The Aporia · Tampa Bay Buccaneers win NFL game without completing a pass, first time that's happened in half a century

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons with a score of 16-0 without completing any passes, marking the first time this has happened since 1974 during the Super Bowl era. The rain-soaked conditions at Raymond James Stadium led to the Bucs focusing solely on their rushing attack, setting a new club record with 324 yards on the ground. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield of the Buccaneers and Michael Penix Jr. of the Falcons attempted passes but none were completed, highlighting how weather dramatically influenced the game strategy.

Written by AI on 2026-11-02, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons on November 1, 2026, without completing any passes, marking the first time this has happened since 1974 in the Super Bowl era. The match, held at Raymond James Stadium during heavy rain and mud, saw the Bucs rely solely on their rushing game, running for a total of 324 yards (a new club record) with 56 attempts. Quarterback Baker Mayfield attempted only three passes, none of which were completed, as conditions made throwing nearly impossible. This strategy secured a 16-0 victory and renewed the Bucs' hopes in the NFC South division. Coach Todd Bowles attributed the decision to play without passing due to adverse weather conditions rather than strategic choice. Despite the unconventional win, it remains a significant anomaly in modern NFL history.

Written for “Tampa Bay Wins Without Passing” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Tampa Bay Wins Without Passing

Sports · 3 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

This article reads unscored and hedges 10% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

An NFL team just won a game without completing a pass. No, seriously. Same event

NBC News

Hedges 2 of 23 claims Outlet record 60/100

Zero passing yards, one win. Did the Bucs just reinvent the NFL in all the wrong ways? Same event

The Guardian

Hedges 3 of 46 claims Outlet record 66/100

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Source leaning vs. consistency

Armando Salguero

97 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 But "out of respect for Jack and his family we will not share further information at this time."

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Lions say 'preliminary indications are positive' for linebacker Jack Campbell after neck injury

🔮 "I'm going to evaluate everything, every position going forward," Steichen said at one point when someone asked if Daniel Jones would remain his starting quarterback.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Jerry Jones says Cowboys coach won't be fired after loss but Indy's Shane Steichen has no such pledge Monday

🔮 The NFL said in a statement Saturday that it is reviewing the previously unreported allegations that Jacobs physically abused multiple women whose existence came to light amid the investigation into the May 23 incident that was well-chronicled.

2026-11-02 · mixed framing · Josh Jacobs' lawyers call police release of previously unreported abuse allegations 'character assassination'

🔮 The joke will be that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers set back the modern-day NFL offense by decades on Sunday by failing to complete even one pass, something which had happened only one other time during the Super Bowl era.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Tampa Bay Buccaneers win NFL game without completing a pass, first time that's happened in half a century

🔮 This is a breaking story and will be updated.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Tears from teammates as immobilized Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell carted off field and hospitalized

🔮 If the Ravens' worst fears about a dislocation or fracture become the situation they must navigate, Jackson will probably miss more than just the remainder of this game.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson injured once again and out of the game after only one play against Bills

🔮 You may have a great offense, but you will not win a Super Bowl.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Buffalo Bills defense is 'horrible' and that means team cannot win the Super Bowl, Terry Bradshaw says on Fox

🔮 The Packers' interest, at whatever level that has reached, shows the team's willingness to move on from Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs, who is currently on their roster but has been a disappointment and something of a headaches because of his legal problems.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Packers' interest in Jonathan Taylor shows desire to move on from Josh Jacobs and his domestic abuse issues

🔮 And as the most curious calls went against the Packers, it doesn't surprise that team's postgame media session was replete with a withering review of the poor officiating work – led by safety Xavier McKinney who called the officiating "bulls–t." This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.

2026-10-26 · assertive framing · Fines coming after Green Bay Packers put NFL officiating on blast for questionable calls in loss to Lions

🔮 This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.

