The Jets never took the flight for the first 49 minutes against the Buccaneers in the Week 3 showdown. But in the final 11 minutes, New York managed to score three touchdowns with Tyrod Taylor under center. Sure, Chase McLaughlin nailed a 36-yard field goal to secure the Bucs’ third straight win of the season (29-27), but the Jets indeed gave Tampa Bay a hard time. The crystal? Will McDonald IV.

Just minutes before McLaughlin nailed a 36-yard field goal, he tried a 43-yarder, but McDonald blocked it and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown, giving the Jets a 27–26 lead. The tension was palpable, and so was the frustration. Todd Bowles could feel it during the game, and after the game as well. But at what cost?

Right after the Bucs walked out, securing a 3-0 start to the season, Bowles shared his thoughts on the Jets running the blocked kick for a TD, and stated, “You’ve got to be f—ing shitting me.” While it might not be that big of a deal for now, as per the NFL rulebook, the players and the coaches are prohibited from using profanity, which Bowles just did.

It’s the script the NFL has played out plenty of times. Back in 2014, the former Jets head coach Rex Ryan was fined $100,000 for using profanity after a game. Following a 20-13 loss to the Steelers, Ryan was caught yelling angrily as he walked onto the field to meet the Steelers’ head coach, Mike Tomlin.

Of course, in Todd Bowles’ case, there was none of the anger we saw with Ryan. He wasn’t storming toward the opposing coach, nor was he frustrated after the team’s loss. Instead, Bowles shared his thoughts following the Jets’ near-miss in Week 2 against the Bucs, and let’s just say, it wasn’t exactly glowing. Whether it leads to any drastic action? That’s still up in the air.

Baker Mayfield continues his tradition from Week 2

Last week, Baker Mayfield led the Bucs to a 20-19 win over the Texans as the quarterback orchestrated a game-winning drive in the final moments. It was the first Prime Time win for Mayfield since taking over as the team’s starting QB role. Fast forward to now, and the Bucs have broken a couple of more curses against the Jets in Week 3.

First up, the creamsicle curse is finally toast. The Bucs had been rocking those orange-and-white throwback uniforms, but somehow, they just couldn’t win while wearing them. Until Sunday, that is. Against the Jets, they threw on the retro gear and came out swinging, showing everyone that the old-school look finally comes with a W. Fans can finally stop worrying about jinxed jerseys.

Then there’s the Week 3, 2-0 curse. Without any doubt, it has been a real headache for Tampa Bay over the years. Every time they started 2-0, Week 3 somehow turned into a trap game, snapping their momentum. In the last four seasons, Tampa Bay has lost games in Week 3, marking an end to its winning streaks at the start of the season. But this time?

Well, for a moment, Will McDonald IV did give them something to think about. But the Bucs battled through injuries, hiccups, and late-game drama to pull off the win, proving that the old curse isn’t running the show anymore. Three weeks in, and the team’s vibe is officially unstoppable.