Buccaneans win 16-0 with 56 rushing attempts and zero completed passes
Heavy rain in Tampa forced the offense to abandon the passing game, resulting in a franchise record for rushing yards in a 16-0 victory over Atlanta.
By Ethan Mitchell ·
The 2026 NFL season has produced many oddities, but Sunday’s matchup in Tampa Bay stands out for its extreme reliance on the ground game. The Buccaneers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 without completing a single forward pass, a feat that has not happened in a league victory since 1974.
The conditions on the field dictated the strategy. A downpour left standing water pooling inside Raymond James Stadium, and nearly an inch of rain had fallen by kickoff. The weather did not improve as the game started, making aerial throws risky and difficult to control. The Buccaneers attempted only three passes all game, none of which were completed. Instead, they ran the ball 56 times.
This approach was not entirely new for Tampa Bay. In the previous week’s win over Carolina, quarterback Baker Mayfield threw only 11 times while recovering from a thumb injury. The team rushed for 258 yards in that contest. When the forecast called for a storm over Florida for the Sunday game against Atlanta, the coaching staff leaned into that same ground-heavy plan.
The offensive output was historic. The Buccaneers gained 324 yards on the ground, setting a franchise record. The average gain per rush was 5.8 yards. The backfield duo of Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell powered the attack. Irving carried the ball for 170 yards, while Gainwell added 140 yards. Their consistent runs wore down the Atlanta defense.
Head coach Todd Bowles explained that the weather, not a specific instruction, drove the decision to stop throwing. “We didn’t say you’re not going to throw the ball; the conditions told him that,” Bowles said. He noted that the wind and rain made it clear the ball would not travel effectively through the air.
The Falcons’ offense struggled in response. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed eight of 24 passes and was intercepted four times. He also fumbled once. This performance contrasted sharply with his previous two games, where he had thrown for six touchdowns and no interceptions. Mayfield fumbled three times but did not lose any, while Irving lost one fumble.
The result marked the Buccaneers’ first home win of the season, snapping an 0-4 start. Mayfield finished with a 0-3 passing line but expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “It’s a win so,” he said. “I’ll take it, man.”
The last team to win an NFL game without a completed pass was Buffalo in 1974. According to league researchers, it is also the first time a team has won by double digits without a completed pass since 1945. The Buccaneers’ 56 rushing attempts were the most for any team since 2010.
