Winning Without Passing: A Rare NFL Win for the Bucs

Charlie Zschau Published: 1 hour ago

When was the last time an NFL team won without completing a single pass?

It is not every day that an NFL team puts together a tactical masterclass entirely on the ground, avoiding the aerial route altogether. In a sport dominated by high-flying passing attacks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently etched their names into the record books with a bizarre, rain-soaked triumph over the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium.

Playing through heavy rain that turned the turf into a soggy, challenging landscape, the Buccaneers relied exclusively on their running game to grind out a 16-0 victory.

A Historic Stat Line

To describe the game plan as unusual would be a considerable understatement. The Buccaneers became the first team to win an NFL game without completing a pass since the Buffalo Bills did so back in 1974. What made Tampa Bay’s achievement even rarer was the margin of victory. According to league researchers, no team had won an NFL game by double digits without a completed pass since 1945.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield finished the afternoon with zero passing yards, recording three incomplete attempts and a two-yard loss following a third-quarter sack by Atlanta’s Harold Perkins Jr. This left the Buccaneers with a total tally of -2 passing yards. Yet, the lack of an aerial game mattered little as the ground attack produced a staggering 321 total yards of offense.

Bucky Irving led the charge with a phenomenal 170 rushing yards from 27 carries, capping off his display with the match's only touchdown. He was ably supported by Kenny Gainwell, who added 140 yards on 25 attempts, whilst Mayfield himself contributed 14 rushing yards.

Interestingly, Mayfield’s quiet day through the air also followed a testing physical recovery earlier in the campaign. On September 27, 2026, during Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings, the quarterback suffered a dislocated right thumb on his throwing hand late in the fourth quarter.

A medical evaluation and subsequent MRI revealed no fractures, tendon damage, or ligament tears, though he missed a brief period to recover and regain his grip strength. Having since returned to the lineup, shed the protective glove he temporarily wore, and received full clearance to play, Mayfield's overall toughness was clear—even if Sunday's sodden conditions naturally steered the team towards a purely ground-based strategy.

Echoes from 1974

Before Sunday, the only other time this happened in modern NFL history was on 29 September 1974. The Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets 16-12. Bills quarterback Joe Ferguson did not complete either of his two passes (though he also ran for 14 yards), while Jets star Joe Namath only completed 2 of 18 passes.

In the recent game, Tampa Bay led 9-0 at half-time thanks to three field goals from Chase McLaughlin. At that point, Mayfield still had zero passing yards, but the team had gained 146 yards entirely by running the ball.

Atlanta also struggled. Their quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., had a tough day with four interceptions from 24 attempts, finishing with 124 passing yards. Running back Bijan Robinson tried to help Atlanta by rushing for 76 yards.

Looking Ahead in the NFC South

For the Buccaneers, the hard-fought victory is their first home win of the season, moving both Tampa Bay and Atlanta to matching 3-5 records. The defeat extends a testing run for the Falcons, who have now dropped three of their last four outings. Both sides currently sit tied for second place in a tightly contested NFC South, remaining just a half game behind the division-leading Carolina Panthers.

Ultimately, Sunday's game served as a timely reminder that whilst passing statistics often dominate the headlines, traditional trench warfare and a resolute ground game can still write their own piece of history.