Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured a 16-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday despite completing zero passes, marking the first NFL game with no passing offense since the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets 16-12 on 29 September 1974.
In a game played in heavy rain, Tampa Bay relied entirely on its ground game. Mayfield attempted just three passes, all incomplete, but the Buccaneers still managed to score 16 points thanks to running backs Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell. Irving finished with 170 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Gainwell added 140 yards. Together, they rushed 52 times for 324 yards, the most ever in a single game for the Buccaneers.
Historic Ground Game
The decision to abandon the pass was a deliberate strategy in the wet conditions. Mayfield, a former No 1 overall pick who threw for 41 touchdowns and 4,500 passing yards in 2024, focused on blocking for his runners instead of throwing. "If I'm not going to throw the ball, I have to get active somehow," Mayfield said after the game.
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr had a difficult outing, completing 8 of 24 passes with four interceptions. Kicker Chase McLaughlin added three field goals for Tampa Bay, though the Bucs did not need all of them given Atlanta's struggles.
Elsewhere in the NFL
Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals threw five touchdowns and ran for another, racking up 462 passing yards in a 43-36 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans. The Bengals are off to their best start since the 2021 season.
The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a late collapse against the Denver Broncos, losing 28-24 after a penalty wiped out what looked like a winning touchdown. Patrick Mahomes was unable to engineer a final-play score.
Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes for the Buffalo Bills in their victory over the Baltimore Ravens, reaching 259 career touchdown passes and breaking the record set by Jim Kelly. The Bills improved to 6-1, the best record in the AFC, though the game was marred by a thumb injury to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson that may end his season.
