Bucs Rush for 324 Yards and Win 16-0 Without a Single Completed Pass
Tampa Bay set a franchise record for ground yards against Atlanta, matching a Super Bowl era first achieved by the Bills in 1974.
By Ana Castro ·
Baker Mayfield threw the ball three times on Sunday and connected on none of them. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not care. They defeated the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 in driving rain, relying entirely on their legs to dismantle the visiting team.
The ground attack produced a team-high 324 rushing yards. That total broke the Buccaneers' previous record of 283 yards, a mark set by Doug Martin in a 2015 game against Philadelphia. It also marked a historic statistical anomaly. Tampa Bay became the first team in the Super Bowl era to win a game without completing a single pass. The last time that occurred was in 1974, when the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets 16-12 with quarterback Joe Ferguson going 0 for 2.
Two running backs carried the offensive load. Bucky Irving rushed for 170 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries. Kenny Gainwell added 140 yards on 25 attempts. The duo operated in a muddy, wet field that made passing difficult. Mayfield, returning to action after missing three weeks with a fractured thumb, scrambled for 13 yards but kept his arm work to a minimum.
Kicking proved decisive as well. Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals to remain perfect this season at 19 for 19. Nick Folk missed a 53-yard attempt wide left for Atlanta on the opening drive. McLaughlin answered immediately with a 46-yarder. Irving’s four-yard touchdown run in the third quarter extended the lead to 16-0, and the Buccaneers maintained that advantage through the final whistle.
The Falcons’ passing game struggled under pressure. Michael Penix Jr. completed 8 of 24 passes for 125 yards and threw four interceptions. Tampa Bay defenders picked him off twice, including a fourth-down interception by Jacob Parrish that set up a scoring drive. Bijan Robinson was held to 76 yards on 19 carries. The game was also a personal matchup for Mayfield, who faced Kevin Stefanski, his former coach with the Cleveland Browns. The two have a complicated history following a trade in 2022.
Injuries affected both rosters. For Atlanta, wide receiver Zacchariah Branch and defensive end Samson Ebukam left with hamstring issues. Running back Brian Robinson sat out with a hamstring problem. Tampa Bay lost outside linebacker Yaya Diaby to a knee injury in the first quarter. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka was inactive due to a foot issue.
This win improves Tampa Bay’s record to 3-5. The team has won three of its last four games after starting the season 0-4. They now sit half a game behind the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South. Next week, the Buccaneers travel to face the Chicago Bears in a prime time slot. The Falcons will head to Madrid to play the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL’s second regular season game in Spain.
