Bucs turn back the clock more than half a century with oddly unique win over Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay ran wild at a sloppy Raymond James Stadium against their division rival.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got absolutely nothing out of their passing game on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
No, really. You will often times hear disgruntled fans say that after their team loses a game with a poor offensive output. However, in this case, the Bucs literally got nothing from their passing game in a 16-0 win over their NFC South rival.
Baker Mayfield was 0/3 passing, and the Bucs finished the game without completing a pass. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bucs became the first team since the Buffalo Bills in 1974 to win a game without completing a pass.
Bucs become first team since 1974 Buffalo Bills to win an NFL game without completing a pass
Tampa Bay total 324 yards on the ground on 56 carries, and it was thanks to career-best rushing performances by their two-headed running back monster in Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell. Irving carried 27 times for 170 yards and a touchdown. Gainwell had 25 carries for 140 yards.
According to veteran host Trey Wingo, the 62 passing yards by the Bucs over the last two weeks is the fewest in back-to-back wins by double digits by a team since the 1942 Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bucs clearly have a formula right now as Mayfield continues to work his way back from the thumb injury he suffered in Week 3 against the Vikings. Tampa Bay’s offensive line is road grading a successful ground game, and in the NFL, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
Eventually, Tampa Bay will have to win through the air, and that will be easier moving with Emeka Egbuka potentially back next week after being out with a foot injury this week. But for the time being, the Bucs are turning to old school football to find ways to win.
Very, very old school football.
