The Bucs returned home to Raymond James Stadium after suffering an overtime loss at the hands of the Chiefs on Monday night. Facing a 49ers team who they have lost to two years in a row, it did not get any easier for them on Sunday afternoon.

Looking to end their losing streak before the bye week, the team lost a close one in the final seconds, 23-20. As Tampa Bay gets a much-needed midseason break with its Week 11 bye, here are some impressive performances to build on.

RB Bucky Irving

Bucky Irving has become the team’s featured back over the season, and he has now had the most backfield carries three games in a row.

Irving put together another solid game as a runner and receiver out of Tampa Bay’s backfield. Irving had 13 carries for 73 rushing yards, adding in three receptions for 14 receiving yards. His biggest play was his 12-yard touchdown run at the beginning of the fourth quarter to give the Bucs a 17-13 lead.

There is a reason why he was named one of the best and most surprising players for the team this season. He has been a dynamic weapon who always seems to find a way to get extra yards and make guys miss. The fourth-round rookie has made his mark on the offense, and fans should look forward to how he continues to do so down the stretch.

TE Cade Otton

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: USA Today

Cade Otton has grown into one of the main sources of offense for the Bucs over the past month. Otton has stepped up in a big way, emerging as a trusty, “tough as nails” receiving threat. He did not have an easy matchup in this one, facing 49ers do-it-all inside linebacker Fred Warner.

Still, on a day when not much was going offensively, he was reliable and helped as much as he could. Otton hauled in five passes for 35 receiving yards. It was not as productive of a game as he has had recently, especially considering he as shut out in the second half. But he did enough to remain involved and move the chains.

Otton has continued to make strides as a receiver and an underrated aspect of his improvement has come as a blocker. He is now firmly in the conversation to be the starting tight end of the future.

RB Rachaad White

While Bucky Irving was the team’s leading rusher, Rachaad White was the leading receiver and contributed in the best way he knows how. He hauled in a short pass from Baker Mayfield and took it in for the team’s first touchdown in the third quarter.

Todd Bowles and Liam Coen have gone on record for saying how the offense would need both running backs throughout the season, and in this game, that was on display as both played well and continued to complement each other.

Bucs Run Defense

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Christian McCaffrey was the NFL’s leading rusher last season, and facing a Bucs’ defense that has struggled this season looked to be a prime opportunity to shake off the rust and hit the ground running (pun intended). Tampa Bay’s defense held firm and prevented him from having much success in his season debut.

McCaffrey averaged just three yards per carry, and the defense had answers for limiting his rushing success.

ILB Lavonte David Against The Run

The old man has still got it.

Lavonte David put together one of his better games of the season. David not only provided excellent run support, but he also did enough moving in coverage. He was a sound tackler, recording eight total tackles. It is not an easy task containing Brock Purdy and the cast of stars around him, but David was one of the biggest reasons for limiting the run game’s success.

DT Greg Gaines

Bucs DT Greg Gaines and 49ers QB Brock Purdy – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Greg Gaines is known for being a run stuffer. When Gaines went down with an injury and did not play against the Falcons and Chiefs, his presence was sorely missed plugging up running lanes. Not only was he back and helped in that regard against Christian McCaffrey and Co., but he also recorded a sack.

OLB Anthony Nelson – On Special Teams?

The outside linebacker room has had a lot of problems getting after the quarterback (see most disappointing). Despite a lack of production from them on defense, one of them stepped up in a major way on special teams.

In the third quarter, the Bucs opened the half going three-and-out and punted it away. But after a muffed catch by the Jacob Cowing, Anthony Nelson made a heads-up play to recover the ball and give the offense great field position to try it again.

Nelson has yet to make a Most Impressive column this year, and this is the last way you would expect him to. But he made a play when needed, one which allowed Tampa Bay to tie the game up at 10.