Buccaneers Beat Falcons 16-0 Despite Baker Mayfield Zero Completions

Baker Mayfield Blocks in a Muddy Victory as Tampa Bay Rushes for 324 Yards Without a Completion

Baker Mayfield threw more downfield blocks than he had completions on a wet, sloppy field in Tampa, Florida. Mayfield didn’t complete a pass as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 on Sunday, relying entirely on the rushing attack of Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to win,” Mayfield said after going 0 for 3. “That’s all that matters to me.”

A Historic Ground Attack on a Rainy Afternoon

The Buccaneers (3-5) set a team record for yards rushing in a single game with 324, marking the first time any team finished a game with zero completions since Buffalo accomplished the feat on September 29, 1974. In that game, the Bills beat the Jets 16-12, which had stood as the only instance of a team winning without a completed pass in the Super Bowl era.

Playing in a driving rain for most of the afternoon, Mayfield handed off 52 times in his second game back after missing three weeks with a fractured thumb. He got out in front when Gainwell reversed direction on a 28-yard run in the fourth quarter, blocked Jessie Bates III, and ended up in a puddle.

“If I’m not gonna throw the ball, I have to get active somehow,” Mayfield said. “Me and Jessie were out there playing in mud.”

How the Record-Breaking Rushing Numbers Piled Up

Irving led the ground game by running for 170 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries. Gainwell contributed 140 yards on 25 carries, while Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals to stay perfect this season at 19 for 19.

Tampa Bay’s previous single-game rushing high was 283 yards, which included 235 yards from Doug Martin in a 45-17 win at Philadelphia on November 22, 2015. Irving’s 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter pushed the Buccaneers to a 16-0 lead as the offense continued to pound the ball on the ground.

“Those guys up front, I see a different look in their eyes when it’s time to run the ball,” Irving said of an offensive line led by two-time Pro Bowl tackle Tristan Wirfs. “I’ll got to war with those guys any day.”

Atlanta’s Struggles and Defensive Turnovers

Michael Penix Jr. struggled through the wet conditions for Atlanta, going 8 for 24 for 125 yards with four interceptions. Bijan Robinson was held to 76 yards on 19 carries.

Nick Folk missed a 53-yard field goal wide left on Atlanta’s opening series before McLaughlin made a 46-yarder on the next series. The Buccaneers missed an opportunity after Alex Anzalone picked off Penix at Atlanta’s 41 and returned it 8 yards, accompanied by an unsportsmanlike penalty on Drake London that put the ball at the 18. However, Irving fumbled out of the end zone for a touchback after taking a lateral from Mayfield, with Bates forcing the turnover.

Anzalone intercepted Penix again on Atlanta’s next possession to set up Tampa Bay at the Falcons 19. Though the Buccaneers couldn’t gain further ground, they settled for McLaughlin’s 34-yarder to make it 6-0. After Jacob Parrish intercepted Penix on a fourth-down pass at Tampa Bay’s 17, the Buccaneers drove 65 yards and McLaughlin connected from 42 yards out to extend the lead to 9-0.

Next Steps in the NFC South Race

The win keeps Tampa Bay rolling after beating the Panthers 43-13 the previous week, a game where Mayfield completed just 7 of 11 passes for 64 yards. The Bucs have won three of four since an 0-4 start and sit just a half-game behind Carolina (3-4) in the NFC South.

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers make history with zero completions in win vs. Falcons | Pro Football Talk

“We have to want it,” Stefanski said of the poor all-around performance by the Falcons.

Injury reports showed the Falcons lost Zacchariah Branch and Samson Ebukam to hamstring injuries, while Brian Robinson (hamstring) was inactive. For the Buccaneers, Yaya Diaby left the game with a knee injury in the first quarter, and Emeka Egbuka (foot) was inactive.

Next Sunday, the Falcons travel to Madrid to face the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL’s second regular-season game in Spain. The Buccaneers will visit the Chicago Bears in a primetime matchup next Sunday night.