Tampa, Florida: Buccaneers Beat Falcons 16-0 Without Completing a Pass, a First in the NFL Since 1974

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, without completing a single pass. Baker Mayfield attempted three passes and completed none of them in heavy rain, and Tampa Bay still won with room to spare, running for 324 yards, kicking three field goals and intercepting Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. four times.

The Buccaneers are the first NFL team to win a game without a completed pass since the Buffalo Bills in 1974, according to Touchdown Wire and Heavy, which cited a post-game note from ESPN reporter Adam Schefter. It was also only the second shutout of Atlanta in the history of the series. The first came in 2004.

A ground game that set a team record

Tampa Bay ran the ball 56 times for 324 yards, breaking the franchise record of 283 rushing yards in a game late in the fourth quarter on a six-yard run by Kenny Gainwell. Bucky Irving carried 27 times for a career-high 170 yards and scored the game's only touchdown on a four-yard run in the third quarter, at the end of a six-play, 90-yard drive that included a 46-yard Irving run and a 28-yard Gainwell run. Gainwell added 140 yards of his own.

Chase McLaughlin scored the rest, making field goals of 46, 34 and 42 yards, all in the first half. Atlanta's first drive had ended with a 53-yard Nick Folk field goal attempt that went wide left, and Tampa Bay led 9-0 at halftime without completing a pass.

Four interceptions for the Tampa Bay defense

Penix finished 8 of 24 for 125 yards, with four interceptions and a passer rating of 12.0. Linebacker Alex Anzalone intercepted him twice in the first quarter, and Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum intercepted him once each. Atlanta went 0 for 12 on third down, according to the Bucs Wire live report, and its best late chance ended on a fourth-down incompletion after a 76-yard pass from Penix to Jahan Dotson reached the Tampa Bay 22 in the fourth quarter. Bijan Robinson carried 19 times for 76 yards for Atlanta.

One Tampa Bay drive summed up the afternoon. Anzalone's first interception gave the Buccaneers the ball near midfield, Mayfield lateraled to Irving on a trick play, and Atlanta safety Jessie Bates III forced a fumble into the end zone for a touchback as Irving was about to score. Tampa Bay still never trailed, and never needed the passing game to change that.

What it means in the NFC South

Both teams are 3-5. Tampa Bay, which has won both games since Mayfield returned to the lineup, moved level with Atlanta and one loss behind the Carolina Panthers, who lead the division at 3-4 coming out of their bye week. The New Orleans Saints are 2-5 and were also on a bye. Atlanta head coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game that the rain was a factor but that both teams had to play in the same conditions. Tampa Bay plays next on Sunday, November 8, at the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football.