TAMPA, Fla. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers relied on a record-setting rushing performance to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 on Sunday, Nov. 1, despite finishing without a completed pass. Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell led an offense that gained 324 yards on the ground in wet, sloppy conditions, helping Tampa Bay improve to 3-5.
Baker Mayfield missed on all three of his pass attempts as the Buccaneers became the first NFL team to finish a game without a completion since Buffalo beat the New York Jets 16-12 on Sept. 29, 1974. That Buffalo victory had been the only such game in the Super Bowl era. Tampa Bay's win brought the number of victories without a completion since 1940 to six.
Irving carried 27 times for 170 yards and a touchdown, while Gainwell added 140 yards on 25 attempts. They became the first teammates in NFL history to each record at least 25 carries and 125 rushing yards in the same game. Tampa Bay surpassed its previous rushing record of 283 yards, set in a 45-17 victory at Philadelphia on Nov. 22, 2015, when Doug Martin contributed 235 yards.
Making his second appearance since missing three weeks with a fractured thumb, Mayfield handed the ball off 52 times and gained 13 yards scrambling. He also helped clear a path during Gainwell's 28-yard fourth-quarter run, blocking Jessie Bates III after the running back changed direction and finishing the play in a puddle. A sack left Tampa Bay with minus-2 net passing yards, meaning its rushing total exceeded its 322 yards of overall offense.
Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed eight of 24 passes for 125 yards and threw four interceptions as the Falcons fell to 3-5. Bijan Robinson finished with 76 yards on 19 carries. Alex Anzalone intercepted Penix twice, and Jacob Parrish also picked him off on a fourth-down throw at Tampa Bay's 17-yard line.
Chase McLaughlin supplied Tampa Bay's first nine points with field goals from 46, 34 and 42 yards, extending his perfect season to 19 successful attempts. Atlanta's Nick Folk missed a 53-yard attempt wide left on the opening possession. The Buccaneers also squandered an early scoring chance when Bates forced Irving to fumble through the end zone for a touchback after Irving received a lateral from Mayfield.
Irving's 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter pushed Tampa Bay's advantage to 16-0, and the Buccaneers continued leaning on their rushing attack. The offensive line, led by two-time Pro Bowl tackle Tristan Wirfs, helped Irving and Gainwell sustain that approach through the rain.
Tampa Bay has now won three of four games following an 0-4 start and sits a half game behind Carolina, which is 3-4, in the NFC South. The shutout followed a 43-13 victory over the Panthers in which Mayfield completed seven of 11 passes for 64 yards.
