The Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined an exclusive NFL club in their 16-0 home win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
With heavy rain falling on Raymond James Stadium, the Buccaneers leaned on their ground game. The results were so remarkable that quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t even have to complete a single pass.
Mayfield attempted just three passes throughout the rain-soaked affair. He didn’t complete a single one of them.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Buccaneers are the first team since the 1974 Buffalo Bills to win a game without completing a pass.
The Buccaneers gashed the Falcons for 324 rushing yards and one touchdown, with Bucky Irving’s 170 leading the way. Chase McLaughlin tacked on three field goals in the shutout win.
On Sept. 29, 1974, the Bills defeated the Jets 16-12. Quarterback Joe Ferguson failed to complete either of his two pass attempts, but Buffalo racked up 223 rushing yards in the win, per Pro Football Reference. Ferguson had a one-yard rushing score in the game.
Buccaneers Have New Life in the Nfc South
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
With the Carolina Panthers (3-4) losing to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night, the Buccaneers are now just half a game out of first place in the wide-open NFC South.
It’s been a remarkable turn of events, to say the least. Tampa Bay lost its first four games and appeared to be headed for a second straight non-playoff season. But consecutive wins by the Bucs have made the division race a brand new ball game.
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