The Tampa Bay Buccaneers attempted just three passes Sunday and completed none—a rare feat in the Super Bowl era. But they still had plenty to celebrate, beating the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 in relentless rain and setting a franchise record with 324 rushing yards.
The win also gave Tampa Bay renewed hope in the NFC South. Head coach Todd Bowles said the weather made the game plan fairly clear.
“The conditions told him that,” Bowles said, referring to quarterback Baker Mayfield. “You could see it was pouring down there and the wind was blowing. The ball wasn’t going anywhere.”
With the field soaked and muddy, the game became a showcase for the ground attack. Mayfield went 0-for-3 passing, while Bucky Irving rushed for 170 yards at 6.3 yards per carry. Kenneth Gainwell added 140 yards, averaging 5.6 per attempt.
Mayfield opened his postgame news conference with a wry nod to the unusual performance: “All right, let’s get this over with because you don’t want to talk to me.” Asked about blocking for a runner, he said, “If you’re not going to throw the ball, I got to get active somehow.”
According to the Associated Press, the only other NFL team since the Super Bowl era began to finish a game without a completion was the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 29, 1974. Quarterback Joe Ferguson tried two passes that day, and O.J. Simpson rushed for 117 yards.
Irving said he hadn’t paid much attention to the forecast before the game. “We’re going to have to play in it anyway,” he said. “Rain, snow, muddy, you’re going to have to play in it anyway.”
Atlanta, meanwhile, had little more success through the air. Michael Penix Jr. completed eight of 24 passes and threw four interceptions. Tampa Bay stuck with the run—and came away with a shutout.
