Another banner day for Bucky Irving, Bucs ground game vs. Giants The Bucs may have a three-headed monster at running back, but Bucky Irving is the one who scares opponents and keeps defensive coordinators awake at night. The rookie from Oregon had a season-high 151 yards from scrimmage in Tampa Bay's 30-7 win over the Giants on Sunday. Irving rushed 12 times for 87 yards (7.3 average) and a touchdown while catching six passes for 64 yards. In fact, his zig-zagging, ankle-breaking 56-yard run in the fourth quarter matched the longest of the season for Tampa Bay. "It all starts with those guys up front," Irving said of the offensive line. "They do a great job of practicing; we just tried to translate it over to the game. I pretty much be seeing the whole field before I get the ball and during the pre-snap, I see what the defense is lined up in. Then my instincts just kick in." One thing was evident as soon as the Bucs began Sunday's game: Offensive coordinator Liam Coen decided he needed to get all three running backs - Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker - involved early. Moreover, Irving was going to be the most featured back. But all three produced rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Baker Mayfield added a fourth. Irving, White and Tucker each had rushing attempts on the Bucs' first drive of the game, a 70-yard march in 14 plays capped by Tucker's 1-yard TD run behind defensive tackle Vita Vea, who lined up at fullback. "All three of those guys are playmakers, so it's how many times you can get the ball in their hands and how often you can do it," Mayfield said. "When your O-line plays like that, you can continue to do it and feed those guys and let them get into a rhythm and they did just that. "Bucky made some unbelievable plays. Sean played well but then Rachaad's screen in man coverage, being able to make a guy miss and get down there in the red zone was a really good play. So all three of those guys did really special things today and we're going to continue to lean on them." The Bucs rushed for 156 yards as a team. In fact, they've run for 100 or more yards in 8 of 11 games. That's a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that was last in rushing average in 2022-23. "Yeah, we tried to make sure they got some touches during the game," Todd Bowles said. White rushed 12 times for 37 yards (3.1 average) and a touchdown. He caught one pass for 10 yards. Tucker had only four attempts for 3 yards rushing, but added one catch for 7 yards. When it comes to making tacklers miss, explosiveness and production, Irving has been the Bucs' best back and proved it again Sunday. In addition to the 56-yard run, he added a 32-yard pass reception. "I always have confidence coming out, starting with the ones, seeing how the defense is playing the game," Irving said. "Everything goes up from there." That 56-yard romp saw him reverse field and Mayfield trying to block for him. "I'll go back and look at the film. I think I got the job done for the most part," Mayfield said. "I could've done it quicker. I don't have eyes in the back of my head though." By the fourth quarter, many of the Giants fans had filed out of MetLife Stadium. But the smattering of Bucs fans serenaded Irving with chants of Buck-eee! Buck-eee! Buck-eee! Irving didn't hear it. "I'm too locked in," he said. "I mean, it's a blessing the crowd is doing that, but I'm trying to lock in on the football game." Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times, published 25 November 2024