Bucky Irving gave the Buccaneers exactly the kind of burst they needed Thursday night, and he did it in a way that pushed his name into the record book.
Against the Cowboys, Irving turned in the best rushing performance of his NFL career, piling up 165 yards on 21 carries and scoring once on the ground. He added two catches for 10 yards and another touchdown, making it a true all-purpose night for Tampa Bay’s back. Per reporter Greg Auman, the 165-yard total marked a new career high.
“Bucky Irving has a new career high with 165 rushing yards - previous best was 152 against Panthers in an overtime game in 2024,” Auman wrote.
The breakout came at a perfect time for Tampa Bay, which had entered Week 5 still looking for its first win. The Buccaneers started slowly and were down 10-7 at halftime, but they took control with a 17-point third quarter that Dallas couldn’t answer. The Cowboys tried to make things interesting late, but Tampa Bay shut the door by intercepting Dak Prescott’s final pass of the night.
Jalon Daniels kept things steady in his latest start for the injured Baker Mayfield, completing 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown while also running seven times for 23 yards. Emeka Egbuka paced the Buccaneers with six catches for 38 yards and also scored on a 14-yard run. Tez Johnson added a 64-yard reception, and Chris Godwin Jr. finished with three catches for 37 yards.
Tampa Bay now heads home for Week 6, where it will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Antonio Brown Just Reignited One Ugly Buccaneers Super Bowl Feud
Antonio Brown has never been one to let a dormant grievance stay buried, and his latest social media post dragged an old Buccaneers flashpoint back into the light. After Bruce Arians recently spoke on a podcast about Browns time in Tampa Bay, including the idea that defenses could take him out of a game and that he sometimes complicated things for himself, Brown responded with a pointed message of his own.
The post came with plenty of the same volatility that has followed Brown since his Buccaneers tenure ended, and it landed while his legal situation remains unresolved as his case tied to a Miami shooting moves forward. For Tampa Bay fans, it was another reminder that one of the most talented, and most combustible, figures from the Super Bowl run can still turn a conversation into a mess in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Dak Prescott Left Tampa Facing More Than Just Another Loss
The Cowboys left Tampa with another loss, but the postgame scene added a little extra heat to an already rough night. Dallas has been searching for answers after a sloppy showing against the Buccaneers, and the frustration spilled into the building as the team headed out of the stadium. Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged the struggles afterward and said the organization will take a hard look at everything, including possible coaching staff changes.
Dak Prescott also found himself in the middle of a tense exchange on the way out, one that underscored just how raw the mood was around the Cowboys. He later described the interaction and made clear where he stands on criticism, preferring it to be delivered straight rather than from behind a turned head. For a team already trying to steady itself, even the walk to the exit became part of a longer conversation about accountability. [Read more 🡒]
Jalon Daniels Just Gave Bucs Fans A Reason To Believe
Jalon Daniels finally gave Tampa Bay something to build on in a season that had already started to feel slippery. In his first outing steering the offense, the quarterback settled things down enough for the Buccaneers to get past Dallas and stop the early free fall, offering a much-needed jolt to a team that had been searching for any sign of traction.
Now the focus turns quickly to whether Daniels can make that first impression stick. He is expected to start again in Week 6 against Pittsburgh, and for a Bucs team still trying to climb out of an 0-4 hole, the larger question is whether this was a one-game lift or the beginning of real momentum. [Read more 🡒]