Over $150 million was invested in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense this offseason, and it's taken just two weeks for it to all start paying off.
Baker Mayfield is playing like an MVP candidate, Chris Godwin looks like a vintage version of himself, and Liam Coen has the offense looking better than we've seen in years. Not since Tom Brady's second season in Tampa Bay has the offense looked so good, and there's a chance that it might be even better as things continue to click into place.
Dave Canales helped crack the door on the offense's potential, but Coen has blown it off the hinges. Through the first two weeks of the season, the Buccaneers offense is averaging nearly 30 points per game, which is a far cry from where things have been. Godwin already has 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Baker is tied for the most touchdowns in the NFL.
For as good as things are going, there's still one key missing element that might finally start to turn around on Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Buccaneers have the perfect matchup to finally get the run game going
Everything about the offense seems to be humming, except the run game.
It's become a white whale in Tampa Bay, as the run game has stalled out going on three years now. Things seem to finally be set in place for that to change, but we've yet to see any real results through the first two weeks of the season. That could change on Sunday, as the Denver Broncos defense is built to give the Bucs' backfield a breakout game.
Denver has allowed 287 total rushing yards over its first two games, including 103 yards to Kenneth Walker III in Week 1. So far the Broncos are giving up around four yards per carry, which is a number the Bucs have to be licking their chops looking at.
Last week Denver gave up a combined 111 yards to the Steelers' running back duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. That bodes pretty well for both Bucky Irving and Rachaad White to finally have the big game we've been waiting for.
Detroit pretty much shut the run game down last Sunday, holding Irving and White to just 40 yards. Baker Mayfield led the team in rushing, and while his angry runs were awesome to witness and helped change the game, having him at the top of the stat sheet with just 34 yards means something went wrong.
White suffered an injury, which didn't help, and Irving got bottled up thanks to a banged up offensive line getting swarmed by a mammoth Lions front. Week 1 gave us a better glimpse at their potential, as the duo ran all over Dan Quinn's defense for a 3.8 yards per carry average.
.@Buccaneers @BuckyIrving "triple trap; double scoop". Thats what HOFer @WarrenSapp calls it and cant execute any better. Nice afternoon for the Bucs rookies #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/RoxR4ogJwF
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 9, 2024
Irving was specifically impressive, leading the team in rushing with 62 yards including a 31-yard bruiser. That's what the Bucs will want to see more of on Sunday against a Denver run defense that ranks near the bottom of the league.
Everything else on offense has been impressive so far this year, and the stars are aligning for the run game to finally join the party.
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