TAMPA - Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell became the first pair of running backs in NFL history to each log 25-plus carries and 125-plus rushing yards in the same game Sunday, powering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 16-0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons and a new franchise single-game rushing record of 324 yards.
Irving carried 27 times for 170 yards and a touchdown, while Gainwell added 140 yards on 25 carries - career highs for both backs in carries and rushing yards, according to Elias Sports. The record-setting performance erased a mark that had stood for 28 years.
The previous benchmark came from one of the most celebrated backfield partnerships in franchise history. In a 27-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings, Mike Alstott - selected in the second round of the 1996 draft - ran 19 times for 128 yards, and Warrick Dunn - drafted in the first round in 1997 - added 115 yards on 18 carries. Until Sunday, that remained the only time two Buccaneers backs had each surpassed 100 rushing yards in the same game.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield credited the backs’ discipline for the historic output. “I think both those guys, him and Kenny, were extremely patient today,” Mayfield said. “Trusting their tracks, being where they’re supposed to be at, but then if it’s not there, being patient and not trying to cut it back every single time, trusting these guys to continue to move the line of scrimmage and move those guys up front. So, they did an incredible job today. They’re continuing to see the fruits of the labor.”
Irving had already cleared the 100-yard mark by halftime, while Gainwell had just 27 yards on six carries at the break. A 28-yard run by Gainwell in the third quarter set up Irving’s game-icing four-yard touchdown run, and Gainwell took over in the fourth quarter, consistently converting on chain-moving carries as Tampa Bay bled the clock.
“I mean, I’m a big believer in just knowing that your brother is going to come in and have a day,” Irving said. “I want everybody to have success. I’m not a selfish guy. I’m not a me-guy. I just want to win football games. Like I said, all [those running] backs in that room, we go to war every day. We practice like it’s the game.”
Alstott finished his Buccaneers career with 5,088 rushing yards, second in franchise history, while Dunn ranks third with 4,986. Irving and Gainwell will look to build on Sunday’s performance when Tampa Bay’s schedule continues next week.