Facing a 17-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, the Green & White scored 21 points and took a 1-point lead with just under two minutes remaining in Sunday's game in Tampa Bay. Despite the dominant fourth quarter, the Jets (0-3) ultimately fell short in completing the comeback and fell to the Buccaneers (3-0), 29-27.

"Man, these guys -- they fought their asses off," HC Aaron Glenn said. "Love every one of those guys for how they came out in the second half. … Today showed me a lot about who we were as a team and who we're going to be as well. A number of things we have to correct. And I'm going to say this again -- there's no such thing as moral victories when it comes to us."

After exchanging field goals to open Sunday's game, the Buccaneers were first to find the end zone as QB Baker Mayfield connected with WR Mike Evans to take a 10-6 lead in the second quarter. While the Jets made some key defensive stops to keep the game within reach throughout the first half, the offense was unable to capitalize on the opportunities as the unit struggled to find a rhythm. With just under a minute remaining in the first half, the Jets trailed by 6 points. But a pass from backup QB Tyrod Taylor (playing for the injured Justin Fields) intended for WR Garrett Wilson was intercepted by Tampa Bay CB Jamel Dean and returned 55 yards for a TD. The Buccaneers led 20-6 at the half.

"We talked about being aggressive this game," Taylor said. "Obviously, first half started off pretty good with two scoring drives, but kind of stalled towards the second quarter. We talked at halftime about sticking true to our game plan. Which is still getting back to the aggressiveness. … That's what we got to in the second half.

"Obviously, turnovers hurt you in this league. But we were able to bounce back from it. I'll learn from it, and we'll be better from it moving forward."

The Bucs' Chase McLaughlin scored the lone points of the third quarter with a 28-yard field goal, and the Jets trailed by 17 entering the final 15 minutes. It was then that the offense found its rhythm and showed some resolve, as Taylor orchestrated two scoring drives to bring the Jets within reach. Taylor found Wilson in the end zone first, capping a 10-play, 80-yard drive with an 11-yard score to make it 23-13 with 10:12 to play. The Jets' defense then held the Buccaneers to a field goal.

The next time Taylor took the field, he efficiently commanded an 11-play, 73-yard drive, finding WR Allen Lazard in the back of the end zone to cut the deficit to 6 with just under 4 minutes remaining, making the score 26-20. Mayfield and the Buccaneers' offense then took the field, and the clock ran all the way down to the two-minute warning as the Jets' defense kept the unit out of the end zone again.

McLaughlin attempted a 43-yard field goal, but the kick was blocked when edge Will McDonald IV jumped over the offensive line and denied the attempt that would have given Tampa Bay a two-score advantage. McDonald scooped up the ball and ran 50 yards to the end zone to give the Jets their first lead since early in the second quarter.

"I heard coach earlier say, when your playmakers need to make plays, that's when we expect them to step up and do so," Taylor said. "And Will is one of our playmakers. He did a great job of doing that."

The late comeback attempt fell short, though -- Mayfield and the Tampa Bay offense stormed into field-goal range as the clock drained. With just 3 seconds remaining, McLaughlin converted on the 36-yard attempt to secure the 2-point victory.

"I give a lot of credit to the way these guys came out and fought," Glenn said. "No quit in any of these guys. But we've just got to correct those really small things. … We've got to get better, I know that. And we will get better. But I like exactly where our guys fall."

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LB Quincy Williams sustained a shoulder injury late in the second quarter and did not return. He recorded 4 total tackles, 1 pass defense and a half-sack before exiting the game. … CB Sauce Gardner sustained a head injury during the fourth quarter but did return to finish the game. … WR Arian Smith and CB Qwan'tez Stiggers each made key plays on special teams in the first half. Smith immediately took down Tampa Bay WR Kameron Johnson to halt a punt return, while Stiggers also took down Johnson for a 1-yard loss on a punt return. … DL Harrison Phillips and Quincy Williams had the lone sack of QB Baker Mayfield. Phillips forced a fumble on the play, but the Buccaneers recovered the ball.