Entering Thursday Night Football, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had an 0-4 record and were facing the possiblity of dropping to 0-5 with a loss on the road to the Dallas Cowboys. Without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield and having to turn to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, the Bucs' chances of turning around their season appeared bleak — that is, until Bucky Irving had something to say about it.
The former Oregon Ducks running back had produced a bit of a down year through four games for his standard, averaging just a tick over 60 rushing yards per game with just a single touchdown. But Thursday night proved to be a much different story, as Irving amassed a career-high 165 yards on 21 carries, running for his second touchdown of the season.
Irving
was also helpful for Daniels in the pass game, catching two passes for 10 yards, one of which going for a touchdown early in the game. By the end of the contest, the Bucs had taken down the Cowboys, 24-16, behind 175 total yards and two total touchdowns from their star running back.
Bucky Irving out and running!@TBvsDAL on Prime Video
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2026
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tLym5RtEYd
One of the plays that changed the game for Tampa Bay was Irving's weaving 72-yard run to begin the third quarter as the Bucs faced a 10-7 deficit. The Buccaneers scored on the very next play, taking a lead that they never relinquished.
From Irving's long run forward, Tampa Bay outscored Dallas 17-6 on their way to the victory. If not for Irving's strong efforts and career night, the Buccaneers would've been unlikely to come away with the game, instead falling to 0-5.
But the former Duck came through in primetime, helping deliver his team their first win of the 2026 season.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Bucky Irving has career-high rushing day on Thursday Night Football
