Buccaneers set rushing record in 16-0 shutout of Falcons
Tampa Bay completed zero passes in a game against Atlanta, marking the first time that has happened in the Super Bowl era since 1974.
By Joseph Brooks ·
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 on Sunday, completing the most statistically improbable victory in the modern era of professional football. The Bucs recorded zero completed passes, a feat not achieved by any team since the Buffalo Bills in 1974.
Baker Mayfield attempted three forward passes and completed none during the contest. He played his second game back from a fractured thumb, missing three weeks of action prior to this matchup. Despite the lack of aerial production, the Buccaneers built a lead on the ground and held the Falcons scoreless on a wet field in Tampa.
Bucky Irving carried the ball 27 times for 170 yards and one touchdown. Kenny Gainwell added 140 yards on 25 carries. The pair combined for 310 of the team's 324 total rushing yards, setting a new franchise record. Tampa Bay's previous single-game high was 283 yards, set in a 45-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015.
Chase McLaughlin converted three field goals, maintaining his perfect 19-for-19 record for the season. The kicker struck from 46, 34, and 42 yards out. Irving's four-yard touchdown run in the third quarter extended the lead to 16-0, capping a sequence where the offense relied heavily on the run.
The Falcons struggled to find an answer under the arm of Michael Penix Jr. He was intercepted four times on 24 attempts, managing only 125 passing yards. Atlanta's running back Bijan Robinson was limited to 76 yards on 19 carries. Nick Folk missed a 53-yard field goal attempt wide left on the opening drive, a miss that would prove costly in a low-scoring affair.
Tampa Bay's defense forced turnovers to control the game. Alex Anzalone intercepted Penix twice, while Jacob Parrish picked off a fourth-down attempt in the final quarter. One turnover sequence did not end in points for Tampa Bay. After Anzalone returned an interception to the Atlanta 18-yard line, Irving fumbled out of the end zone for a touchback after taking a lateral from Mayfield. Jessie Bates III forced the ball loose.
Mayfield faced former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski in this matchup. The two share a history of winning playoff games for Cleveland, though their relationship cooled after the 2022 trade that sent Mayfield to Carolina. Mayfield scrambled for 13 yards during the game but relied on the ground game to sustain drives.
The result moves the Buccaneers to 3-5, giving them three wins in their last four games. They sit half a game behind the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South. The Falcons also fell to 3-5 and will travel to Madrid next week to face the Cincinnati Bengals. Tampa Bay will host the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday night.
Injuries affected both rosters during the game. Atlanta wide receiver Zacchariah Branch and defensive end Samson Ebukam left with hamstring issues. Tampa Bay outside linebacker Yaya Diaby exited in the first quarter with a knee injury. Both teams will rest their key players before their next matchups.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
