Buccaneers defeat Falcons 16-0 with zero completed passes by Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 on Sunday in a rain-soaked game in which Mayfield completed zero passes out of three attempts. The victory was driven by Tampa Bay’s ground attack and three field goals from kicker Chase McLaughlin.
Tampa Bay’s reliance on the run was decisive in difficult weather, producing a historically unusual box score. The performance was the first NFL game with no passing offense since the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets 16-12 on 29 September 1974. As the game unfolded in heavy rain, the Buccaneers leaned on two backs with long days rushing the ball while Mayfield—who as recently as 2024 threw for 41 touchdowns and 4,500 passing yards—rarely threw the ball.
Bucky Irving finished with 170 rushing yards and one touchdown and Kenneth Gainwell added 140 rushing yards; together they carried 52 times for 324 yards, the most rushing yards by a pair in a single game for the Buccaneers. Chase McLaughlin converted three field goals to account for the rest of Tampa Bay’s scoring, and Mayfield contributed as a blocker on running plays. “If I’m not going to throw the ball, I have to get active somehow,” Mayfield said after the game.
The Falcons’ offense struggled in the same conditions, with Michael Penix Jr. completing eight of 24 passes and throwing four interceptions. The field was wet and slippery, complicating passing attempts on both sides. Atlanta’s poor showing leaves them preparing for a matchup next week against the Cincinnati Bengals in Spain.
Cincinnati’s recent form was defined by Joe Burrow’s comeback performance: Burrow threw five touchdowns, ran for another and amassed 462 passing yards to lead the Bengals from 13 points down to a 43-36 overtime win on Sunday, though he also threw three interceptions. The Bengals sit off to their best start since the 2021 season, when they reached the Super Bowl.
Josh Allen reached 259 career touchdown passes across the regular season and playoffs after adding a pair during the Buffalo Bills’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, breaking the record previously held by Jim Kelly. The Bills’ win moved Buffalo to 6-1 and into the best record in the AFC, while the Ravens suffered a thumb injury to Lamar Jackson that may end his season.
Other results across the weekend included Detroit’s 19-15 victory over Minnesota after Jared Goff found Jameson Williams for a touchdown with 4:35 remaining; it was Detroit’s third straight win but the Lions lost linebacker Jack Campbell to a neck injury that required him to be carted off early in the fourth quarter. In Dallas, the Cowboys led Arizona 24-10 entering the fourth before the Cardinals scored 20 in the period; Gardner Minshew, replacing Jacoby Brissett, drove Arizona down the field in 63 seconds late to tie it at 30-30, Chad Ryland missed an extra point (his first miss in his last 58 attempts), and Ryland later converted a 42-yard field goal in overtime to complete the comeback, leaving Dallas 3-5 and 1-3 at home.
Los Angeles saw the Rams beat the Chargers 24-9 while the Chargers fell to 0-7 with 99 points for and 175 against. Jacksonville routed Indianapolis 42-7 with Trevor Lawrence posting a 153.3 rating, 210 yards on 10/14 passing and three touchdowns as the Jags’ defense forced three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble) and allowed one third-quarter touchdown; Jacksonville sit atop the AFC South above three teams with sub-.300 winning percentages. Pittsburgh recorded its 23rd straight home win over Cleveland while sacking Deshaun Watson eight times. Las Vegas mounted a 24-point second-half comeback to beat the New York Jets 38-33, ending a four-game losing streak to move to 4-4; Kirk Cousins threw for 247 yards on 19/26 with three touchdown passes and added a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, celebrating with what he called his “wellness celebration.” He said, “We do a lot of tissue work here. At my age, it’s especially helpful. ... So I said someday if I run a touchdown in, I’m going to give a shoutout to all the staff that works so hard to help us feel good and be one of the healthier teams in the league.” Cousins almost forgot the celebration but Brock Bowers reminded him.
Next week’s key meeting will see the Atlanta Falcons travel to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Spain, with the Bengals arriving off a 43-36 overtime win led by Joe Burrow’s five touchdown passes and 462 yards through the air.