Bucs hit their bye at 3-6, a half-game out of the NFC South lead
Tampa Bay plays next at Detroit on Nov. 22, and Todd Bowles says the off week is a time to lighten Bucky Irving's load and fix the passing game.
TAMPA - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into their Week 10 bye at 3-6 after Sunday night's 27-24 loss at Chicago, still a half-game behind the NFC South lead, according to the team.
The Bucs play next at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m. ET. The team says Detroit is 6-2 after a 19-9 win at Miami in Week 9 and plays New England in Munich, Germany, this week.
The division could shift while Tampa Bay sits. The team's preview lists Carolina and New Orleans at 3-5 each, meeting in New Orleans, and Atlanta at 3-6, at home against Kansas City.
Coach Todd Bowles said the team will use the week to study running back Bucky Irving's workload. Irving has 111 carries in the last five games and ranks fourth in the NFL with 825 rushing yards, according to the team. "We're going to have to take some of the carries off of him," Bowles said.
Bowles also named the passing game, turnovers, pass protection and penalties, including five false starts at Chicago, as areas to review. "We've got to make some changes there," he said.
Sources: Buccaneers.com Buccaneers' Next Game: Off to Detroit After Well-Timed Bye and Todd Bowles: Bucs Need to Lighten Bucky Irving's Workload