The offense run by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday was the most predictable of the 2026 NFL season.
Facing the Atlanta Falcons in a key divisional matchup of Week 8, during a game played amid a downpour that left standing water pooling on the field inside Raymond James Stadium, the Buccaneers attempted only three passes, completing none.
Unwilling and unable to throw in soggy conditions, they ran it 56 times. The strategy won them the game, 16-0.
“First time for everything,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said.
To say it was an unusual game plan was an understatement. The last time an NFL team had more rushing attempts than Tampa’s 56 was 2010. The Buccaneers were the first team to win without a completed pass since Buffalo in 1974, per the league. Rarer still was that a team hadn’t won by double-digits without completing a pass since 1945, according to one NFL researcher.
The Buccaneers had been forced to rely on a ground-heavy offense last week, as well, when quarterback Baker Mayfield threw only 11 times in his first game back since suffering a thumb injury. Tampa had rushed for 258 yards in that win against Carolina, then leaned on a similar plan Sunday as the forecast showed a storm rolling over Florida. Nearly an inch of rain had fallen over Tampa by kickoff, and the rain didn’t stop as the game began.
Mayfield finished 0-3 passing, but was all smiles after the game, considering it was Tampa’s first home win this season after an 0-4 start.
