After finishing the 2024 season ranked among the NFL's top five teams in total net yards, rushing yards, passing yards, first downs, third down percentage and points scored, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense looked like it was again one of the league's best through the first six weeks of the 2025 season. As the Bucs raced out to a 5-1 start, they averaged 27.5 points and 353.5 yards per game, though injuries had begun to mount.
At some point, however, it appeared those injuries – including the knee and oblique injuries that quarterback Baker Mayfield was playing through – were starting to take their toll. In a 24-9 loss in Detroit and a defense-fueled 23-3 win in New Orleans, the Buccaneers averaged 231.5 yards of offense and 16 points per game. That took the team to its bye week for some much needed rest and recuperation, and the first game back fell somewhere in the middle. In a narrow 28-23 loss to New England in Week 10, the Tampa Bay attack operated in fits and starts but did rack up 371 total yards.
Overall, it was not a particularly satisfying outing for the Bucs' offense, as was reflected in Mayfield's postgame comments, but there were some positive signs. Standout right tackle Luke Goedeke returned ot the lineup after a six-game absence; Mayfield had some more freedom of movement after his week off and threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions; wide receiver Emeka Egbuka looked to regain his pre-hamstring injury form.
Perhaps most encouraging was a rushing attack that was still without its lead back, Bucky Irving. The Bucs gained 113 rushing yards against a New England defense that came into the game allowing a league-low 75.4 yards per game. That happened on 21 carries, for a robust average of 5.4 yards per tote, and it was not artificially pumped up by any quarterback scramble yards.
As the Bucs try to get their offense back to the game-by-game and quarter-by-quarter efficient unit that it was last year and the first part of this season – returns by players such as Irving and Godwin will help with that – Mayfield says they have to continue to run the ball well.
"We [have] to find a way to run the football, especially down in the red zone when it's tough [and] there is not a whole lot of room to spread them out in a pass concept," he said. "Good teams always run the ball well; we have to continue to improve in that. Obviously, you guys know, it's been different with the offensive line shuffling around, but I thought guys were on the same page even when Ben [Bredeson] went out after the first drive. To be able to execute like that, looking to just stack that and improve continually.
"I thought we ran the ball pretty decent against a very tough rush defense. Like I said after the game, you look at what we did well, we were very physical when we ran the ball well and we [have] to continue that and just execute."
What is still lacking and could take the Bucs' ground game to another level is the explosive plays. Sean Tucker did have three carries of 12 or more yards against the Patriots, but his 18-yarder in that game was the longest run by a Tampa Bay running back this season. Last year, the Buccaneers' produced 15 carries of 20 or more yards.
"You cannot scheme up a perfect run; defenses get paid too, coaches get paid," said Mayfield. "It is about everybody, not just the running backs, straining to finish [and] getting that last difference-making block. Whether it's me carrying out my fake, receivers making sure they're fit up on the right shoulder [and] offensive line getting on their track and making sure they get the last touch -- it's everybody. That's talking about the postgame comments about everybody taking accountability, responsibility where we want to go as an offense, the run game is included in that. It doesn't matter, you have to be detail oriented in everything we do, and if guys do that, we'll start to pick up the pieces."
The Bucs may have an opportunity this weekend to keep the momentum going in their ground attack. The Bills, who have been dealing with injuries of their own along the defensive front, have allowed 147.6 rushing yards per game this season, ranking 30th in that category. Their 5.47 yards allowed per carry is second-worst in the NFL. The Buccaneers have surpassed 100 rushing yards in six of their nine games this season and hope to make it seven in Buffalo on Sunday.
