Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From Bucs-Falcons
November 1st, 2026
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
This wasn’t exactly slingin’ in the rain.
The Bucs and their supporters aren’t complaining after a dominating 16-0 victory against an Atlanta team coming off a huge upset against previously unbeaten San Francisco.
Baker Mayfield didn’t register a single completion in his three pass attempts, yet still finished with a better passer rating than counterpart Michael Penix Jr. For the third time in four games, Tampa Bay’s rushing attack proved overwhelming as Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell each topped 100 yards in a franchise record-setting 324-yard ground assault.
Given the driving rain and slippery field conditions, Buc players and coaches said it was a given that the offensive game plan would rely heavily on the run game..With their first home win after an 0-4 start at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs improved to 3-5 and closed within a half-game of slumping Carolina atop the NFC South.
Co-owner Joel Glazer was jubilant as the final seconds ticked off. He was appreciative of Tampa Bay’s physical approach to the game, dismissing the team’s minus-2 yards passing figure as irrelevant.
Tampa Bay’s surging defense more than did its part with four interceptions, including two by veteran addition Alex Anzalone in the opening quarter. Atlanta failed to convert any of its 12 third-down situations and Penix completed only 8-of-24 throws.
“We have to find ways to stay on the field on third down in a game like that, and we did not,” said Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski.
The Bucs are now 6-0 during Irving’s career when the third-year back tops 100 yards on the ground. He and Gainwell are both averaging 5.0 yards per carry behind an offensive line that is carving our huge holes.
“We’ve known this is the type of line we’ve had all along, so to see it come to fruition like this makes us super proud,” said center Graham Barton. “We just kept our pads below their pads and kept playing hard.”
Chase McLaughlin, 19-for-19 on the season, kicked three first-half field goals and Irving’s 4-yard run in the third quarter capped the scoring.
The only Buc giveaway came midway through the first quarter when Mayfield scrambled left and lateralled the ball to Irving, who fumbled out of bounds through the end zone just before reaching the goal line.
The Bucs became the first team since the 1974 Bills to win while completing zero passes. Only the 1955 Washington team finished with fewer passing yards in the win than the Bucs just pulled off, but for one rain-soaked Sunday, it was more than enough to subdue a division opponent.
This was old-school football — three yards and a cloud of slop.
The Bucs and their owners reveled in a winning formula so rare in today’s pass-happy NFL culture. Swarming defense and a withering run game can still work in 2026 and the Bucs will bring their new identity into Chicago for a prime-time matchup next Sunday evening.
Here’s how Tampa Bay literally ground down the Falcons with relentless effort and a strict adherence to a game plan built on physicality:
* Bijan Robinson entered the day as the league’s rushing leader, but he found few holes against Tampa Bay’s stout run defense. He broke loose for a 26-yard dash in the second quarter but finished with only 76 yards on 19 carries. Just as importantly,, Robinson didn’t catch a single pass for the first time all season.
* Anzalone set the tone with two early picks, followed by interceptions from corners Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum. Penix kept floating passes and the Buc secondary feasted. Despite a 76-yard completion in the final minutes, Penix finished with only 125 yards and a brutal passer rating of 12.0.
* Irving is averaging 91 rushing yards, impressing his new teammate Gainwell with his vision and cutting ability. He burst 46 yards off left end in the third quarter and Gainwell ripped off a 28-yard run to highlight a 90-yard drive capped by Irving’s scoring run off right guard.
* Anzalone started the day with five interceptions in 118 career games. He confused Penix by dropping into coverage, reading the throws on two successive drives. He now leads Tampa Bay with three picks for the year.
* Tampa Bay’s defense has been particularly opportunistic the past two weeks, posting four takeways each game. Since the Week 1 setback at Cincinnati, the Bucs are plus-7 in turnover ratio.
* Mayfield wasn’t signed to that fat contract just to hand off, but it’s hard to quibble with the resuts the past two weeks. “I think I can speak for all five of us,” said right tackle Luke Goedeke, referring to the wall in front of Mayfield. “We prefer to run the ball, so we’re begging for those runs.”
* The Buc defense has been putting up impressive numbers. Opponents are converting only 32 percent on third down and averaging just 80 rushing yards. Tampa Bay has intercepted 12 passes while allowing 10 TD passes.
* Not much of a scrambler, Penix is known for a rifle left arm. But instead of firing passes, he struggled with his footing and tossed up softballs that ended up in Tampa Bay hands. Through three quarters, he hit on 5-of-14 for a mere 37 yards.
* The third quarter has been golden for the Bucs, outscoring the opposition 50-20.
