Buccaneers rally past Jets 24-16 in Preseason Week One at MetLife

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened their 2026 preseason with a 24-16 win over the New York Jets on the road at MetLife Stadium. The result gives the Buccaneers a 1-0 start to their exhibition slate as both teams used the early weeks of preseason to evaluate personnel and game-plan decisions under live conditions.

For the Buccaneers, the immediate takeaway is simple. They were able to convert enough opportunities to create separation and then protect the lead late, turning the first preseason outing into a measurable step in their broader preparation for the regular season. Preseason Week One is often less about perfection and more about process, but a road win still has value for momentum and clarity within the depth chart.

New York, meanwhile, will view the loss through the lens of experimentation. The Jets also carry preseason goals beyond the final score, including assessing units in different looks and tracking how players respond to situational football. Still, allowing Tampa Bay to post 24 points at MetLife is something the Jets coaching staff will have to address as the summer progresses.

The 24-16 final is also a reminder that preseason games can swing based on execution rather than star power. With both teams distributing playing time among a wide range of roster options, each short stretch can change the complexion of the game quickly. In that context, Tampa Bay’s ability to come away with the win matters less as a statement of ultimate strength and more as evidence that they can execute the essentials when the game is in motion.

Looking ahead, Tampa Bay will likely focus on carryover from the opener as the preseason moves to its next phase. Coaches typically prioritize consistency, command of assigned schemes, and the ability to move the ball when the opponent is rotating defenders. A win helps, but the more important question is what happened in the specific phases that led to the 24 points, especially whether the Buccaneers can repeat the same outcomes against different substitution patterns.

For New York, the path forward is the same, even with the loss. The Jets will need to tidy the aspects of the game that allowed Tampa Bay to score and maintain enough defensive structure to limit big swings between scoring drives. Preseason is a working schedule, but the Jets’ next exhibition will be a chance to correct course while continuing to develop depth and readiness.

Both teams now move into the next week with a clearer picture of what is working and what still requires adjustment. The Buccaneers’ 1-0 start sets a baseline for how they want to build through the preseason, while the Jets have an immediate opportunity to respond and refine the details that can separate a competitive exhibition from a defeat.