The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ season came to an end on Sunday night with a disappointing 23-20 loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFL Playoffs. Despite the loss, one Buccaneer showed why he has the potential to develop into something special.

Rookie sensation Bucky Irving made his playoff debut against the Commanders after assuming the role of starter in the backfield. The talented running back delivered a solid performance, running 17 times for 77 yards while catching two passes for six yards and a touchdown. Irving averaged 4.5 yards per carry, the highest of any rusher on either team.

With his performance, Irving finally set a franchise record. He surpassed former star Warrick Dunn for the most rushing yards by a rookie in a game in Buccaneers playoff history. Dunn set the previous mark with 72 yards in a 20-10 win against the Detroit Lions on December 28, 1997.

READ MORE: Buccaneers lose to Commanders 23-20 to end season in Wild Card round

That’s certainly an accomplishment considering what Dunn means to the franchise. Dunn was drafted by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned two Pro Bowl selections during his time with Tampa Bay. Dunn is known for his dedication on the field and in the community.

Irving split time with third-year running back Rachaad White for most of the regular season. In 17 appearances with three starts, he ran 207 times for 1,122 yards with eight touchdowns and caught 47 passes for 392 yards. Irving had three games with more than 100 rushing yards, including a season-high 25 attempts for 152 yards and a touchdown in a 26-23 overtime win over the Carolina Panthers on December 1.

The 22-year-old led all rookies in rushing yards, rushing yards after contact (556) and forced tackles (57). He is expected to be named to the NFL’s All-Rookie team based on his success this season.

The Buccaneers selected Irving in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He had a brilliant college career at Oregon, where he posted over 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons and earned second-team All-PAC 12 honors in 2023. Erving scored a total of 21 touchdowns in two years with the Ducks.

Tampa Bay has Irving under contract for three more seasons.

Stick with it Bucs game day for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2024 season.

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