* In their three wins, the Bucs have run the ball 144 times, compared to 39 pass attempts. A month ago, Todd Bowles suggested his team needed to establish an identity. Mission accomplished.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:23 pm
Go Bucs ” ignore the haters and noise!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:31 pm
Jacob Parrish is my favorite Buc. He’s our best defensive player IMO.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:36 pm
Buccaneers had 4 picks–just wow!!!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:39 pm
Another good team, all phases W!!!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:43 pm
The D is playing the way a lot of us fans were projecting in the pre season!! The young guys are all playing like seasoned pros!! Even Anzalone is making plays!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:45 pm
What Analone did on his ints is exactly how you stop throw easy catch and run slants that kill this defense all the time. Noisily they keep it up
November 1st, 2026 at 6:46 pm
Just imagine how good the starters could be right now if they had only played some preseason snaps.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:51 pm
Anzalone really stepped as well as the CBs.
Bauer Sharp was a blocking terminator all game. I laughed at his pancake near the end of the game since he destroyed that ATL guy.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:51 pm
The road ahead is difficult to say the least. In the past five years only three teams have started 3-5 and made the playoffs:
2021 Eagles
2022 Buccaneers
2023 Rams
2024 None
November 1st, 2026 at 6:52 pm
jacob parrish is becoming quite the player…everyone was quick to say how great he was almost immediately last year, but he was just decent…
this dude is blossoming…dude can ball…
also everyone likes to bash graham barton…but the big fella is at the center of this beastly road-grading crew…
it can’t be done without him…he is opening holes and putting in yeoman’s work..
give the big fella his just due…if he was a scrub those holes would be much smaller…
the whole f’in line is straight beasting man…it’s wild…!!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:53 pm
@BA’s Red Pen Parrish is sure making a great case to be the Bucs best player! You just keep seeing him get better week after week. I really hope him and Zion continue to try and out due each other and become a duo that receivers want no part of!
November 1st, 2026 at 6:54 pm
2 weeks, 2 divisional opponents…. 2 curb stomping.
November 1st, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Buddha:
it’s not about making the playoffs…
that means you’d have to look at the big playoff picture…
forget the big picture…
narrow the lens broski…
all we have to do is win this stinking division…that’s it…
and we are right there at the top (basically)…
there will be no wild card coming out of the nfc south…
only focal point is to win the division…or sit home and watch
November 1st, 2026 at 7:00 pm
if we could have only just gone 2-2 in the first quarter of the season, we’d be sitting pretty
November 1st, 2026 at 7:03 pm
This takes me back to BucBall of the 97
November 1st, 2026 at 7:04 pm
Great column as usual Ira. I think worth noting the Bucs really dominated this game start to finish. This game could have and should have been a blow out. The Bucs had to settle for 3 instead of 7 after Bucky fumbled in the end zone.Hurst gave up a loss of 7 after dropping a well thrown ball by Baker. The Bucs should have been up 14 to nothing on the first quarter. It was a bit scary as the Bucs D earlier in the season allowed teams to capitalize after the offense’s failure. However, not today they maintained. Again like last week this was a dominating performance in all 3 phases. That is something we have not seen in quite awhile. I hope it is going to be a team habit moving forward.
November 1st, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Been a Jacob Parrish fan since he came here as a rookie. With AWJ III back, it ought to get real interesting what happens with the secondary. Fun, too.
November 1st, 2026 at 7:05 pm
What a bizarre season it’s been. And it ain’t even half over.
November 1st, 2026 at 7:08 pm
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November 1st, 2026 at 7:11 pm
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November 1st, 2026 at 7:16 pm
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November 1st, 2026 at 7:27 pm
Serious question, did Bain play today?
D is playing great despite absolutely zero contribution from Bain.
If Bain ever starts contributing, look out
November 1st, 2026 at 7:31 pm
Erik, Bain had pressure on three out of four ints. Also should have been a hold on him in end zone. Was his best game by far.
November 1st, 2026 at 7:36 pm
I’m guessing the Bucs will be playing a 60’s style of football of run-run- and mix a pass here and their to keep defenses honest and confused. Heh, naysayers what have you got to say to Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers? I’ve noticed your complaints have tapped dramatically.
The Bucs underwent firing a number of coaches this season. Changes require time to implement. We starting to see the benefits of better coaching takes time. Now it’s starting to show up on the field.
Let’s see how far these changes will take us. You never know. A Super Bowl run would really silence the naysayers
November 1st, 2026 at 7:41 pm
Hope Yaya is ok. Bain is coming along and could continue to allow us to rush with 4.
