Bucs at Texans: Pewter Preview And Predictions

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BUCCANEERS at TEXANS

WHEN: Monday, September 15, 2025 | WHERE: NRG Stadium | KICKOFF: 7:00 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Joe Buck | ANALYST: Troy Aikman | SIDELINE: Laura Rutledge & Lisa Salters

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Bucs Win Another Slugfest, End Primetime Curse

This game between the Bucs and Texans on Monday Night Football is significant for Tampa Bay for a couple of reasons. First, it’s one of 17 games, and in the game of football as opposed to baseball (162 games) and basketball and hockey (82 games) – every game matters. More importantly, the Bucs were 0-5 in primetime games last year, including their playoff loss at home against the Commanders.

With three more primetime games on the schedule later this year – at Detroit on Monday Night Football, at Los Angeles on Sunday Night Football and versus Atlanta at home on Thursday Night Football – getting a win on Monday Night Football in Houston in Week 2 ends the narrative that Tampa Bay can’t win at night. That’s important because most playoff games – and the Super Bowl – are played at night, right? So better get used to winning games no matter what time they are played.

The Bucs offense will struggle to move the ball and score points against a stingy Texans defense that held the Rams to just two touchdowns in a 14-9 loss last week. Conversely, I think Houston’s offense will struggle because Tampa Bay’s defensive line should have an advantage over the Texans’ sub-par offensive line. Haason Reddick goes off for two sacks to lead the way.

I expect a lower scoring game, and for Chase McLaughlin to redeem himself for missing a field goal and an extra point in last week’s 23-20 win in Atlanta. That score was good to the Bucs last week, so why not pick them to win 23-20 again – this time with McLaughlin’s game-winner?

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 23, Texans 20
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 1-0

Matt Matera: Defensive Battle Ends In Bucs Win

This matchup between the Bucs and Texans comes down to which offense can come out of the mud first. Tampa Bay showed in their Week 1 game that their defense has turned the page. The Bucs have big advantages with Vita Vea against Texans’ backup center Jake Patterson and Haason Reddick taking on rookie tackle Aireonte Ersery, who struggled in his first game. 

With Tampa Bay’s ability to get to C.J. Stroud, they’ll have to settle for underneath throws. The Texans want to go deep, but they won’t be able to. The Bucs have done a good job with their coverage, keeping everything in front of them. If the defense stops the run they’ll be fine.

It’s going to be tough sledding for the Bucs offense as the Texans have arguably the best defense in the league. It’ll be a slow night for Bucky Irving running it, and I believe all the focus will be on Mike Evans again in the passing game. What Tampa Bay should exploit is Emeka Egbuka in the slot against Jalen Pitre. That’s where they get the biggest mismatch. Leave some improv runs from Baker Mayfield plus a redemption game for kicker Chase McLaughlin and the Bucs win late, improving to 2-0.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 21, Texans 18
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 1-0

Adam Slivon:

After pulling off a narrow win against the Falcons to begin the season, the Bucs will be hoping to clean some things up on offense and defense. Their next test will be in Houston, facing a Texans team that fell flat and mustered just nine points in Week 1. For Tampa Bay, they’ll hope things don’t go like they did in 2023, when they lost 39-37 to rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. It was a game that put Stroud on the map, but it has not been smooth sailing for him and the rest of the team since.

Under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the team still has a stingy defense with two elite pass rushers in Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter and a shutdown corner in Derek Stingley Jr. Assuming Luke Goedeke will play, at least one pass rusher will be neutralized. The other will be a tough task for Graham Barton at left tackle. As long as Baker Mayfield has time to throw, and a better run game behind him, it should do enough to limit their dominance. I’d expect a healthy dose of Emeka Egbuka in the slot as he aims to build off his big NFL debut.

The Bucs’ defense would surely like to get some revenge on Stroud, who has plateaued a bit since his rookie year. He still has weapons, including Nico Collins and Iowa State rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Collins is coming a quiet game, but should be more involved. I’d expect head coach Todd Bowles to adopt a similar strategy that was made to slow down Drake London. Nick Chubb has the name recognition and had a solid first game with the Texans, but he’s also 29 and facing a stout run defense. Ultimately, I don’t see this game being of the high-scoring variety. Tampa Bay’s pass rushers should get home and take advantage of an inexperienced Texans’ offensive line. That in turn will force enough stops and allow them to win the time of possession battle — and the game.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 00, Texans 00
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 1-0

Bailey Adams: Bucs Find A Way To Win A Low-Scoring Affair

This feels like a defensive battle in the making. The Bucs will still be without All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin, and they’ll likely roll with the makeshift offensive line that we saw last week against the Falcons. Right tackle Luke Goedeke has been dealing with a foot injury this week and while he may be good to go for Monday night, how much that foot limits him could be a factor in how effective the right side of the line is for Tampa Bay. Baker Mayfield is going to have to use his mobility to pick up crucial yards the way he did in Atlanta, and the offense needs to do a better job of controlling possession.

The Texans have their own offensive line issues, too, and I think the Bucs continue to be stout against the run in this one, forcing C.J. Stroud into some tough situations. I like Todd Bowles to dial up some more unique blitzes and coverages than he did in Week 1 and make life difficult for Houston down in and down out. Look for another big performance from Haason Reddick, and expect a bounce-back game from Calijah Kancey up the middle.

This one might be an ugly game with plenty of punts and maybe some turnovers. I’ve had a harder and harder time calling this result as the week has gone on, but I believe the Bucs are a more talented team than the Texans and I think now is the time to shake off the primetime woes that have plagued them over the last two seasons. Give me Tampa Bay to keep its Week 2 magic alive with its first-ever win over the Texans in Houston.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 20, Texans 16
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 1-0

Josh Queipo: Bucs Defense – Baker Magic Carry Bucs To Win

The Bucs travel to Houston in a matchup of two patchwork offensive lines facing two imposing defensive fronts. The results are as expected with the two teams combining for seven sacks on the day. The Bucs win the quarterback takedown battle 5-2 as both offenses struggle to maintain drives.

The difference between the two teams comes down to the run game where the Bucs, led by the three-headed monster of Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker help Tampa Bay maintain time of possession and drive integrity that the Texans are unable to match that sustainability.

Late in the game the Bucs pull ahead with a two-minute drive led by Baker Mayfield and his phenomenal corps of weapons to finish the Texans off in dramatic fashion on a national stage.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 20, Texans 13
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 1-0