The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a statement in their preseason game against the New York Jets on Saturday, August 22nd. The Bucs defeated the Jets 13-6 with Blaine Gabbert starting in place of Tom Brady and John Wolford injuring his neck.
The Buccaneers started off the game with a strong defensive performance, holding the Jets to just 3 points in the first half. The Bucs offense was able to get going in the second half, with Blaine Gabbert leading the way. Gabbert, who was starting in place of Tom Brady, threw for 177 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a touchdown, showing off his dual-threat capabilities.
The Bucs defense was able to hold the Jets to just 3 points in the second half as well, making it a 13-6 victory for Tampa Bay. The defense was led by linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David, who both had impressive performances.
Unfortunately, the game was marred by an injury to John Wolford, who was competing with Gabbert for the backup quarterback job. Wolford injured his neck in the fourth quarter and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. He was later taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.
Overall, it was an impressive performance by the Buccaneers in their preseason opener. Blaine Gabbert showed he can be an effective backup quarterback if needed, and the defense was able to shut down the Jets offense. The Bucs will now look to build on this performance as they prepare for their regular season opener against the Saints on September 13th.