WHERE: NRG Stadium (Houston)
WHEN:7 p.m. ET
WAYS TO WATCH: ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes, NFL+
A battle between two 2024 playoff teams kicks off Monday’s doubleheader.
The Buccaneers travel to Houston to take on the Texans.
Tampa Bay has a history of starting off its campaigns quickly with 2-0 starts in the last four seasons under head coach Todd Bowles. In fact, the Buccaneers have won four straight NFC South titles and, this year, come out of Week 1 with a division win over Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Texans are coming off a tough road loss in Los Angeles against the Rams. Houston was one of three teams (Dolphins and Giants) in Week 1 to score nine points or less in their defeats, respectively. The Texans will hope their offense could turn things around Monday night at NRG Stadium.
The last time these two clubs faced each other, it went down in to the wire with Houston responding late to win a 39-37 thriller in Week 9, 2023. Monday marks the seventh time the Buccaneers and Texans will meet, with Tampa Bay having an 1-5 all-time record versus Houston.
Two must-know storylines
1) Buccaneers loaded with playmakers despite injuries
Tampa Bay is keeping afloat with the injury bug hitting some impactful players before the start of the season. With wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) and All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) sidelined, quarterback Baker Mayfield's first look under offensive coordinator Josh Gizzard featured some high-and-low moments in the season opener. It was rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka's breakout game as the Ohio State product filled in perfectly in the No. 2 WR role behind Mike Evans. His teammates have been hyping up the 19th overall pick from April's draft since he arrived in Tampa Bay, and the rookie delivered in Week 1. Egbuka led the Bucs with 67 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in his debut. He caught a go-ahead 25-yard TD in the final minute to secure Tampa Bay's first win of the season. Egbuka became the second rookie with two receiving TDs of 25-plus yards in Week 1 since 1950, per NFL Research. Despite Tampa Bay's offense being shorthanded to start the season, the Bucs found a playmaking gem with Egbuka.
2) Can the Texans offense get going?
Houston certainly had a problem with its start to the season and don't look any further along, with C.J. Stroud feeling the same way. After last week's loss to the Rams, Stroud called out the Texans' performance for "lollygagging" on their approach for Week 1. Houston racked up 11 penalties, including some during crucial moments, that disrupted any kind of rhythm for the offense. How Stroud and the Texans respond will get some spotlight in prime time. Houston was undermanned in Week 1 with veteran receiver Christian Kirk, running back Joe Mixon and guard Ed Ingram dealing with injuries; only Ingram will return in Week 2. Star wideout Nico Collins only had five targets in the loss, but told reporters this week that he believes the Texans will get back on track. Even though there are new pieces involved in the offense, the Texans would like to avoid an 0-2 start before more problems begin piling up in Houston.
Buccaneers' Week 2 injury report
Texans' Week 2 injury report