The weekend kicks off with an intriguing interconference clash as the Houston Texans square off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — a battle between two sides that reached the postseason last year.
Tampa Bay comes into this one riding high after edging out the Atlanta Falcons 23-20 in their opener, moving to 1-0 on the campaign. Houston, on the other hand, stumbled out of the gates with a 14-9 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, struggling to find rhythm offensively.
| Date | Monday, September 15, 2025 |
| Time | 7:00 pm ET / 6:00 pm CT/ 4:00 pm PT |
| Venue | NRG Stadium, Houston (TX) |
| TV Channel | ESPN |
| Streaming | Fubo (Try for free) |
| Buy Tickets | Stubhub |
| Odds | Buccaneers +120 | Texans -145 |
Texans vs Buccaneers roster & injury news
Houston Texans team news
CJ Stroud completed 19 of 27 passes for 188 yards but was undone by a costly interception, while Jayden Higgins hauled in two receptions for 32 yards in the setback. On the ground, Nick Chubb carried the ball 13 times for 60 yards, with Stroud chipping in another 32 rushing yards. Defensively, Kamari Lassiter led the way with nine total tackles as Houston’s front managed three sacks and five tackles for loss.
The Texans fought with grit and leaned on their defense to stay in the contest, but their offense never found its rhythm and once again failed to cross the goal line. It’s a storyline that feels all too familiar after last season's struggles, leaving Houston frustrated after Week 1. The defensive unit deserves credit for keeping things close, but without more spark from Stroud and the offense, it will be tough to turn moral victories into real ones.
Texans Injury Report: Cade Stover, TE - Doubtful; Christian Kirk, WR; Ed Ingram, G; Braxton Berrios, WR; Jake Andrews, C
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Offense | Graham Mertz, Davis Mills, C.J. Stroud (QB); British Brooks, Nick Chubb, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale, Dameon Pierce (RB); Braxton Berrios, Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson, Christian Kirk, Jaylin Noel, Justin Watson (WR); Dalton Schultz, Cade Stover (TE); Jake Andrews, Jarrett Patterson, Juice Scruggs (C); Ed Ingram, Laken Tomlinson (G); Aireontae Ersery, Blake Fisher, Tytus Howard, Cam Robinson (OT) |
| Defense | Will Anderson Jr., Derek Barnett, Dylan Horton, Danielle Hunter, Darrell Taylor (DE); Mario Edwards Jr., Folorunso Fatukasi, Sheldon Rankins, Tim Settle Jr., Tommy Togiai (DT); Azeez Al-Shaair, Jake Hansen, Christian Harris, Jamal Hill, E.J. Speed, Henry To'oTo'o (LB); Kamari Lassiter, Jaylin Smith, Tremon Smith, Derek Stingley Jr. (CB); Calen Bullock, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jalen Pitre, M.J. Stewart (S) |
| Special Teams | Ka'imi Fairbairn (PK); Tommy Townsend (P); Austin Brinkman (LS) |
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers team news
On the flip side, Baker Mayfield threw for 167 yards and three touchdowns on 17-of-32 passing while adding 39 rushing yards in Tampa Bay’s victory. Rookie back Bucky Irving was bottled up for just 37 yards on 14 carries, but Emeka Egbuka stole the show with four catches for 67 yards and two trips to the end zone. On defense, Tykee Smith piled up 11 tackles, and the Buccaneers' front managed a sack and seven tackles for loss.
The Buccaneers weren't exactly firing on all cylinders, falling short of 300 total yards and showing cracks in their kicking game. Still, they managed to sneak out a win, thanks largely to Egbuka's heroics and some miscues from the Falcons. The Bucs know their defense isn't going to dominate many games, so the pressure is squarely on Mayfield and company to be sharper moving the chains and finding more consistency through the air.
Buccaneers Injury Report: Benjamin Morrison, CB; Christian Izien, S; Tristan Wirds, OT - Out; Chris Godwin Jr., WR - Out; Jaden Smith, WR - IR
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Offense | Teddy Bridgewater, Baker Mayfield (QB); Bucky Irving, Sean Tucker, Rachaad White, Josh Williams (RB); Emeka Egbuka, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Kameron Johnson, Tez Johnson, Ryan Miller, Sterling Shepard (WR); Devin Culp, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, Cade Otton (TE); Graham Barton (C); Ben Bredeson, Elijah Klein, Cody Mauch (G); Benjamin Chukwuma, Luke Goedeke, Charlie Heck, Tristan Wirfs (OT) |
| Defense | Logan Hall, Elijah Roberts (DE); Greg Gaines, Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea (DT); Chris Braswell, John Bullock, Lavonte David, SirVocea Dennis, Yaya Diaby, Deion Jones, Anthony Nelson, Haason Reddick, Markees Watts (LB); Jamel Dean, Josh Hayes, Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish, Kindle Vildor (CB); Christian Izien, Kaevon Merriweather, Tykee Smith, Antoine Winfield Jr., Rashad Wisdom (S) |
| Special Teams | Chase McLaughlin (PK), Riley Dixon (P), Evan Deckers (LS) |
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Texans vs Buccaneers head-to-head record
History tilts heavily in the Texans’ favor, though. These teams have only met six times before, and Houston has taken five of those matchups. Their most recent meeting in 2023 was a barnburner, with the Texans outlasting the Bucs 39-37 in a shootout.
