In no universe should the Tampa Bay Buccaneers be able to run for over 200 yards in a single game, without their best running back, and come away with a loss.
Except for this universe. The actual one we live in. That’s where the Buccaneers rushed for 202 yards and still lost to the Buffalo Bills, 44-32, in Week 11.
It took a brutal defensive showing for the Buccaneers to lose back-to-back games for the first time this season. It also wasted another brilliant performance from little used running back Sean Tucker, who went off for 163 yards of total offense and 2 touchdowns against the Bills, including 1 rushing touchdown and 1 receiving touchdown.
Tucker, the third string running back, had his big game with starter Bucky Irving out for a sixth consecutive game and backup running back Rachaad White finishing with 10 carries for 51 yards but also serving as a decoy.
“Just a monster game from Sean Tucker,” CBS Sports play-by-play commentator Ian Eagle said during the broadcast.
“This is The Sean Tucker Game,” CBS Sports color commentator and 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt said. “What an incredible game from Sean Tucker.”
Tucker Went Off Against Saints in 2024
Tucker entered the game with just 32 carries for 106 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns through the first 9 games.
If any of this about Tucker seems familiar, it’s because came uncorked for one week in the 2024 regular season as well. Tucker had 192 yards of total offense and 2 touchdowns in a Week 6 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Tucker made the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of Syracuse in 2023 and rushed for just 23 yards in 11 games as a rookie. He had 50 carries for 308 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2024.
At Syracuse, he had 3,801 yards of total offense and 31 total touchdowns in 3 seasons. He was a 2-time All-ACC pick and was named All-American in 2021 after he rushed for 1,496 yards.
Still, the 5-foot-9, 207-pound Tucker went undrafted in 2023 despite being projected as a fourth or fifth round pick by NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein.
“Compact, early down backup candidate with adequate size, good contact balance and instinctive features that create opportunities outside the blocking scheme,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “Tucker lacks the slashing qualities needed to speed through the line and past linebackers. However, he can navigate run lanes and has plenty of balance to keep the run moving after contact. He has lateral elusiveness and the build-up speed to outrun defenders in the open field.”
Buccaneers Blew It With Tucker’s Huge Day
The Buccaneers had to give up 414 yards of total offense and 6 touchdowns to Bills quarterback Josh Allen — 3 passing and 3 rushing — to offset Tucker’s huge day.
“Sean Tucker might genuinely be the most underrated RB in the NFL,” The Wrightway Sports Network wrote on its official X account.
“Congrats to the 11% of users who started Sean Tucker this week,” Sleeper HQ wrote on its official X account.
“Sean Tucker is a starting RB in the NFL and I’m tired of the Buccaneers wasting his talent,” NFL analytics reporter Miguel Chapeton wrote on his official X account.
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