Barrett And Defense Secure Week 2 Victory For Bucs

By Lily Belcher

A fourth quarter pick-six by Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett secured a 27-17 victory over the Bears in Tampa Bay’s Sunday home opener. On the Bears’ 6-yard line with just over two minutes left in the game, Barrett intercepted a short pass by Bears quarterback Justin Fields and returned it for a touchdown.

Head coach Todd Bowles said Barrett’s performance was unbelievable, especially considering his on- and off-the-field stressors.

Barrett was sidelined in the 2022 season after tearing his Achilles tendon, but his off-season brought the hardest challenge. In April, his two-year-old daughter drowned in their family’s pool, something Barrett said he was struggling with every day.

“You can’t even fathom going through something like that. To see him go through it and come out the other side. I’m sure he still has days, but to play like he’s playing right now, to be where he is right now, is unbelievable,” Bowles said in a postgame press conference.

Barrett’s interception capped a strong defensive game for the Bucs, who got Fields for six sacks and nine quarterback hits against a hesitant Fields. The Bucs sacked Fields on back-to-back plays twice during Sunday’s game, showcasing a strong blitz strategy against a quick Bears offense.

“Last week was more in the turnover category. This week was more in the sack category. Either way, you get pressure,” Bowles said. “…The guys understand the game plan and they help each other out.”

Tampa Bay safety Christian Izien intercepted a pass on the Bears’ final possession, allowing the Bucs to run the final minute out.

While Tampa Bay’s defense held Chicago’s offense to 236 yards and forced them to punt on five possessions, the young offense showed even more improvement under the new leadership of quarterback Baker Mayfield.

“He’s savvy. You don’t have to be fast to be a dodging quarterback,” Bowles said about Mayfield’s ability to dodge the opponent’s blitz. “He has a good feel for the game and what’s around him and the awareness he has being a football player helps him out a great deal. He’s a very smart guy.”

Mayfield connected on 26 of his 34 passes for 317 total yards. Evans caught six passes for 171 receiving yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception to give the Bucs a 10-7 lead at the beginning of the second quarter. The Bucs tacked on a field goal in the final two minutes of the half to extend their lead to six points.

“Mike [Evans] is a stud. He’s been doing this for a long time at a high level…It was a throw it out of bounds or an only-he-can-get-it play there on the left sideline,” Mayfield said about Evans.

Evans caught a 32-yard pass into the left corner to open the Bucs’ second half and leaned on the defense to hold the 20-10 lead through the third quarter.

“He’s been doing it his whole career. He’s fresh, he’s healthy, he’s in a great place. He competes his butt off everyday in practice. It shows in the game. He prepared well,” Bowles said.

A quick 90-yard touchdown drive by Chicago narrowed Tampa Bay’s lead with six minutes left in the game. Mayfield’s offense failed to move the ball into field goal range and turned the ball over to the Bears.

Barrett’s pick-six at the end of the game gave the Bucs the edge they needed to bring their record to 2-0.

“As we start to gel and win while we gel,” Bowles said. “It was a good victory for us.”