“Outlier”
October 26th, 2026
Bellcow.
This stat is like a college football stat from the early 1970s when teams ran either a wishbone or a Wing-T.
Once upon a time, if a team threw 10 times a game, that would be a lot. Football used to be all about the run and stopping the run. Now, football is nearly the opposite.
So with a banged-up quarterback yesterday, the Bucs decided to go smashmouth. Run, run more and run some more. Pound the Stinking Panthers.
The Bucs may have run the ball more than you think. Sure, in the box score, the Bucs took to the ground 49 times. That’s a lot. But it gets better.
Per Lindsay Rhodes of Sumer Sports, a data outfit, the Bucs ran the ball on 81 percent of their offensive plays. Not only is that a lot, but it’s more than that. Only once in the past decade has a team run for more than 81 percent of their offensive drives, per Rhodes. That was when the Belicheats played at Buffalo in a howling rainstorm, where throwing the ball proved to be just about worthless.
Tampa Bay ran the ball on 81% of it's plays vs. CAR.
That's the 2nd highest single game run rate since 2016.
(The highest was NE (93.6%) in that extreme wind game vs. BUF from '21.)
Total outlier game from the Buccaneers today.
Data: @SumerSports
— Lindsay Rhodes (@lindsay_rhodes) October 25, 2026
October 26th, 2026 at 9:21 am
But… it worked. So do that. Baker isn’t some star QB. Maybe let him be a veteran game manager type and let the offensive line lead the team. Today’s defenses are built for this – it’s all d-backs.
October 26th, 2026 at 9:28 am
Bucky is fun to watch
October 26th, 2026 at 9:34 am
I like Bucky…
But be weary of the tread on those tires.
Are you really gonna give this dude 30 touches a game?
After missing most of last year due to several injuries?
You sure bout dat?
The Bucs absolutely need to utilize both Tucker and Gainwell if we are going to extend this one game win streak…
October 26th, 2026 at 9:36 am
As long as Bucky can take the pounding and we actually can have a Pass Rush with just 4 guys-who cares if we win the NFC South with a 7-10 Record? Home game for the Glazers!!
October 26th, 2026 at 9:38 am
In the seventies we ran alot of I formations. And passed the ball about 5-10 times a game. It was a straight option I- with the QB, the fullback right behind him, and the tailback behind the fullback. Every play, fullback dive left or right through the 1 or 2 hole with the QB holding the ball in the fullback’s belly, already reading that sides defensive end, and the tailback flying wide for the pitch.
That’s called the triple option, the same exact way the wishbone was the triple option. Seems simple, but to execute that offense was precise decision making. It was a thing of beauty watching a well oiled triple option offense operate.
October 26th, 2026 at 9:40 am
I felt like I was watching my old high school days when we ran wing t and teams knew what was coming and we still ran it down their throats. Thats the best feeling in the world. Pound the rock !
October 26th, 2026 at 9:41 am
All an RPO is that is so glam now is a triple option from the shotgun.
October 26th, 2026 at 9:47 am
Thank God we also took Mr. Fear (Todd) out of the game. The game got so out of hand he didn’t get a chance to play his soft defense. At least he let the backups play more.
That shouldn’t be a concern for this team. So offense keep scoring 30 by halftime.
October 26th, 2026 at 9:56 am
I’m glad you used the word ‘outlier’ Joe, because that’s exactly what yesterday’s game was. Without the Panthers turnovers and their porous run defense, we couldn’t have ever gotten away with running on 81% of our plays.
Atlanta and Chicago have significantly better run defense than Carolina had. Baker’s gonna have to earn a few shekels worth of that $165 mil that he just got.
October 26th, 2026 at 9:58 am
I still say he is NOT a bell cow running back
October 26th, 2026 at 9:59 am
DR?? What if the Bucs were without turnovers,this season ..Why the excuse?
October 26th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Bucky also had some really great blocks when we did pass the ball. Bucky has been outstanding this year and continues to exceed my expectations. He plays twice his size, and he was down most of the week with an illness. Bucky and this O line will have to carry this offense bc the passing game is simply non-existent right now.
October 26th, 2026 at 10:07 am
Agree Steve!! Without the turnovers Bucs would have won Cincinnati , Pittsburg , GB and maybe Cleveland ,,, and for those that think Coaching doesn’t matter , look at Bucs special teams this year compared to last. We had to kick the ball into the end zone every kick to not get torched,, now look at these guys get after it!
October 26th, 2026 at 10:24 am
@ DR
I agree.
However – it does sound a lot like the Dallas game.
Turnovers – 3-0
Bucs ran the ball for 241 yds…
I believe this is how the Bucs will win this season.
Our starting fullback Baker only needed to throw for 64 yards – perfect!
My question is – when will opposing teams figure out this formula?
October 26th, 2026 at 10:33 am
all backs stepped up yesterday, it was great to watch, but it isnt going to work like that every weekend.
not sure why the game plan wasnt more like yesterday during daniels 3 starts. might have been a different outcome.
October 26th, 2026 at 10:40 am
It was a great game this week. I’ll be happy at least until next Sunday. We need to be realistic though. Last week against a good run stopper Bucky had 46yards rushing and 3 receiving. The same offensive line that was dominate this week couldn’t come close to opening holes last week. This isn’t a formula that works in the NFL. Mayfield is going to have to be able to move the ball through the air. Great win, but I’d temper the running expectations.
October 26th, 2026 at 10:49 am
The Falcon will game plan to stop the run daring Baker to throw. Then we will see how that thumb and gloves c are. The mental game is important for a QB. Daniels was fully healthy and panicked in the fourth quarter. A calm mind is mind us more important than a fully healed body.
October 26th, 2026 at 11:02 am
People criticizing Todd’s defense is funny.
For all of our talent deficiencies and players getting drafted to fill position needs they never played in, to come play in a scheme they never played in…
It’s not that bad.
We got a bunch of undersized 4-3 DL who played with their hand in the dirt trying to play OLB and drop into coverage.
October 26th, 2026 at 11:18 am
This game was definitely an outlier, though running the ball more than passing is probably a better strategy than putting the game in Baker’s hands, particularly since he has a bad thumb. Let’s see if the Bucs can string together some wins.
October 26th, 2026 at 11:34 am
It’s a passing league. If you can’t throw the ball the other teams will figure it out and will sit on the run.
Yesterday was certainly an outlier in more ways than one. A scoop and score, a muffed punt and two picks inside the opponents territory. Credit where credit is due, but those are outliers and when they don’t happen and you can only muster 64 yards thru the air, you get a more realistic picture of this team.
October 26th, 2026 at 11:35 am
Marine Buc Says:
October 26th, 2026 at 10:24 am
@ DR
I agree.
However – it does sound a lot like the Dallas game.
Turnovers – 3-0
Bucs ran the ball for 241 yds…
I believe this is how the Bucs will win this season.
Our starting fullback Baker only needed to throw for 64 yards – perfect!
My question is – when will opposing teams figure out this formula?
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MarineBuc,
Still using your fake screen name? Baker with his second highest TD passes in the prior 3years doesn’t need your approval. You are an absolute disgrace pretending to be a Marine. Taking a vacation in Bluffton, SC doesn’t make you a Marine.