2026-10-26 · assertive framing · NFL's dumbest moment of the week once again welcomes Jets coach Aaron Glenn, who is on the hot seat

Also by Armando Salguero

Lions say 'preliminary indications are positive' for linebacker Jack Campbell after neck injury

2026-11-02 · Fox News

Jerry Jones says Cowboys coach won't be fired after loss but Indy's Shane Steichen has no such pledge Monday

2026-11-02 · Fox News

Josh Jacobs' lawyers call police release of previously unreported abuse allegations 'character assassination'

2026-11-01 · Fox News

Tears from teammates as immobilized Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell carted off field and hospitalized

2026-11-01 · Fox News

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

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The joke will be that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers set back the modern-day NFL offense by decades on Sunday by failing to complete even one pass, something which had happened only one other time during the Super Bowl era.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-02

2026-11-02 · Fox News

Tampa Bay Buccaneers win NFL game without completing a pass, first time that's happened in half a century · assertive framing

which → set → era

But the Bucs get the last laugh. asserted

Bucs → get → laugh

They came away from Sunday's rain-drenched, mud-soaked meeting with the Atlanta Falcons with a 16-0 victory where they set a new club rushing mark of 324 yards. asserted

they → come → yards

On top of that, they have renewed life in the NFC South. asserted

they → renew → South

Afterward, coach Todd Bowles was asked if he informed his offensive coordinator or quarterback Baker Mayfield they weren't going to throw the ball a lot. asserted

they → ask → lot

"The conditions told him that," Bowles said. asserted

Bowles → tell → that

"I mean, you could see it as a downpour down there and the wind's blowing. uncertain

wind → mean → downpour

You can kind of see the ball wasn't going anywhere." So much for the space-age passing inside an air conditioned dome. asserted

ball → see → dome

Or rather, because this game at Raymond James Stadium was played in that unrelenting rain, it was three-yards-and-a-lot-of-slush. asserted

it → play → slush

Quarterback Baker Mayfield attempted three passes without a completion. asserted

Mayfield → attempt → completion

"All right, let's get this over with because you don't want to talk to me," Mayfield told reporters to open his postgame news conference. asserted

Mayfield → let → conference

This was some surreal stuff and that was obvious when Mayfield was asked questions about his lead blocking on one play. asserted

Mayfield → ask → play

"You know, if you're not going to throw the ball, I got to get active somehow," he said. asserted

he → know → ball

The last and only other time a team failed to complete a pass in a game since the NFL began playing Super Bowls was on Sept. 29, 1974 by the Buffalo Bills, according to the Associated Press. uncertain

NFL → fail → Press

It was O.J. Simpson's Bills that did it that time with quarterback Joe Ferguson attempting only two passes without a completion. asserted

Ferguson → do → completion

Simpson ran for 117 yards in that long-ago game. asserted

Simpson → run → game

Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell went bonkers in this game. asserted

Irving → go → game

Irving gained 170 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry against the Falcons. asserted

Irving → gain → Falcons

Gainwell gained 140 rushing yards and averaged 5.6 yards per attempt. asserted

Gainwell → gain → attempt

But Irving didn't see it that way. asserted

it → see → ?

"I'm not going to lie to you. asserted

I → go → you

I don't know the last time I checked the weather for a football game," he said. asserted

he → know → game

"We're going to have to play in it anyway. asserted

We → go → it

That's how I think about it. asserted

I → think → it

"Rain, snow, muddy, you're going to have to play in it anyway." It could be argued the Bucs would have been more productive, if perhaps, they had tried a pass sometime in the second half. uncertain

they → go → half

But the Falcons tried doing some of that. asserted

Falcons → try → that

Their quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. completed only eight of his 24 attempts, throwing four interceptions. asserted

quarterback → complete → interceptions

The Bucs, on the other hand, didn't try to hit their heads against the proverbial wall like that. asserted

Bucs → try → that

They were too busy running up and down the field. asserted

They → run → field

Tampa Bay Buccaneers win NFL game without completing a pass, first time that's happened in half a century

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