The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) secured a 16-0 home victory over the Atlanta Falcons (3-5) on Sunday in heavy rain, achieving a statistical anomaly not seen in the NFL for decades.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield did not complete any of his three pass attempts, making the Buccaneers the first team since the 1974 Buffalo Bills to win a game without a single completion. Tampa Bay is also the first team since the 1945 Pittsburgh Steelers to win by double digits without a completion, and the first since the 1933 Boston Braves (now Washington Commanders) to combine zero completions with over 300 rushing yards (324).
Mayfield, returning from a three-game absence due to a right thumb dislocation, ran for 14 yards on four carries as the Buccaneers leaned entirely on their ground game. Running back Bucky Irving led with 170 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries (6.3 yards per carry), while Kenneth Gainwell added 140 yards on 25 carries (5.6 yards per carry). Irving and Gainwell became the first teammate duo in NFL history to each record 25-plus carries and 125-plus rushing yards in the same game.
The Buccaneers have now won consecutive games against NFC South rivals despite a limited passing attack. In Week 7, they forced four Carolina Panthers turnovers, including a 32-yard fumble return touchdown. Against the Falcons, they forced quarterback Michael Penix Jr. into a career-high four interceptions; he completed just 8 of 24 passes for 125 yards. This marked the first time a Falcons quarterback threw four interceptions in a game since Kirk Cousins did so in a Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2024 season.
The Carolina Panthers remain atop the NFC South at 3-4 entering Week 9, with the Buccaneers and Falcons both at 3-5. The New Orleans Saints sit last at 2-5 and are on a bye in Week 8. Through the first half of the season, the NFC South remains the most wide-open division in the NFL.
