After Jalon Daniels leads Bucs over Cowboys, NFL teams are 8-4 when starting a backup QB

On Thursday night in Dallas, Bucky Irving provided the Buccaneers with a crucial win over the Cowboys, marking their first victory of the season. Irving's standout performance included a remarkable 165 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, achieving an impressive average of 7.9 yards per attempt. Additionally, he contributed two receptions for 10 yards, including a crucial five-yard touchdown pass from Jalon Daniels that leveled the score in the second quarter.

Irving's pivotal play of the game came after halftime, when he sprinted for a 72-yard touchdown, setting up Emeka Egbuka's subsequent touchdown two plays later. The Buccaneers excelled as a cohesive unit, amassing 241 yards on the ground and controlling the ball for 39 minutes and 21 seconds, effectively keeping Dallas' offense off the field.

Irving's ability to consistently trouble defenders, exercise patience behind the line, and inject a physicality into Tampa Bay's style of play were notable improvements since the opening four weeks of the season. He also sealed the victory with a 22-yard rushing run in the final minute following Alex Anzalone's late interception, allowing Tampa Bay to kneel out the clock.

This decisive performance underscored the Buccaneers' reliance on Irving from the outset, ultimately securing their maiden win of the 2023 season.