Tennessee Titans vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay wasted no time asserting dominance at Raymond James Stadium. Kyle Trask, efficient and poised, completed 12 of 16 passes for 129 yards while guiding two scoring drives in the first half. Sean Tucker capped one with a determined rushing touchdown, and Chase McLaughlin added two field goals to give the Buccaneers a 13–7 halftime lead. Even with several starters resting, Tampa Bay’s offense showed balance, fluid play-calling, and depth at the skill positions.

Defensively, the Buccaneers delivered a statement performance. They picked off Titans quarterbacks three times, with Roman Parodie turning one interception into a pick-six that electrified the home crowd. Rookie linebacker Nick Jackson emerged as a preseason star, recording both a sack and an interception—a feat not seen in Tampa Bay since 2017. Their ability to pressure the pocket while blanketing receivers left Tennessee struggling to find a rhythm.

On the ground, the Buccaneers controlled the clock and the tempo. Their 178 rushing yards on 41 carries marked their best preseason rushing output in over eight years, keeping Tennessee’s defense on its heels. The secondary also impressed with eight passes defensed, while the defensive front allowed just five total yards in the first quarter, setting a suffocating tone that the Titans never truly escaped.

For Tennessee, the lone bright spot came from rookie quarterback Cam Ward in his NFL debut. The No. 1 overall pick completed 5 of 8 passes for 67 yards and led an 11-play, 65-yard drive capped by a Tony Pollard 1-yard touchdown run. Ward showed flashes of the arm strength and vision that made him a top draft pick, including a 27-yard strike to Calvin Ridley, but also had one near-interception that reminded him of the speed at the pro level.

The night ended with a resounding 29–7 Buccaneers victory, but both teams left with different takeaways. Tampa Bay will be encouraged by the depth and versatility shown across all three phases, while Tennessee can find solace in the promising debut of its new franchise quarterback. For the Titans, this game was less about the scoreboard and more about glimpses of potential, while the Bucs proved they’re already in mid-preseason form.