The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally broke into the win column in Week 5, and running back Bucky Irving is receiving some national recognition for his performance. After helping lead Tampa Bay to a 24-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, Irving has been nominated for the FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Week award.
The Buccaneers announced the nomination on their official social media account Tuesday, highlighting Irving's 175 yards from scrimmage, 23 touches, and two touchdowns. It was his most productive game of the season and a major reason Tampa Bay secured its first victory after a 0-4 start.
Irving carried the ball 21 times for a career-high 165 yards and a touchdown, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. He also caught
two passes for 10 yards and another score, accounting for two of Tampa Bay's three touchdowns. His 175 scrimmage yards were the third-most of his NFL career, and the performance marked his fourth career 100-yard rushing game.
The biggest play came on the opening snap of the second half. Trailing 10-7, Tampa Bay turned to Irving, who broke free for a 72-yard run that immediately put the Buccaneers in scoring position. On the following play, Emeka Egbuka scored on a 14-yard rushing touchdown to give Tampa Bay a 14-10 lead.
Irving had already helped Tampa Bay get on the scoreboard earlier in the game, catching a five-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels. He later added a one-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, extending the Buccaneers' advantage to 21-10.
His performance was part of Tampa Bay's best rushing effort of the season. The Buccaneers finished with 241 yards on the ground, averaging 6.2 yards per carry, while Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL victory.
Tampa Bay's defense and special teams also played an important role, forcing three second-half turnovers. Yaya Diaby and Alex Anzalone intercepted Dak Prescott, while Miles Killebrew forced a fumble on a kickoff return that was recovered by Kevin Knowles. The Buccaneers won the turnover battle 3-0 and scored 10 points off those takeaways.
For a team that entered Dallas seeking offensive answers, Irving provided the production Tampa Bay needed to control the game and take pressure off its young quarterback. His performance also gave the Buccaneers something to build on heading into their Week 6 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fans can vote for Irving through the Buccaneers' official FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Week voting link.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers' Bucky Irving nominated for NFL weekly award
