Buccaneers turn to old-school football and running teams dominated in Week 8

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield only threw three passes, completed zero and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were thrilled with those results.

That’s because the offensive line dominated and the running backs were unstoppable.

The Buccaneers played old-school football in a 16-0 victor y over the Atlanta Falcons in sloppy conditions on a rain-soaked field Sunday.

Behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell, the Bucs set a team record with 324 yards rushing. They were among four teams that ran for 200 or more yards. Those teams went 4-0.

The Lions ran for 230 in a 19-15 victory over previously unbeaten Minnesota. The Cardinals had 202 in a 33-30 overtime win at Dallas. The Steelers got 200 in a 27-6 rout over Cleveland.

Six players ran for 140 or more yards, the first time that’s happened on the same day since 2003.

In a league built around franchise quarterbacks and prolific passing attacks, Week 8 offered a reminder that winning in the trenches and committing to the run is still a formula for success.

No team did it better than Tampa Bay.

Facing the league’s No. 4 run defense, Irving ran for 170 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries and Gainwell ran for 140 on 25 carries. The Buccaneers became the first team to have zero completions since Buffalo on Sept. 29, 1974.

“I love it. That was so much fun. That’s the epitome of what this team is this year, gritty, grimey,” two-time All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs said.

Mayfield signed a three-year contract extension before the season worth $165 million with $150 million guaranteed. He missed three games with a fractured thumb before returning last week. The Bucs haven’t needed him to do anything except handoff. He was 7 of 11 for 64 yards in a 43-13 victory at Carolina last Sunday.

“It’s big time,” Mayfield said about the offensive line’s performance. “I think even more so in these conditions where you know you’re running it. For our guys to just truly take over the game, you can tell that they were feeling it and you just want to continue to lean on that. I don’t think we had a choice with the weather, but they were ready for it.

“When the team knows that you’re going to be running the ball, that’s imposing your will on somebody, and that’s awesome to see, and (I’m) happy for those guys. Two weeks in a row of big-time ball.”

Tampa Bay’s offensive line struggled during an 0-4 start but has played a major role in the Buccaneers going 3-1 over the past four weeks. The Buccaneers have 823 yards rushing in their three victories for an average of 274.3 per game.

“I think I can speak for all five of us – we prefer to run the ball, so we’re begging for those runs,” Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke said. “I mean, obviously, we’re in the position where we can run the ball. It’s not like we’re chasing or anything like that, but we really like to put the guys on our shoulders and really showcase what we can do and everything. I mean I’ll die on the hill that we’re the best O-line in the country.”

In Detroit, the Lions faced a stingy Vikings defense that entered the game ranked No. 2 overall and first in scoring.

Jared Goff had 176 yards rushing, got sacked four times and threw his first interception of the season. But Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 153 yards, including a 30-yard TD run, Sione Vaki had 65 yards and Detroit averaged 5.9 yards against Minnesota.

“The O-line loved it. They loved the challenge of, like, we’re going to keep leaning on you guys. And I thought they played great,” Goff said.

Detroit’s 230 yards rushing were the fourth-most the team has had against the Vikings and the most since rushing for 267 yards at Minnesota on Nov. 24, 1991. It was the most rushing yards the Vikings have allowed since surrendering 259 at Philadelphia in 2023.

The Cardinals lost rookie Jeremiyah Love and Bam Knight to injury but Tyler Allgeier ran for 147, including a 63-yard TD, to help Arizona rally against the Cowboys.

Jaylen Warren had 143 yards rushing and a score, and Rico Dowdle added 56 on the ground and a TD to lead Pittsburgh over the Browns.

The NFL long ago shifted to pass-heavy offenses led by quarterbacks making $50 and $60 million a year but teams that do the dirty work and control the line of scrimmage are going to win plenty of games.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier, left, dives for the end zone to score a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Cobie Durant (2) and Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, right, to score a touchdown during an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) celebrates a run against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell (1) carries against Atlanta Falcons cornerback C.J. Henderson (26) and safety Jessie Bates III (3) in the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) carries for a long gain against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jerry Koosman, an All-Star left-hander who got the final out of the Miracle Mets' shocking 1969 World Series victory over the Baltimore Orioles, died Sunday. He was 83.

Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Koosman had been sick for about a year and died of multiple illnesses in Osceola, Wisconsin, surrounded by his children.

Koosman jumping onto catcher Jerry Grote as they hugged on the Shea Stadium mound after the final out of the World Series remains an iconic image in baseball history. The Mets had never finished with a winning record before 1969.

“We were so choked up with emotion we couldn’t talk,” Koosman was quoted as saying in Peter Golenbock’s 2002 book, “Amazin’: The Miraculous History of New York’s Most Beloved Baseball Team.”

