Buffalo Bills Edge Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17–10 in Preseason Week 3 Thriller

TAMPA, Fla. - In their last warm-up before the 2025 season, the Buffalo Bills beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17–10. The game took place Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium. The victory snapped Buffalo’s preseason skid and gave Tampa Bay its third straight exhibition win.

A quick-strike opening drive set the tone. Rookie running back Frank Gore Jr. pushed through the goal line from one yard out. This capped an 80-yard, 12-play drive and gave the Bills a 7–0 lead early in the first quarter. Tampa Bay’s defense stiffened thereafter, but Buffalo added to its edge in the second stanza.

With the Buccaneers in a tough spot, kicker Chase McLaughlin kicked a 35-yard field goal. This gave Buffalo a 10–3 lead. Quarterback Shane Buechele threw an 11-yard pass to Tyrell Shavers. Shavers made a stunning one-handed catch for a touchdown. This gave the Bills a 14–3 lead with less than a minute left in the half.

Tampa Bay answered just before intermission. Backup QB Kyle Trask tossed a one-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Tez Johnson. This brought the score to 14–10. Johnson’s score happened on an 11-play, 51-yard drive. This drive showed off the Buccaneers’ depth and kept their perfect preseason record through three games.

In the fourth quarter, Tyler Bass kicked a 37-yard field goal. This gave Buffalo a seven-point lead and sealed the 17–10 win. Both teams sat many starters. This gave chances to players fighting for roster spots. The Bills’ late rally revealed their special teams skill and depth behind Allen. On the other hand, the Buccaneers’ bubble players made a solid case to remain on Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster.

Next, Buffalo kicks off the regular season on September 7 against Miami. Also, Tampa Bay hosts Atlanta in Week 1.