After watching the tape from Sunday’s game, Todd Bowles still couldn’t shake the frustration of the Buccaneers’ dismal 26-7 loss to the Denver Broncos. The eye in the sky confirmed what the coach saw on the field—things were just as bad as they seemed.
"We didn't play well in any facet of the game: offense, defense, or special teams," Bowles remarked Monday, echoing what most fans had already concluded. Whether it was missed opportunities on offense, defensive lapses, or even special teams mistakes, it was a collective breakdown. And with a rookie quarterback like Bo Nix leading Denver to a commanding victory, it stung even more.
Bucky Irving Deserves a Bigger Role
One of the few bright spots in the game was rookie running back Bucky Irving. The former Oregon standout showed flashes of brilliance, rushing for 70 yards on nine carries, an impressive 7.8 yards per attempt. His highlight came on a 32-yard run that demonstrated both his vision and burst. Despite his clear effectiveness, Irving didn’t touch the ball until there were less than three minutes left in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, starting tailback Rachaad White turned in yet another underwhelming performance, rushing for just 17 yards on six carries (2.8 yards per attempt). White did add five catches for 18 yards, but none of those plays were game-changers. If football is all about production, then it's time to face facts: Irving has outperformed White by a wide margin. He’s rushed for 154 yards compared to White’s 66, averaging 6.2 yards per carry to White’s 2.1.
Many fans, and now analysts, are questioning why Bucky Irving hasn’t overtaken White as the lead back. Special talents at running back often reveal themselves early, and Irving is clearly one of those players. Bowles, however, didn’t have a solid answer for why Irving wasn’t featured more.
"It has nothing to do with anything," Bowles said when asked about the lack of carries for Irving. "We were behind, so we threw it a little bit more. Rachaad is probably a better pass protector at this point, but Bucky has definitely earned more reps."
That reasoning didn’t sit well with many observers. Take away White’s best run—a 9-yard scamper in the third quarter—and his per-carry average dips to a dismal 1.6 yards. There’s no doubt that Irving deserves to be a bigger part of the offense moving forward.
One particularly exciting moment involving Irving came when he and White were on the field together. Irving ran an end-around that set up a touchdown pass to Chris Godwin. It was the kind of dynamic play that makes fans wonder why Irving isn’t the lead back already.
According to Pro Football Reference, Irving ranks second in the NFL in yards before contact, averaging 5.2 per rush, ahead of well-known names like Lamar Jackson and Saquon Barkley. Those kinds of stats speak volumes—Irving is making things happen even before the defense gets a hand on him.
A Nonexistent Pass Rush
On the defensive side of the ball, things were just as frustrating. One of the most glaring issues in the loss to Denver was the lack of pressure on the quarterback. The Bucs' defense has been hit hard by injuries, particularly with starting defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey sidelined. Without those two key players, the defense has struggled to generate pressure, allowing opposing offenses to keep their quarterbacks clean.
A good pass rush up the middle can force quarterbacks to the outside, creating opportunities for sacks by the edge rushers. But over the last two weeks, the Bucs have gone without a single sack, despite facing nearly 100 pass attempts.
"Sometimes they just hadn’t beaten their guy," Bowles admitted when asked about the lack of pressure. "Sometimes they had, but the ball had been out. We’ve got to keep working. They’ve got to get there. We need more push on the inside to help them out on the outside."
Bowles couldn’t say for sure if Vea (knee) or Kancey (calf) would be back for the upcoming game against the Eagles. "Not yet," he said, "I’m still going through the training room process of it. People are still getting in there. I’m sure there are some nicks and bruises, but I’m not sure which ones yet."
Without those two, it’s going to be a tall task for the Bucs to turn things around. In today’s NFL, if you can’t pressure the quarterback, you’re going to have a hard time winning games.
Mike Evans Needs the Ball More
On the offensive side of the ball, one of the most puzzling elements of the game was how little Mike Evans was involved. Despite his reputation as one of the league’s premier wide receivers, Evans finished the game with just two catches for 17 yards on only three targets. Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain is one of the league’s best, and Denver did a good job of rotating safeties to keep Evans in check, but it’s unacceptable for a player of Evans’ caliber to be so underutilized.
"We’ve got to get him involved more," Bowles acknowledged. It’s clear that for the Bucs to be successful, Evans has to be a bigger part of the game plan.
In addition to Evans, the Bucs also need more from their other wideouts. They use a lot of three-receiver sets, but both rookie Jalen McMillan and second-year pro Trey Palmer were targeted just twice despite showing potential in training camp and preseason.
"Obviously Mike and Chris (Godwin) are the priority," Bowles said, "but other guys have got to start chipping in, and we’ve got to get the ball to them."
Defensive Issues and Uncertainty
On the defensive side, the absence of pressure wasn’t the only concern. Without key players like Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, it’s been tough for the Bucs to generate a consistent pass rush. This has left their secondary exposed, giving quarterbacks way too much time to make decisions. The defensive line, normally a strength for the team, has looked vulnerable without their anchors.
And while Bowles remained optimistic about getting healthier, he didn’t offer any definitive timelines on when Vea or Kancey might return. Until then, the defense will need to find a way to manufacture pressure, or it’s going to be a long few weeks.
Wrapping It Up
At the end of the day, there’s no sugarcoating it: Sunday’s game was ugly. The Bucs were outplayed in every aspect, and there are no easy fixes. The good news is that there are some bright spots—Bucky Irving’s emergence as a playmaker is something the team can build on. But until they can get healthy and start generating some pressure on defense, it’s going to be a challenge.
As Bowles said, "We’ve just got to keep working at it." There’s plenty of season left, but the Bucs need to turn things around quickly if they want to stay in the playoff hunt.
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