“If Bucky Is Back, That’s A Very, Very, Very Big Deal”
November 14th, 2025
Could push Bucs over the top.
A football analyst Joe respects is giving the Bucs respect this week.
NFL analyst/columnist Ben Solak of the four-letter was on Mina Kimes’ podcast when the subject of the Bucs-Bills game came up.
Unlike many people (per Action Network, 63 percent of the public money is betting on the Bills this weekend), Solak is not convinced the Bills have this game in the bag. He openly scoffed when Kimes told him the spread was Bills +5.5.
Solak believes if the Bucs play a strong game on offense and defense, the Bills are beatable on their home turf.
“Key to this game for me, if you’re the Buccaneers, is you got to be able to get the Bills into third-and-long,” Solak said. “When the Bills are at their best, they can run the football, and then Josh [Allen] can win in the quick passing game and in the screen game and they can throw to these tight ends.”
Solak then noted that this year, when Allen faces third-and-long, his numbers are way down from previous years. And, he’s been prone to sacks on those snaps.
Of course, this is a non-factor for Joe. Only Cam Ward ate more sacks this season than Drake Maye of the Patriots entering last week’s game and the Bucs couldn’t buy a sack from their edge rushers. Rookie tackle Elijah Roberts got the lone Bucs sack Sunday on the league’s second-most sacked quarterback. Just galling!
Solak and Kimes also discussed the Bills’ soft run defense. Solak thinks the perfect running back to exploit Buffalo’s Achilles heel is Bucs running back Bucky Irving, who returned to practice this week on a limited basis.
“If Bucky is back, that’s a very, very, very big deal,” Solak said.
Solak also added that if Irving cannot go, Sean Tucker needs to get more than 50 percent of the carries.
It won’t be an easy game for the Bucs, but both Kines and Solak wouldn’t be shocked by a Bucs upset.
November 14th, 2025 at 4:36 am
Save him for the 2nd half…just pick his spots…not every down….go slow.
November 14th, 2025 at 5:26 am
Buck, and Tuck.
November 14th, 2025 at 7:12 am
Buc and Chaad 😊
November 14th, 2025 at 7:27 am
The advantage is Bill’s playing in their home field because neither team is playing well currently.
November 14th, 2025 at 7:59 am
“Solak also added that if Irving cannot go, Sean Tucker needs to get more than 50 percent of the carries.”
Even if Bucky can go, Tucker needs to get the bulk of the carries.
Grizzard ran Irving 71 times in our first 4 games for 237 yards and no scores.
Switch gears Grizzard.
November 14th, 2025 at 8:01 am
It’s very doubtful that Irving plays after just a couple days of no-contact practice.
November 14th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Tucker needs the reps to get in a rithym
November 14th, 2025 at 8:46 am
the run game and Grizz is like oil and water lol
hoping Grizz commits to the run game is wishful thinking…
BUCS gameplan should be run dominate….no less than 15 runs per half…Tucker needs 20+ carries this game….
GO BUCS!!!!
November 14th, 2025 at 8:54 am
If ready, use Tucker, White, and sprinkle Bucky in-between. The Bills won’t know whose on first.
November 14th, 2025 at 9:02 am
Bucky is sorely missed.
November 14th, 2025 at 10:11 am
I would say that Tucker and White did a great job last Sunday. Nobody expected us to be able to run the ball…At all. Bucky, Tucker and White? Could be we got something for the Bills. Especially if we can get them in that Third and Long and get off the field.
Go Bucs!
November 14th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Fragile goods. If he plays, he won’t finish the game. Folks, why do you think back like this was available in the 4th round? Chronic career long injuries. His foot will never be right. These precious draft picks aren’t worth what Licht thinks they are.
November 14th, 2025 at 10:22 am
Wow Jeff – just, wow.
November 14th, 2025 at 10:40 am
Jeff – Bucky was injured in 2023 and played through it, college, pedal ankle sprain. His injury last season was hip/spine. Now he has a foot pedal injury. All of these were grade 1. How do you get chronic injuries? Many others have come into the NFL and after with far more. Bucky was a great pick.
November 14th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
The more likely an opposing QB is to “eat sacks”, the less likely it is that we will even lay a breath on him.
As for Bucky- I’ll believe it when I see it. This regime has been completely full of s(p)it when it comes to injuries the entire year.
November 14th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Like I said earlier this week, Tucker needs 23 touches and let’s see if our D can make adjustments on obvious run plays and contain the edges and funnel the backs back up the middle. If not, we get beat on a couple long runs again