Rain Forces Tampa Bay To Win Without A Completed Pass
The Buccaneers rushed 56 times in a downpour at Raymond James Stadium, securing a 16-0 victory over Atlanta.
By Alina Carter ·
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield finished Sunday’s game 0 for 3 on passing attempts, yet the team still walked away with a 16-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The result marks the first time since 1974 that an NFL team has won a game without completing a single forward pass, according to league records.
Three specific factors drove the decision to abandon the aerial attack. First, nearly an inch of rain had fallen over Tampa by kickoff, creating standing water on the field at Raymond James Stadium. Second, the Buccaneers had already committed to a ground-heavy strategy in the previous week’s win against Carolina, rushing for 258 yards. Third, the offensive line and running backs proved effective enough to sustain the drive without aerial support.
The offensive output was extreme by modern standards. Tampa Bay recorded 56 rushing attempts, a total not seen in a single NFL game since 2010. The backfield tandem of Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell carried the load, with Irving gaining 170 yards and Gainwell adding 140. The team totaled 324 rushing yards, a franchise record, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Coach Todd Bowles attributed the strategy to the weather conditions rather than a specific tactical instruction to his staff. “We didn’t say you’re not going to throw the ball; the conditions told him that,” Bowles said. He noted that the wind and the downpour made it visible that the ball was not going anywhere in the air. The last time a team won by double digits without a completed pass was in 1945, per one NFL researcher.
The defensive performance from Atlanta mirrored the offensive struggles. Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed only 8 of 24 passes, was intercepted four times, and fumbled once. This marked a sharp decline from his previous two games, where he threw for six touchdowns and no interceptions. Mayfield fumbled three times but held onto all three, while Irving lost one fumble during the contest.
The victory ended a four-game losing streak for Tampa Bay and served as the team’s first home win of the 2026 season. Mayfield acknowledged the unconventional method of victory after the game. “It’s a win so,” he said. “I’ll take it, man.”
The weather played a central role in the game plan, as the rain did not stop once the game began. The Buccaneers’ previous reliance on the run had been necessitated by Mayfield’s limited throwing action due to a thumb injury, but Sunday’s conditions forced the strategy to its logical extreme.
