Bucky Irving produced the best rushing performance of his career on Thursday night, carrying the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 24-16 win over the Dallas Cowboys and the franchise's first victory of the 2026 NFL season.
The Buccaneers entered the game 0-4 and, playing without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, had turned to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels. Irving, who had managed just over 60 rushing yards per game through the first four weeks, changed the evening completely: 21 carries for a career-high 165 yards and his second rushing touchdown of the season. He added two catches for 10 yards, one of them a touchdown, finishing with 175 total yards and two scores.
The turning point
Trailing 10-7, Irving broke a weaving 72-yard run to open the third quarter. Tampa Bay scored on the very next play and never trailed again, outscoring Dallas 17-6 from that moment on. Without his primetime effort, the Buccaneers would more likely have fallen to 0-5.
Sources:
USA Today / Ducks Wire — Bucky Irving has career-high rushing day on Thursday Night Football
The Buccaneers entered the game 0-4 and, playing without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, had turned to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels. Irving, who had managed just over 60 rushing yards per game through the first four weeks, changed the evening completely: 21 carries for a career-high 165 yards and his second rushing touchdown of the season. He added two catches for 10 yards, one of them a touchdown, finishing with 175 total yards and two scores.
The turning point
Trailing 10-7, Irving broke a weaving 72-yard run to open the third quarter. Tampa Bay scored on the very next play and never trailed again, outscoring Dallas 17-6 from that moment on. Without his primetime effort, the Buccaneers would more likely have fallen to 0-5.
Sources:
USA Today / Ducks Wire — Bucky Irving has career-high rushing day on Thursday Night Football
