The Bucs beat the Falcons 16-0 in a downpour at Raymond James Stadium, and they did it without completing a single pass. Baker Mayfield attempted only three throws (none caught) while Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell combined for 310 of a club-record 324 rushing yards on 56 team carries, the most by any NFL team since the 2010 Jets. Rick and Steve credit an offensive line that included Luke Goedeke's return and a sick Graham Barton, go through Irving's patient new style, and note that Irving and Gainwell are the first pair of teammates to each have 25 carries and 125 yards in a game. On the other side, Michael Penix Jr. had a miserable homecoming (8 of 24 for 125 yards and four interceptions, two to Alex Anzalone), and the Bucs defense keeps taking the ball away. The hosts say the weather helped Tampa Bay, but the Bucs handled it better than Atlanta did.
The Bucs are now a half game behind Carolina with wins over both division rivals, and they look ahead to a tough trip to Chicago, followed by a bye and a trip to Detroit. The big question is the passing game: Emeka Egbuka may return in Chicago, Chris Godwin has all but disappeared, and Rick questions whether the receivers can make plays when the Bucs have to throw. They also touch on Baker Mayfield telling ESPN he "sucked" the first four weeks, Carolina firing its defensive coordinator, Dave Canales' job security, the Ravens' quarterback troubles after Lamar Jackson's injury, and a scary neck injury to Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, sending prayers.
After a sponsor break, they turn to the biggest news of the weekend: Elliotte Friedman reported that Nikita Kucherov wants to be traded, and Steve walks through the contract math (an eight-year, $9.5 million-per-year deal that expires, reports of a roughly four-year, $15 million offer vs. a request for $17 to $20 million over six or seven years, and a market reset by Leo Carlsson's $18 million deal and Cale Makar's $20.4 million). The hosts discuss why Julien BriseBois says he won't trade him, why a contender isn't looking to rebuild with draft picks, what it means for the locker room, and whether it echoes the Steven Stamkos saga three years ago. They finish with Florida State's firing of Mike Norvell (with a buyout of about $50 million), how good the job is in today's college football, Florida's loss to Georgia, USF's 46 passing yards, and some Rays news: Taylor Walls wins his first Gold Glove, Drew Rasmussen's $20 million option is picked up, and Yandy Diaz's $13 million contract is finalized.