The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ second touchdown drive began and ended with great individual efforts.
Watch the video below.
SCORE: 17-10
TIME: 7:26 3Q
DOWN/DISTANCE: 2nd-and-goal at ATL 10
THE PLAYS:
- First: Kameron Johnson, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024, found a seam in the Atlanta Falcons’ punt coverage, veered to the right sideline and ran 54 yards to set up the Bucs at the Atlanta 32-yard line.
- Five plays later: Bucky Irving took a pass from Baker Mayfield and raced two Falcons defenders for the near right corner of the end zone. At the 3-yard line, Irving launched into a headlong dive with the football extended in front of him. He nudged the inside edge of the goal-line pylon for the score.
“Few players are able to leave a significant imprint during their inaugural campaign in the NFL,” wrote Buccaneers.com. “Fewer are able to transform a ground game that had been a league afterthought into a top-five unit. Even fewer are able to shatter franchise records and rank among the NFL's best, as Irving did. Fewer still have the humble demeanor that anchors them. Irving produced a prolific rookie campaign, yet he presents the antithesis of self-absorption, and is uncomfortable with lavish attention.”
In his rookie season of 2024, Irving was a 1,000-yard rusher and amassed 1,514 yards from scrimmage. He was named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team.
To which Irving told Buccaneers.com: "I've got to do it again."
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