After the Bucs’ 26-23 extra time win over the Panthers in Week 13, rookie working again Bucky Irving discovered himself closing in on the franchise’s first 1,000-yard dashing season since Doug Martin’s in 2015. With 5 video games left to play, he solely wanted 268 extra yards to interrupt 1,000 – a mean of 53.6 yards per recreation.
Sadly for Irving, the outlook this week isn’t as promising because it was every week in the past. After coming into the Bucs’ Week 14 recreation in opposition to the Raiders with hip and again accidents that noticed him with a “questionable” tag on the harm report, Irving had his again tighten up early in Sunday’s recreation.
Bucs RB Rachaad White – Picture by: USA Right now
The workforce was understandably cautious about that harm and with Rachaad White main the best way and Sean Tucker chipping in with a giant run of his personal late within the recreation, the Bucs have been capable of cope with out their star rookie working again. Tampa Bay went on to win 28-13 and declare first place within the NFC South.
Nonetheless, Irving had simply 4 carries for 3 yards on the day, which harm his quest to make historical past. He now has 735 yards this season and desires 265 over the ultimate 4 video games to succeed in 1,000 for the season. That’s a mean of 66.3 yards per recreation, which is 9.8 extra yards per recreation than he’s at the moment averaging this season.
He got here into Sunday’s recreation averaging 61.0 yards per recreation, so the 3-yard efficiency clearly harm his season common. However his well being the remainder of the best way might decide how possible he’s to turn out to be the franchise’s ninth-ever 1,000-yard rusher. On Monday, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles basically mentioned the workforce shall be taking it day-to-day with Irving.
“It’s tightened up,” Bowles mentioned. “We have to see how we feel. If he can get it loosened up, he should be okay. If not, we’ll see how the week goes.”
#Bucs HC Todd Bowles says that Bucky Irving’s again tightened up. They must see how he feels. If they will get it loosened up, he’ll be okay. They’re going to see how the week goes.
Bucs’ Schedule Seems Favorable For A Absolutely Wholesome Bucky Irving
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
If Bucky Irving can get again to feeling 100% or near it, he nonetheless has a superb shot at breaking the 1,000-yard mark. As a result of a wholesome Irving is certain to get loads of alternatives, plus the Bucs’ Eighth-ranked dashing assault shall be developing in opposition to some defenses that wrestle with the bottom recreation.
This Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Chargers marks the one one out of the workforce’s remaining 4 video games the place it’ll see a protection ranked within the high half of the league in opposition to the run. Los Angeles is at the moment 14th, permitting a mean of 117.6 dashing yards per recreation. In Sunday evening’s slim loss to the Chiefs, the Chargers allowed solely 96 dashing yards on 25 carries (3.8 avg.). Isiah Pacheco led the best way with 55 yards on 14 carries (3.9 avg.).
However after their Week 15 matchup with the Chargers, the Bucs end out the season with three straight video games in opposition to groups ranked Twenty fifth or decrease in opposition to the run. In Week 16, they’ll face a Cowboys protection that ranks thirtieth due to permitting a mean of 141.9 yards per recreation. Dallas did solely enable 74 dashing yards on 19 carries (3.9 avg.) of their loss to the Bengals on Monday Evening Soccer, however Cincinnati is a passing-based offense and Chase Brown did common 4.1 yards per carry, going for 58 yards on 14 carries.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Picture by: USA Right now
Irving and the Bucs will then see the Panthers once more in Week 17, this time at Raymond James Stadium. Carolina is dead-last in opposition to the run, permitting 170.1 yards per recreation. After all, Irving simply carved up that Panthers protection two weeks in the past, working for a career-high 152 yards.
Relying on how the subsequent two weeks go and the way wholesome the rookie can get for these video games, one other massive efficiency in opposition to Carolina might be the one which will get him over the 1,000-yard mark.
And to shut out the season, Tampa Bay hosts New Orleans and its Twenty fifth-ranked run protection. The Saints are giving up a mean of 134.2 yards per recreation on the bottom, and Irving had certainly one of his higher video games in opposition to them again in October.
Rachaad White missed that recreation, however Sean Tucker was truly the one to interrupt out that day for an NFC Offensive Participant of the Week-winning efficiency. It would’ve been misplaced in Tucker’s massive recreation, however Irving additionally ran 14 occasions for 81 yards and a landing (5.8 avg.).
So, if Bucky Irving can get his again to loosen up and get wholesome for the Bucs’ stretch run, he’ll nonetheless have a shot at being the franchise’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2015.
