The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have recorded their first home victory in 12 attempts courtesy of a 38-31 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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The Buccaneers put together a solid drive on their opening possession due to the short passing game from Jameis Winston, and although they could not put a touchdown on the board, Connor Barth fired them ahead courtesy of a 35-yard field goal.
Jacksonville hit back as Blake Bortles managed to drive his team down the field with a series of short passes before the quarterback drilled the ball into the hands of Allen Hurns for a 12-yard touchdown to put the visitors ahead.
Winston was bailed out on the next drive after a good run from Doug Martin put the Buccaneers in good field position. However, he was sacked and lost the ball, only for the referee to overturn the fumble call, which enabled Barth to come back on the field to score a 45-yard field goal.
The Buccaneers took the lead when Bobby Rainey reeled off a long punt return to put the hosts into the redzone. Winston notched his first touchdown strike of the game when he found Martin underneath who ran in for the 10-yard score.
Martin continued his impressive first half when he received the handoff on the goalline and he charged over the right side of the line to run in for the score.
However, the Jaguars hit back just before the break when Bortles threw for his second touchdown of the match when he found Allen Robinson in the endzone for a 13-yard score.
In the second half, Gus Bradley's men pulled within three points of the hosts when Jason Myers sent his 31-yard field goal through the posts.
The visitors had success moving the ball again to the redzone and Bortles notched his third touchdown pass of the game when he moved to his left before firing a strike to TJ Yeldon at the back of the endzone.
However, the Buccaneers rallied when Barth kicked his third field goal of the game to reduce the deficit to one point. The home side then retook the lead when Corey Grant fumbled the ball and Jacquies Smith pounced on it to recover and he rolled into the endzone for a three-yard score.
Martin notched his third score of the game when he leapt into the endzone from one-yard out to hand his side a 14-point cushion.
The Jaguars got a late score as Bortles connected with Robinson in the endzone with one minute to play, but the home team held out for the win.
