Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) – Washington Commanders (0-1): 37-20
A poster full of contrasts at the start of the season at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Continuity on the Buccaneers side, with a core squad that is broadly similar to 2023. Revolution on the Commanders side with a major clean-up in the offseason. New coach, new quarterback, Washington is getting a makeover.
Facing Floridians who were too talented and too experienced, the Commanders did not do badly, but the step was too high for the moment.
One way
Tampa Bay simply did not let Washington breathe. 4 drives in the first half, and 4 times points added to the scoreboard. At the helm, Baker Mayfield (24/30, 289 yards, 4 touchdowns) like a fish in water in the Buccs attack.
Tampa takes its foot off the gas in the second half with 3 touchdowns on 4 drives. The Commanders defense is simply unable to stop anything. A far cry from the defensive standards seen with Dan Quinn in Dallas.
Nothing very original on the targets side: Chris Godwin (8 receptions, 83 yards, 1 touchdown) and the tireless Mike Evans (5 receptions, 61 yards, 2 touchdowns) remain the spearheads of the Buccaneers. If there is one disappointment to note: the Buccaneers' running game remains fragile (3.7 yards per carry).
Jayden Daniels in the deep end
The curiosity in Washington is obviously Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman (trophy for the best college player). Daniels struggled in the passing game: 17/24, 184 yards. As proof, Washington's best receivers… are not the receivers: running backs Ekeler (4 receptions, 52 yards), Robinson Jr. (3 receptions, 49 yards), and tight end Ertz (3 receptions, 28 yards) form the podium of players who have accumulated the most yards in the air. And in the meantime, Terry McLaurin (2 receptions, 17 yards) is moping and only getting crumbs.
Daniels still struggled and showed off his Lamar-esque mobility: 88 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. Not enough against a team of Tampa Bay's caliber, but the potential is there.
On Tampa's side, crushing inferior teams on paper is never trivial, and could be a good omen for the Floridians' season.
