In Week 1, Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier were expected to run wild on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense. The Falcons' running back duo was dynamic last year, and should have played a big part in the Atlanta offense on their home opener.
Instead, the Buccaneers' front seven dominated throughout the game and held the Falcons to just 69 total rushing yards. Robinson was held to 24 yards on 12 carries, while Allgeier was held to 24 yards on 10 carries.
It was an impressive display from the Tampa Bay defense, who were dominant against the run in 2024 as well. Last year, the Buccaneers were the fourth best run defense in the league, holding opponents to an average of 97.8 yards-per-game on the ground.
This year's defense is off to a similarly strong start, and Monday night they will have their chance to prove it against the Texans.
Houston will attack the Tampa Bay front with running back Nick Chubb, who is fully healthy after spending most of last year recovering from the injury he suffered in 2023. Chubb went for 60 yards against the Rams in Week 1, but he is a 100-yard threat every game he plays in.
Texans backup running back Dameon Pierce is equally dangerous. While Pierce has only averaged 28.4 yards-per-game over the past two years, he averaged 72.2 yards-per-game in 2022 as a rookie. Pierce is always a threat to have a big game, demonstrated by his 176 yard outburst in Week 18 of last year against the Titans. That included a 92-yard touchdown run, the longest of his career.
If Tampa Bay can keep Chubb and Pierce at bay, they can prove to the league that their run defense is once again one of the best in the league. Shutting down Houston's run game will force the Texans to beat the Buccaneers over the top, and considering their young receiving corps, that will not be an easy task.
Tampa Bay is of course hoping for a win, and it starts with shutting down the ground attack.