Buccaneers beat Falcons 16-0 without completing a pass, first NFL team to do so since 1974

A game with no completed pass

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 on Sunday, 1 November, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, while a driving rain soaked the field for much of the afternoon. Baker Mayfield threw three passes and completed none, the first win without a completion in the NFL since the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets 16-12 on 29 September 1974. In that game Buffalo's Joe Ferguson went 0 for 2. Mayfield had returned the week before from three missed games with a fractured thumb, and he threw two passes in the first quarter, none in the second and one early in the third. Tampa Bay finished with minus-2 net passing yards after Mayfield was sacked once.

Mayfield still contributed without throwing. On a 28-yard Gainwell run he raced downfield and blocked Atlanta safety Jessie Bates III, then landed in a puddle. He explained his approach after the game:

“If I'm not going to throw the ball, I have to get active somehow.”

The ground game carries Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay rushed 56 times for 324 yards, a franchise record, and outrushed Atlanta 324 to 99 on the day. Bucky Irving carried 27 times for 170 yards and the game's only touchdown, while Kenny Gainwell added 140 yards on 25 carries. Both running backs set career highs in rushing yardage. The Falcons' run defense allowed the most rushing yards by a team this century in a game against them, according to the game's totals. The rain was steady in the first half, and both offenses struggled to move the ball through the first 30 minutes.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers324

Atlanta Falcons99

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

324 yards

Atlanta Falcons

99 yards

Data from the article text

Bucky Irving170

Kenny Gainwell140

Bucky Irving

170 yards

Kenny Gainwell

140 yards

Data from the article text

Penix and the Falcons' offense

Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. went 8 of 24 for 125 yards and threw a career-worst four interceptions, three of them in the first quarter. Penix's four picks equaled the number he had thrown across his previous 12 games combined. A week earlier he had been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after leading Atlanta to an upset of San Francisco. He was playing his first pro game in his hometown and looked uncomfortable against Todd Bowles' defense. Running back Bijan Robinson described the conditions after the game:

“I have played in the snow before, but I have never played a game like that before.”

Jessie Bates said the Falcons had contained the run for three quarters before the fourth quarter got out of hand. Atlanta, now 3-5, could not find a passing rhythm, and the locker room was quiet after the loss, with president of football Matt Ryan walking through it to speak with players.

Standings and defensive ranking

Tampa Bay improved to 3-5 with its second straight win, following four losses to open the season. Mayfield finished with a passer rating of 39.6, higher than Penix's 12.0. The Buccaneers' defense, which ranked third in EPA per play entering the game, moved into the top spot after the shutout. Mayfield's line was 0 for 3 with minus-2 net passing yards, while the Buccaneers' rushing attack produced its biggest output of the season against an Atlanta defense that had been strong against the run.