Bucky Irving gave the Buccaneers exactly what they needed Thursday night in Dallas, turning in his best performance of the season in Tampa Bay’s 24-16 win over the Cowboys.
Irving finished with 165 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. He also caught two passes for 10 yards, including a five-yard touchdown from Jalon Daniels that tied the game in the second quarter. His biggest play came immediately after halftime, when he broke loose for a 72-yard run that set up Emeka Egbuka’s go-ahead touchdown two plays later.
The best part of the offense was how much control Irving gave Tampa Bay tonight. The Buccaneers rushed for 241 yards as a team and held the ball for 39:21, allowing the rookie Daniels to stay in manageable
situations while keeping Dallas’ offense on the sideline. Irving consistently made defenders miss, showed patience behind the line, and gave Tampa Bay a physical identity it had been missing through the first four weeks.
Irving also helped finish the game with a first down run. After Alex Anzalone’s late interception, Irving ripped off a 22-yard run with 1:11 remaining to move the chains and allow Tampa Bay to kneel out the clock. It was a fitting ending to a night in which the Buccaneers leaned on him from start to finish and finally came away with their first win of the season.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucky Irving powers Buccaneers to first win of season
