David's interception sets up McLaughlin's walk-off FG as Bucs edge Seahawks 38-35

With 58 seconds left and the Seattle Seahawks leading 35-28, Lavonte David didn’t just make a play—he made history. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker, a 12-year veteran known more for his sideline leadership than game-deciding picks, soared through a broken coverage and snagged a deflected pass from Sam Darnold. The ball bounced off Logan Hall’s helmet, then landed right in David’s hands. One sprint later, the Lumen Field crowd fell silent. And just like that, the Week 5 NFL matchup between the Buccaneers and Seahawks turned from a shootout into a heartbreaker.

High-Octane Second Half

The game wasn’t just close—it was chaotic. Seven touchdowns in the second half. Two quarterbacks throwing darts. A defense missing three starters. And a kicker who had to deliver under the most brutal pressure imaginable. Tampa Bay came into the game 4-1, riding a perfect 3-0 road streak. Seattle, at 3-2, had the NFL’s third-fewest points allowed… until Sunday. Without DeMarcus Lawrence, Julian Love, and Devon Witherspoon, their secondary was exposed. And Tampa Bay’s offense, converting 7 of 11 third downs, ate it alive.

By halftime, the Bucs led 13-7 after two Chase McLaughlin field goals and a Rachaad White rush. But the third quarter flipped everything. Zach Charbonnet’s 5-yard TD run gave Seattle its first lead. Then Baker Mayfield answered with a 14-yard strike to Mike Evans. By the end of the quarter, Tampa Bay was up 28-21. The Seahawks weren’t done. Darnold, playing with the poise of a man who’s been through it all, found Tory Horton on a 21-yard slant with 3:14 left. The sideline erupted. 35-28. Seattle’s defense had held their ground—until the last minute.

The Turnover That Changed Everything

Here’s the thing about Lavonte David: he doesn’t always make the highlight reel. But when the game’s on the line, he’s the guy who shows up. That interception wasn’t luck. It was instinct. The Seahawks were in a two-minute drill, trying to milk the clock. Darnold looked left, then checked to the middle. Hall, crashing the edge, got his hand on the ball. It popped up like a pop fly. David, reading the quarterback’s eyes all along, drifted into the zone like he’d rehearsed it a hundred times.

"I knew he was going to that side," David said afterward. "I didn’t even see the ball until it was in my hands. But I knew—this was our chance."

Mayfield didn’t even need a full drive. Just six plays. A 25-yard completion to Emeka Egbuka. A short run by White. Then—McLaughlin, calm as ever, stepped onto the field with 8 seconds left. The snap. The hold. The kick. A perfect arc. The ball sailed through the uprights as the clock hit zero. 38-35. The Bucs’ third straight road win. The Seahawks’ second home loss in three tries.

Coach Macdonald Takes the Blame

Seattle’s head coach, Mike Macdonald, didn’t make excuses. He didn’t point to injuries. He didn’t blame the officials. He took it all.

"I have to do better with our defensive game plan and execution and how we call it," Macdonald said, voice thick. "When you put up a performance like that, it means that I didn’t prepare them well enough. It hurts. It stings."

His team threw for 328 yards. Darnold had three touchdowns. But they gave up 452 total yards. Seven third-down conversions. A 10-minute time-of-possession deficit in the second half. And one fatal mistake when it mattered most.

What This Means for the NFC

Even with the loss, Seattle still sits at 7-2 in the NFC West, tied with the Los Angeles Rams. But this loss? It’s the kind that lingers. They had the lead. They had the momentum. They had the defense that was supposed to shut down anyone. And yet, they couldn’t stop a team that had already lost two games this season.

For Tampa Bay, the win is a statement. They’re now 4-1, leading the NFC South at 6-3. Mayfield is playing his best football since 2020. White has become a dual-threat nightmare. And McLaughlin? He’s 11-for-11 on field goals this season. No misses. No doubts.

The Bucs’ schedule doesn’t get easier. But this win? It proves they can win ugly. They can win on the road. And they can win when the game comes down to one play.

What’s Next?

Next week, Tampa Bay travels to New Orleans to face the 2-8 Saints—a team desperate for a win. Seattle heads to Arizona, where the 3-6 Cardinals are looking to end a five-game skid. But for the Seahawks, this loss might be the wake-up call they didn’t know they needed. Defense doesn’t win championships. Consistent defense does. And Sunday? They were anything but.

Key Plays That Defined the Game

• Q2, 1:23 — Chase McLaughlin 39-yard FG (Bucs 13-0)
• Q3, 9:17 — Zach Charbonnet 5-yard TD run (Seahawks 14-13)
• Q3, 2:48 — Baker Mayfield 14-yard TD to Mike Evans (Bucs 21-14)
• Q4, 3:14 — Sam Darnold 21-yard TD to Tory Horton (Seahawks 35-28)
• Q4, 0:58 — Lavonte David intercepts Darnold (set up McLaughlin’s FG)
• Q4, 0:00 — Chase McLaughlin 39-yard FG as time expires (Bucs 38-35)