The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2025 season featured several memorable moments, with players delivering standout performances in key games. The team’s staff writers recently discussed which play stood out as the most exciting of the year, each offering a different perspective on what made these moments special.
Scott Smith highlighted Baker Mayfield’s crucial 15-yard scramble against the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium. With the Buccaneers leading by just one point in the third quarter and facing third-and-14 from their own 41-yard line, Mayfield managed to escape pressure from two defenders. He ran upfield, avoided multiple tackles, and extended his arm to secure a first down just before hitting the ground. Reflecting on the play, All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs said: “I actually got him hit on that third-and-14, and he got out of it. I was like, ‘Holy crap!’ And then [to] watch him go and pick up 15 yards and stretch for a first down… To watch Baker go to work every week is incredible. We love him to death. We love Baker. He is a dawg – I say it week-in and week-out. Him putting us on his back every week and doing his thing is incredible to watch.” Two plays later, Mayfield connected with Tez Johnson for a 45-yard touchdown pass, helping secure a 30-19 win.
Brianna Dix chose Emeka Egbuka’s 77-yard touchdown catch against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Four as her top moment. Despite trailing 24-6 in the third quarter, Tampa Bay found momentum when Mayfield hit Egbuka for a long score off a play-action keeper and naked bootleg. Mayfield threaded the ball between two defenders, allowing Egbuka to run vertically downfield for the touchdown. Mayfield described the play: “Emeka [Egbuka] did a hell of a job on a play action keeper – just his concentration through the catch. [Reed] Blankenship was diving for it, so whatever you want to say – distraction drill – he focused through the catch and obviously extending it for the touchdown.” Although Tampa Bay lost that game 31-25 after coming back from a large deficit, Egbuka’s performance was seen as pivotal.
Gabriel Kahaian pointed to Tez Johnson’s first career touchdown against San Francisco as his most exciting play of the season. After Mayfield’s earlier scramble kept hopes alive, he soon found Johnson open deep downfield for a touchdown pass at San Francisco’s 45-yard line late in the third quarter. Johnson made an airborne catch in the end zone before celebrating with an acrobatic flip in front of fans at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers went on to win that game by eleven points.
The discussion also noted other significant plays throughout the season but focused primarily on these three moments as defining highlights for both players and fans.
