Bucky Irving
Bucky Irving
Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving helped propel Tampa Bay to a key victory Thursday night against the Cowboys.
Welcome Back, Bucky Irving: The Bucs Sorely Missed This Version of You
The best word to describe Tampa Bay’s 24-16 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night is “improbable.”
The Bucs came into the game having the type of start to a season that, if it were a movie script, would be rejected for being “too unrealistic.”
Tampa Bay was 0-4. The Bucs had failed to cover the spread in 13 consecutive games heading into Thursday night’s contest.
On top of their existing struggles, the Bucs came into the game with a proverbial “primetime curse.” Tampa Bay entered the game with a 32-51 record in primetime games in franchise history and a 4-11 record since Todd Bowles took over as head coach.
And just to add salt to the wounds of Bucs fans, they had undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels starting the game.
The recipe was there for a resounding loss and an 0-5 start to the season.
But the Bucs had a failsafe, and his name was Bucky Irving.
Bucky Irving stars in Bucs’ win over Cowboys
Bucky Irving
Oct 8, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) celebrates during the game between the Cowboys and the Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Irving rushed for a career-high 165 yards Thursday night. He also averaged a career-best 7.9 yards per carry. Irving is one of just a few players in the NFL this season to carry the ball at least 20 times and average 7.5 yards per carry.
He had 241 rushing yards combined in Tampa Bay’s first four games.
Irving delivered a lightning strike on the first play of the second half with a 72-yard run. He dipped and dodged Cowboys defenders en route to Tampa Bay’s longest play of the 2026 season. Irving had only one run of more than 15 yards heading into Thursday night’s game.
“It was instincts, and once you see the run and the linebacker got upfield, so I had to make a cut, then I was just me,” Irving said about the play after the game. “I already tell myself that once I trust my track, good things happen. That was just me trusting my track. I got back on my track when I was supposed to hit it.”
Overall, the Bucs ran for a season-high 241 yards Thursday night. Tampa Bay’s strong rushing game helped Daniels have a strong game.
Daniels completed 19 of 25 passing attempts for 189 yards and a touchdown. He became the first undrafted rookie quarterback in NFL history to complete more than 70% of his passes in a game. He also became the first undrafted rookie quarterback to beat Dallas since 1987.
The Bucs scored 24 points Thursday night, their second-highest offensive point total of the season. The team scored 27 in Week 1, but seven of those points came on a pick-six.
Irving’s performance is a feel-good story after his injury-plagued 2025 season.
He missed seven games because of ankle and shoulder injuries last season. Even when Irving played, he never looked fully healthy. His yards per carry dropped from 5.4 in 2024 to 3.4 in 2025.
Irving opened up about the mental health struggles that came with his injuries last season.
“It’s tough, man, first time being hurt. I love what I do every day,” Irving said last November. “I love my teammates. When I go out there, I play, each and every time I get the ball, I’m trying to make plays and make things happen for this organization and team in any type of fashion to win football games.”
After the game, Irving received a game ball from Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, and his teammates roared in support of him.
Irving has been a beloved member of the Bucs since he burst onto the scene during his rookie season in 2024. With the Bucs sitting at 1-4, it’s a nice boost for a team that has had to endure a nightmarish start to the season to see Irving return to form.
"That's the way to play for your brotherhood." 🤝 pic.twitter.com/IKqYNO5W83
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 9, 2026
The Last Word
Tampa Bay has a long way to go if it wants to get back into playoff contention.
The 1992 San Diego Chargers are the only team in NFL history to start the season 0-4 and still make the playoffs. If the Bucs want any chance of becoming the second, they need Irving to maintain this form for the rest of the season.
However, Bucky Irving’s strong play could be a game-changer for the Bucs’ offense. He has shown in the past that he can be one of the league’s most explosive players.
That type of production could be what propels Tampa Bay to more wins as the season progresses. And as crazy as it sounds, the Bucs are only a game and a half behind the Falcons and Panthers for the NFC South lead, and Tampa Bay hasn’t played any NFC South games yet this season.
Crazier things have happened.
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Main Image: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images