Watch and live stream the Texans vs the Buccaneers in the USA
The Texans vs Buccaneers game in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season will be broadcast live nationally on ESPN. Fans will be able to catch the coverage onFubo (Try for free today!).
More details on where to watch the game in the United States, including streaming options, will be released soon, so keep an eye out for our dedicated coverage.
Watch and live stream Texans vs Buccaneers worldwide
For fans outside the U.S. looking to stay plugged into the action,NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the ultimate ticket. It serves up more than 200 regular-season and playoff matchups, complete Super Bowl coverage, plus access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and plenty more to keep you locked in all year long.
To bypass regional restrictions or to access the game if you are travelling abroad, you can watch the action using a Virtual Private Network like ExpressVPN.
How to buy Texans vs Buccaneers tickets
The showdown between the Texans and Buccaneers is set for NRG Stadium in Houston (TX), a venue that packs in up to 72,220 fans and promises a fiery atmosphere on game day.
Tickets are already up for grabs on StubHub, with entry starting at $386. From there, prices climb through the tiers — $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, and stretching all the way into the premium ranges of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, and topping out at $10,406 for the best seats in the house.
Check the link below for the full breakdown of how to purchase tickets to NFL games.
READ MORE: NFL 2025 Tickets: Prices, deals, season tickets & membership information
Texans vs Buccaneers Fantasy Football
The Week 2 clash between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans offers plenty of fantasy intrigue, with some dependable plays and a few landmines to steer clear of.
On Tampa's side, Baker Mayfield looks like a rock-solid QB10 option, projected for 17.1 fantasy points. Even with Houston's front bringing heat, he should still put up starter-worthy numbers. In contrast, C.J. Stroud checks in as a mid-tier QB17. Playing at home gives him a boost, but his production hinges on whether Houston’s offensive line can give him enough breathing room.
In the run game, rookie Bucky Irving (15.9 fpts)carries RB12 value, offering a steady mix of rushing and receiving opportunities after a strong debut. Houston's Nick Chubb (11.5 fpts)is a trickier call — he’s a proven ball-carrier, but his limited role in the passing game and the Texans' committee approach make him more of a flex gamble than a locked-in starter.
The wideout picture is brighter. Nico Collins is a must-roll WR2 with top-10 upside, while Mike Evans remains a reliable WR20 play for the Bucs. Rookie Emeka Egbuka has also earned trust as a WR23 after flashing big-play ability in his first outing.
To sum it up:
- Fire up Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving with confidence.
- Treat C.J. Stroud as a matchup-dependent QB2.
- Approach Nick Chubb cautiously, given his committee usage.
- Lock in Collins, Evans, and Egbuka as strong WR2/WR3 options.
- Houston’s defense makes for a savvier streaming play compared to Tampa Bay.
Texans vs Buccaneers Game Predictions
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud spent much of last season under siege, taking the second-most sacks in the league, and the pressure doesn’t look like it’s letting up anytime soon, with the Texans’ offensive line still showing cracks. If Houston wants to keep pace with Tampa Bay this weekend — and remain in the playoff conversation later this year — their special teams unit will also need to sharpen up.
The Buccaneers, meanwhile, have been a playoff fixture since Tom Brady arrived in 2020, and now it’s Baker Mayfield steering a battle-tested roster. Tampa’s fortunes still hinge largely on its defensive backbone, and Week 1 was a reminder of just how much it can dictate outcomes. That formula could be enough to spring a statement road win in Houston.
According to ESPN’s projections, this matchup is a virtual coin flip, with the Buccaneers holding a 49.7% chance of victory, leaving the slimmest margin for a potential draw.
Texans vs Buccaneers Betting Odds
Spread
Buccaneers +2.5 (-105)
Texans -2.5 (-115)
Moneyline
Buccaneers +120
Texans -145
Total
OVER 42.5 (-110)
UNDER 42.5 (-110)
More NFL news and coverage
- Texans 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
- Buccaneers 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
- How to watch and live stream NFL football for free and without cable
- 2025 fantasy football rankings: Running back (RB) | Wide receiver (WR) | Tight end (TE) | Quarterback (QB)