Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates at the end of the fourth quarter after defeating the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium.
Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers is firmly in NFC South contention after earning a 16-0 victory versus the Atlanta Falcons, and they did not even need Baker Mayfield in this one. The veteran quarterback was 0-of-3 during a rain-heavy divisional showdown in Raymond James Stadium, as the Bucs became the first team to win a game without its QB completing a pass since Joe Ferguson went 0-for-2 for the 1974 Buffalo Bills, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network and ESPN.
One can only do so much in a torrential downpour — Falcons signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. threw four interceptions — but it is still shocking to see such a stat in the modern era. Mayfield has now completed just seven passes for 64 yards and a TD since returning last Sunday. He is putting a positive spin on this Week 8 no-show, keeping the focus on the team.
“Baker Mayfield says it’s ‘big time' that the Bucs were able to top 300 rushing yards against the league’s fourth-ranked run defense and with the opposing team knowing you are going to run,” senior writer Scott Smith posted on X.