Photos from the Buccaneers' game against the Texans in Houston.
The Buccaneers fell to 1-2 after a 19-9 loss to the Texans in Houston on Sunday afternoon. The Bucs struggled with penalties throughout the day; the team was flagged 10 times for 84 yards and gave their opponent first downs via penalty on four different occasions.
Houston entered halftime leading, 10-9 and was carried by a strong running game in the second half. Alfred Blue scored a rushing touchdown in the third to extend the Texans' lead to 16-9 before a field goal put them his team up, 19-9. Blue finished the day with 139 yards.
In his third professional game, Jameis Winston completed 17 of 36 passes for 261 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Seven of those passes were caught by Mike Evans, who, after struggling with a hamstring injury, was able to play without limitations.
Evans finished the day with 101 receiving yards, the most of any Buccaneer, and averaged nearly 15 yards per catch. His fellow receiver, Vincent Jackson, caught three passes for 61 yards. His first catch of the day was the 500th of his career, a feat that just 14 other active players have accomplished.
Running back Charles Sims scored the Bucs' lone touchdown in the first half, bringing a screen pass 32 yards for a touchdown. Kicker Kyle Brindza accounted for three more points, booting a 58-yard field goal at the start of the second quarter. Brindza's kick was the second-longest in Buccaneer history.
The Bucs' linebackers were the strength of the team's defense. Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander combined for 24 tackles, with David earning 14 and Alexander picking up 10. Both players recorded a tackle for a loss and Alexander earned the Bucs' only turnover, picking off Ryan Mallett.
Defensive backs Bradley McDougald, Sterling Moore and Chris Conte all finished with nine tackles.
The Buccaneers will head home to Raymond James for their Week 4 matchup against the Panthers next weekend. The Bucs have one more game against the Jaguars before their bye week.
