The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found a formula on the ground against Carolina, and Kenny Gainwell was part of the reason the day got so out of hand for the Panthers.
Tampa Bay leaned into the run in a big way in that rivalry win, going to the ground more than 80 percent of the time in what the source described as historic fashion. Bucky Irving set the pace, but Gainwell turned in his best outing as a Buccaneer as all three Tampa Bay backs had success against a soft Carolina defense.
Gainwell finished with 14 carries for 88 yards, blowing past his previous season high of 18 yards on four carries in the win over the Cowboys a couple of weeks earlier. It was also the only game this season in which he did not catch a pass. Even more surprising, he has never had more than three receptions in a game and has reached 20 receiving yards just once in the 2026 campaign.
That’s where the frustration starts to creep in for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have already seen what Gainwell can do when he gets downhill work, but they still haven’t really tapped into what he offers as a receiver. The source points out that Zac Robinson likes his screens, yet Tampa Bay still hasn’t schemed one of its best YAC players into enough space to do real damage.
That stands out because Gainwell was one of the league’s best receiving backs last season, hauling in 73 passes for the Steelers. In Tampa Bay, though, that part of his game has barely shown up.
With Baker Mayfield only two games into his return from injury and still being eased back into full-time throwing duty, a back who can create after the catch matters even more. Gainwell fits that description, and the Falcons matchup only sharpens the case for getting him more involved.
Atlanta has allowed more passing yards proportionately than rushing yards, but the bigger issue for Tampa Bay is how the Falcons defend through the air. Their cornerbacks and safeties are described as a talented group that can cover and make plays on the ball. Their linebackers, however, are another story.
That’s the opening for Gainwell. Atlanta’s linebackers struggle in coverage, and the source says they won’t be able to handle a player like him, including when he splits out and catches passes down the field, something he often did for Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
If Tampa Bay wants to squeeze the most out of Mayfield against an NFC South rival, Gainwell looks like a natural pressure point. His ability to create space and make defenders miss as both a runner and a receiver could end up being the difference in helping the Buccaneers get a much-needed win over the Falcons.
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For Tampa Bay, the challenge is not just slowing a productive passer, but doing it against a quarterback who has been among the NFLs most careful with the football. The Buccaneers have already spent plenty of time dealing with top-tier arms this year, and this matchup adds another test of whether their defense can stay disciplined when the ball is coming out on time and the mistakes are hard to find. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Need 2 Shaky Units To Hold Up Against Atlanta
The Buccaneers are trying to turn one good win into something more meaningful after handling Carolina and putting themselves in position to chase back-to-back victories for the first time in over a year. Atlanta is next, and with the NFC South picture always tight, this one carries a little extra weight for Tampa Bay. The Bucs have enough established pieces to make that possible, but they also know the margin gets thinner when key units are asked to carry their share.
Linebackers Alex Anzalone and Josiah Trotter will be under the microscope again, and the middle of the defense has to be steadier against a Falcons offense that can stress a team in multiple ways. On the other side, Tampa Bay needs its receiver group to keep functioning around Chris Godwin and provide enough support to keep the offense moving. The matchup does not leave much room for a weak spot, which is why this feels like the kind of game where the Bucs either clean up a few lingering issues or get reminded quickly how fragile a winning streak can be. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Catch Falcons Defense At A Very Good Time
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Atlanta also elevated running back Khalil Herbert and linebacker Brian Asamoah from the practice squad, giving the roster a little more depth for the trip. For Tampa Bay, it is the kind of injury report that can change the feel of a divisional game in a hurry, especially against a defense that now has to ask young players to handle bigger roles on short notice. [Read more 🡒]