Adam Slivon came away from Sunday’s 16-0 Buccaneers win over the Falcons with one overriding impression: this was the strangest game he’s ever seen.
And it was easy to see why.
Tampa Bay didn’t just win - it bulldozed Atlanta on the ground, piling up a franchise-record 324 rushing yards in a game that turned into a showcase for the run game. Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell led the charge from the opening snaps, carving up the Falcons’ top-five run defense and setting career highs in the process. Irving finished with 170 rushing yards, while Gainwell added 140.
The passing game barely existed. Baker Mayfield didn’t complete a pass on three attempts, but the Bucs never needed to lean on it. With the ground game rolling like that, Tampa Bay controlled the game without asking its quarterback to do much at all.
Slivon also pointed to the defense, which turned in another dominant performance and gave head coach Todd Bowles plenty of credit for the way the unit has been playing. The Bucs have been stout against the run, sticky in coverage, and disruptive up front, and all of that showed up again against Atlanta.
Michael Penix Jr. was never able to settle in, throwing four interceptions. Two of those picks went to inside linebacker Alex Anzalone in the first quarter. Cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish also came away with interceptions, and Slivon singled out McCollum as a player who deserves more recognition for the level he’s been playing at.
The defense didn’t stop there. Tampa Bay also shut down Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts as the Falcons were blanked.
At 3-5, the Bucs have now strung together two NFC South wins, and Slivon noted that there’s still work to do. But if Tampa Bay can beat the Bears on Sunday night and move to 4-5, the conversation around this team could look a lot different.
In Other News...
Bucs Defense Just Turned A Lost Season Into A Real NFC South Race
After an 0-4 start, the Buccaneers have dragged themselves back into the NFC South conversation by leaning on a defense that has suddenly started to look like a strength instead of a liability. The turnaround has shown up in turnovers and a much sturdier run defense, and it was on display again in a recent shutout of Atlanta that tightened the race at the top of the division.
Tampa Bay now sits close enough to first place that the path is easy to see, even if it is still narrow. The Bucs believe winning the rest of their division games could be enough to carry them into the playoffs, which gives every NFC South matchup a little more weight from here on out. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Secondary Is Forcing A Much Bigger Conversation
The Buccaneers defense has spent enough time near the top of the league this season to make the secondary a real talking point, not just a supporting cast. Tampa Bay currently ranks first in expected points added per play allowed, and a big part of that surge has been the play of cornerback Jacob Parrish, whose coverage and run support have stood out as the unit has tightened up behind an improving pass rush.
Parrishs value has been easy to see on tape, especially in how he handles receivers at the line and stays disciplined once the play develops. Todd Bowles has singled out those traits while the rest of the defense keeps rounding into form, with contributions coming from several rushers, including Rueben Bain Jr. and Yaya Diaby. The bigger question now is how high this group can climb if the back end keeps playing at this level and the pressure up front keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Suddenly Face A Yaya Diaby Problem In Playoff Push
The Buccaneers pass rush took a hit at a bad time, with head coach Todd Bowles confirming that Yaya Diaby is dealing with an MCL sprain and is currently sidelined. Diaby has been one of the more important pieces of Tampa Bays defensive front, and his absence adds another layer of pressure as the team tries to keep its playoff push on track.
For now, the Bucs are leaning on younger and less established options to help fill the gap, including rookie Reuben Bain Jr. and David Walker. Tampa Bay has managed to keep moving, but the next stretch will say plenty about how well the defense can absorb the loss if Diabys recovery takes longer than hoped. [Read more 🡒]