seattle came into the game ranked third in fewest points allowed, but missing key defensive starters like DeMarcus Lawrence, Julian Love, and Devon Witherspoon proved costly.
Coach Mike Macdonald took accountability postgame:
“That’s on me. I didn’t prepare them well enough, and our execution wasn’t good enough.”
Seattle fell behind 13-0 early but stormed back to take a 14-13 lead in the third quarter. From there, it was a constant shootout, with neither team gaining a two-score advantage.
Tight end AJ Barner was a bright spot for the Seahawks, hauling in 7 passes for 2 touchdowns, and matching his touchdown total from last season. With Noah Fant no longer on the roster, Barner has emerged as a reliable red-zone weapon.
Bucs Make NFL History with Close Wins
Tampa Bay became the first team in NFL history to win four games by three points or fewer in their first five contests, showcasing resilience and late-game composure.
“This league comes down to moments,” said Mayfield. “We’ve shown we can win in them.”
Injury Report
- Buccaneers: RB Josh Williams left the game in the third quarter with a concussion and did not return.
- Seahawks: LB Derick Hall suffered an oblique injury; CB Riq Woolen was evaluated for a concussion. Both were ruled out.
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