Entering Week 7, the Buccaneers faced roughly a 1% chance to make the playoffs and needed to secure two straight wins against division opponents.
Well, after steamrolling the Carolina Panthers last week, the Buccaneers did nearly the exact same to the Falcons in a 16-0 victory that was not as close as it appeared on a rain-drenched afternoon in Tampa.
Tampa became the first first team since 1974 to win without completing a pass — Baker Mayfield went 0 for 3 — and the first one to score double-digits
in said type of win since 1945. This total absence of a pass game comes just one week after…largely not needing to throw the ball, as Mayfield went 7-of-11 for 64 yards and a touchdown. So that is fewer than 15 pass attempts and 75 yards in 8 quarters. In the year of our lord 2026.
The Buccaneers have lived the old school way — opportunistic defense and a ground-shaking run game — and it’s worked to incredible effect. How well? Try 4 interceptions of Michael Penix Jr. and a franchise-record 324 yards rushing.
It’s not going to sustain forever, as they’ll need to actually utilize the forward pass to keep pace with a dynamic Bears offense next week, but the team is fully back in the fight. Everyone involved deserves a lot of praise when s many close losses could’ve torpedoed the team’s confidence.
Offensive Top Performer: RBs Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell
The Bucs have become the NFL’s premier rushing attack over the last two weeks, and you need to give credit to Zac Robinson for not only leaning into it, but doing so in a very diverse way. He’s featured a diverse mix of outside zone, inside zone, and gap blocking schemes, as well as different formations and wrinkles. All three tight ends of Cade Otton, Payne Durham, and Bauer Sharp have absolutely feasted, as has the entire offensive line.
Of course, the ones churning out the yards have been extremely effective as well. Bucky Irving set a career-high, slashing the Falcons for 170 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. He ripped off multiple explosives (including a 46-yard burst) to average a whopping 46-yarder. He’s led the league in rushing over the last 4 weeks and looks fully back to his rookie form.
His running mate, Kenny Gainwell, closed out the game with aplomb. Handling a majority of the carries in the fourth quarter, Gainwell smashed Atlanta for 140 yards on 25 carries to completely erase any chances of a comeback. After a slow start, Gainwell is gelling now as RB2.
This rushing attack with regress to the mean at some point, but even then it’s clear they’ve established themselves as high-quality producers even without a consistent pass attack. The Bucs’ playoff hopes will depend on it.
Defensive Top Performer: LB Alex Anzalone
Make no mistake, Alex Anzalone has been a net negative for this defense all season. But still, it’s not fair to let that taint one game, and in this one game he delivered results.
No. 34 recorded two huge interceptions within Penix’s first four passes, one of which being an athletic high-point grab that had me thinking it was 6-foot-7 Anthony Nelson (No. 94) making the jump to snag the throw. He then read Penix like a book in zone to secure another one that the offense unfortunately squandered via a fumble out of the end zone, but both early turnovers set a hugely positive tone. The Bucs proceeded to intercept Penix twice more, and it could’ve been higher. They had the third-year passer (8-of-24, 125 yards) in complete hell all afternoon long.
Parrish built on his NFL lead in passes defensed while snagging his second interception of the season, and McCollum continued his excellent start with another pick as well. Add in Keionte Scott and Tykee Smith making a couple standout plays in their own right, and the secondary continues to be excellent.
The pass rush wasn’t as active this week, more so due to lack of opportunities, but still notably affected plays more than once, including a couple standout rushes from rookie Rueben Bain.
It will be fascinating to see how this defense handles the best offense they’ve faced all year in the Chicago Bears. It’s prime opportunity to assert themselves as the elite unit they’ve been playing like.
Special Teams Top Performer: K Chase McLaughlin
Money McLaughlin is inevitable.
Shortly after Falcons kicker Nick Folk, a former Buccaneer from a lifetime ago, completely shanked his only attempt of the day, McLaughlin responded with an effortless 46-yard make. He then hit two more to build a lead on afternoon where yards and points were extremely hard to come by.
Again, extension for him now, Jason Licht.
And some credit must be given to punter Riley Dixon, who has been mostly bad this season but loosed some huge punts later in the game (downed at the 7- and 2-yard lines) to help maintain the pivotal field position.