Very impressive win! Keep it up Bowles and Krewe!
November 1st, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Our TE’s deserve a big shout out for their contributions in the running game. Payne Durham has essentially been a 3rd offensive tackle all season. These guys have been setting the edge and pulling through the hole and lead blocking.
November 1st, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Would you people quit saying Hurst dropped the ball. He did not. The CB made a good play and knocked it out of his hands. It happens. The other team gets paid to make plays too. JFC, give it a rest already. Some of you act like you are just now watching football…
November 1st, 2026 at 8:12 pm
JimBobBuc
Bauer Sharp was a blocking terminator all game.
I concur JimBobBuc, I noticed this about him in a couple of games earlier this year. The boy can ball n is hurry. He’s an aggressive blocker, has speed, n plays with violent when on the field. Bauer is our best all around tightend, hand’s down. He ran a 4.6 forty n bench pressed 20 reps. On the other hand, what have Cade “Lost In Space” Otton done for us lately. Why aren’t we giving Bauer more playing time or just start him because after 5 yrs in the league, Otton has reached his ceiling point. Why do we keep players on this team for so long that are below mediocre. They then go to other teams just to serve as backup, or they’re released due to lack of talent n or contribution i.e., OJ Howard, Chris Braswell, JTS, Jaelon Darden, Logan Hall, Trey Palmer etc. it’s time for Otton to sit n let’s see what Bauer after starting a few games. As for recognizing talent, I said last year that Jacob Parrish is the best cb on our team n that’s with Dean on the team. Jacob is a young Brent Grimes on steroids.
November 1st, 2026 at 8:34 pm
STFU. Zero passing yards or completions from the “Franchise” QB. Pathetic.
Another lucky victory versus a moribund team. All smoke and mirrors.
3-5 and 5-12 in the last 17. Spare us the propaganda. This team sucks big time.
Top of the turd pile. A Todd Bowles special. He flat sucks. It’s an embarrassment.
November 1st, 2026 at 8:48 pm
Outside of here, the mainstream sports media is having a field day with Baker’s “no completions” game. What a shame that they’re talking about that more than the historic 300+ rushing yards and four defensive picks.
November 1st, 2026 at 8:51 pm
I hope that the Bucs stick with the winning formula.
Since the loss at Dallas in 2024, I have said time and again that the talent on this offense is best suited to run the ball as the first option, run the ball as the second option, and run the ball at least half the time as the third option.
A consequence of running the ball with such priority is the outstanding quality of the throwing opportunities it creates. If not for drops, Baker would have been 2 for 3 with a TD passing today even though it was not a good day to try to pass or catch the ball.
November 1st, 2026 at 9:00 pm
Un real win.. have the o line turned the corner. We shall see if they can beat a team not in their division or the nfc least.
November 1st, 2026 at 9:05 pm
To clarify, though, it is not just running, but also HOW you run.
On Bucky’s TD, Mauch and Barton blocked left; Bredeson pulled and sealed the right end; Goedeke went straight at his man to take him out of the play; Otton led the way through the hole; and Godwin battled against his man and then let him go just in time to avoid a possible flag – with the result that Godwin’s man hit the back of Bucky’s shoulder just as Bucky crossed the goal line. And, Tez was looking for work – he took a step towards Godwin’s man until he saw that Godwin had him, and then Tez took the next man down the line.
When runs are schemed and executed with that precision, that is when you can run it and run it and run it – and then surprise them with a pass for a big play – if the ball is not too slick to grab.
November 1st, 2026 at 9:09 pm
Erik, what are you watching dude? Bain had a very solid day today. Pressure all day. Contributed to the picks. Seriously dude, what are you watching?
November 1st, 2026 at 9:21 pm
Otton has been blocking lights out.
All 22.
Don’t know where criticism on him comes from. How many catches did anyone get these last two games,es?
November 1st, 2026 at 9:34 pm
Wake me up when they ACTUALLY win a playoff game!!!! Not a meaningless game vs a team so inept it couldn’t stop the run when the QB had ZERO passing yards!!!!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
November 1st, 2026 at 9:42 pm
As a long time Bucs fan, I give Bowles and Robinson a lot of credit. Remember Gruden going into New Jersey and trying to throw 60 times in high wind? Conditions matter.
No style points needed. If you need to run an offense from a 1970 college team, so be it.
November 1st, 2026 at 10:27 pm
I recall reading that back in the 1950’s, when the Browns were new to the NFL, an opposing coach claimed that Paul Brown could only win because he had Otto Graham throwing passes for him. So, Brown beat him with a ground game, not allowing the great Otto to throw a single pass.