Koosman went 222-209 with a 3.36 ERA over 19 major league seasons, throwing 140 complete games that included 33 shutouts and becoming a two-time 20-game winner.

Relying primarily on fastballs and curves, he was 140-137 with a 3.09 ERA for the Mets from 1967-78, then pitched for Minnesota (1979-81), the Chicago White Sox (1981-83) and Philadelphia (1984-85).

"I feared losing. I didn't want to be looked upon as a loser by anyone," Koosman said in a 2019 interview with Mets broadcaster Howie Rose.

An expansion franchise that launched in 1962, the Mets lost 100 games in five of their first seven seasons and had not come come close to a winning record.

Then in 1969, they surged into first place on Sept. 10 during a 10-game winning streak, winning 38 of their last 49 games and finishing atop the new National League East with a 100-62 record. New York’s No. 2 starter behind future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, Koosman went 17-9 with a 2.28 ERA in 32 starts in 1969.

Koosman was knocked out in the fifth inning in Game 2 against Atlanta of the first NL Championship Series before the Mets rallied and went on to sweep the Braves in the best-of-five matchup.

After Baltimore beat Seaver and the Mets 4-1 in the World Series opener, Koosman allowed one run over 8 2/3 innings and got the victory as New York won Game 2 by 2-1. Koosman pitched a five-hitter in Game 5, retiring future Mets manager Davey Johnson on a game-ending flyout to left fielder Cleon Jones as thousands of fans rushed onto the field at Shea Stadium.

“I turn around and look at Cleon and I see Cleon going back and, uh, the first thing is the heart stops," Koosman told Rose. “Well, then you see him slow down — oh, God, now you know it's OK. Now the only other thing is: Don't drop the ball.”

Koosman was honored with a parade when he returned home to Morris, Minnesota.

Born in Appleton, Minnesota, on Dec. 23, 1942, Koosman played baseball while with the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. According to his biography by Irv Goldfarb of the Society for American Baseball Research, his catcher was John Luchese, son of a Shea Stadium usher. Luchese told his father about Koosman, who passed the information to Joe McDonald in the Mets' front office. Koosman signed on Aug. 27, 1964, for $1,600.

Koosman worked his way up the minor league system and made his big league debut on April 14, 1967, at Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium with 2 2/3 hitless innings of relief. He was sent to Triple-A Jacksonville when rosters were trimmed and led the International League with 183 strikeouts.

He made it to the major leagues for good in 1968, pitching a four-hit shutout at Dodger Stadium in his first start. He was picked for the All-Star team and faced one batter, striking out Carl Yastrzemski for the final out in the NL's 1-0 win at Houston's Astrodome.

Koosman finished 19-12 with a 2.08 ERA on a staff led by Seaver that included a young Nolan Ryan. He finished second to Cincinnati catcher Johnny Bench in NL Rookie of the year voting

He was part of the 1969 rotation with Seaver, Gary Gentry, Don Cardwell and Jim McAndruw, again making the All-Star team.

“There’s the old saying: good pitching gets out good hitting,” Koosman when the Mets retired his No. 36 in 2021. “So that’s what happened and our pitching kind of took over.”

With the Mets trailing 3-0 in the sixth inning of Game 5 against the Orioles, Cleon Jones claimed a Dave McNally pitch hit him. The ball bounced to Koosman, seated in the Mets dugout by manager Gil Hodges.

“As I bent down, Gil says: `Swipe it against your shoe,'" Koosman told Rose.

Hodges then showed the ball to plate umpire Lou DiMuro, who awarded Jones first base. Donn Clendenon followed with a two-run homer, starting the Mets' comeback in a 5-3.

“Maybe it wasn't mine. Maybe it was Cleon's show polish,” Koosman said.

He made two starts in the 1973 World Series against Oakland, getting no decision in Game 2 and winning Game 5.

With the Mets in decline, Koosman told the team after the 1978 season he would retire unless traded. The Mets dealt him to the Twins in December 1978, and he later was traded to the White Sox in August 1981 and to the Phillies in February 1984.

He is survived by sons Michael and Shawn, and daughter Danielle. His marriage to the former LaVonne Sorum ended in a divorce.

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FILE - New York Mets catcher Jerry Grote embraces pitcher Jerry Koosman as Ed Charles, left, joins the celebration after the Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the Game 5 to win baseball's World Series at New York's Shea Stadium on Oct. 16, 1969. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Jerry Koosman, a member of the 1969 New York Mets baseball teamgestures before a pre-game ceremony before the Mets play the Phillies, Aug. 22, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

FILE - Jerry Koosman of the New York Mets makes his last pitch against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 8, 1969. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File)