Todd Bowles didn’t mince words in his post-game comments. Sometimes coaches speak in paragraphs; sometimes they write novels. However, this time Bowles spoke in six simple words that sliced through the noise, like a sharp knife cutting into butter on Thanksgiving.
Have you ever had those feelings of excitement that come from watching your favorite TV series return after an absence? Building up the anticipation of whether it will be the same magic as it has been in previous seasons? Buccaneers fans experienced these same feelings walking into Raymond James Stadium on November 30th, and something very special was going to occur.
Todd Bowles’ Six-Word Validation
Casey Phillips of the Buccaneers Team Media asked Todd Bowles about Bucky Irving’s return to the field. Phillips also made reference to the crowd chanting Bucky Irving’s name. Bowles answered Casey Phillips’ question with his six-word assessment of Irving’s performance: “He played like he never left.” It was truly one of those great moments.
“He really got the ball moved around in there, took some hits. He passed protected, he understood assignments, and he showed his quickness like he never left before,” Bowles added. The message was obvious—this kid is ready.
Bucky Irving has got the best possible appreciation from his coach after contributing 81 yards off 17 carries for 61 yards with one score and two catches for 20 yards in Sunday’s game. pic.twitter.com/YUEvzVRFty
— Gourab Saha (@gourabsaha666) December 5, 2025
Bucky Irving contributed 81 total scrimmage yards against Arizona. He had 61 yards on the ground on 17 attempts. He ran for a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The final score gave Tampa Bay a 17-3 lead. There were many qualities of Irving’s performance that were impressive. But the most impressive was perhaps the high quality of pass protection Irving showed and the mastery he demonstrated. Few veteran running backs can protect themselves when dropping back for a pass like that.
Baker Mayfield quickly noticed the difference. “Starting with Bucky, just the explosive play ability,” Mayfield stated. “Just having him back out there, he gets a lot of attention whether he gets the ball or not.” Elite players change the game regardless of whether they touch the football or not. Opponents must account for their presence. Meanwhile, the Panthers are not fading away without a fight.
Just last week, the Panthers stunned everyone by beating the Rams 31-28. As a result, Tampa Bay has lost its comfortable lead over the NFC South. Tampa Bay’s next two games against the Panthers are looming like two heavyweight title fights. The division will ultimately be decided in these contests.
A Division Race Turns Explosive
Tampa Bay is 7-5, and the Panthers are right behind them at 7-6. These two teams will face each other twice within the next month. The division has turned into a head-to-head battle between these two clubs. New Orleans and Atlanta are fighting for pride. Pride can be deadly for a spoiler, however. And what better timing than now for Bucky Irving’s return?
Irving is the sparkplug that this offense needed. In his first year, Irving accumulated 1,514 scrimmage yards and scored eight touchdowns. His 81 yards on Sunday were enough to bring his career total to 2,000+ scrimmage yards in just 22 games. Wow!
When the Saints travel to Tampa on Dec. 7, the Saints have the worst rush defense in the NFL (21st). The Saints allowed 126.9 rushing yards per game. Irving could eat this defensive line up. However, Irving did suffer a shoulder injury and was limited on Wednesday’s practice. By Thursday’s practice, Irving was back at full participation. Meanwhile, these six words from Todd Bowles mean more than just praise.
These six words represent a declaration of intent by the Buccaneers organization. The Buccaneers will no longer manage Irving; they will unleash him. That is a huge switch for the Buccaneers heading into their final stretch toward the playoffs.
Todd Bowles witnessed something in that Cardinals game that he liked. Bowles saw a player who was shaking off rust and looked normal doing it. He saw his offense wake up and become active again. And at this point in time, the rest of the NFL would do well to pay close attention to Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers.
Main Image: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The post Todd Bowles’ 6-Word Bucky Irving Remark Carries a Clear Point appeared first on Last Word on NFL.