BUCCANEERS BEAT FALCONS 16-0 WITHOUT COMPLETING A PASS

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 in an NFC South match in Tampa without completing a single forward pass. Quarterback Baker Mayfield attempted only three passes during the game, and none were caught, leaving every Buccaneers receiver with zero receiving yards. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported it was the first time an NFL team had won a game while completing zero passes since the Buffalo Bills achieved the feat in 1974. The game was played in heavy rain in Tampa. Mike Florio and Chris Simms discussed the result on NBC Sports, describing the conditions as a torrential downpour.

The Buccaneers built their win entirely on the ground, rushing for 324 yards as a team. Running back Bucky Irving carried the ball 27 times for 170 yards and scored Tampa Bay's only touchdown, while Kenny Gainwell added 140 yards on 25 carries. Mayfield contributed 14 rushing yards from four carries himself. Kicker Chase McLaughlin supplied the rest of the scoring with three field goals. Atlanta, meanwhile, struggled through the air, with quarterback Michael Penix Jr completing eight of 24 attempts for 125 yards while throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble.

The result ended with the Falcons held scoreless, completing the shutout for Tampa Bay. Penix's four interceptions and the fumble proved decisive in a game where neither team relied heavily on completed passing. The Buccaneers' approach of leaning almost entirely on their rushing attack, combined with the wet conditions in Tampa, shaped the outcome. The win stands as a rare occurrence in NFL history given the near-52-year gap since a team last won without completing a pass.