Atlanta Falcons
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By ROB MAADDI
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield threw more downfield blocks than he had completions.
Final from Tampa Bay pic.twitter.com/uH64562gCu
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 1, 2026
Mayfield didn’t complete a pass, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 on Sunday behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell’s rushing on a wet, sloppy field.
"Rushed for over 300. That was fun." 🗣️
🎉: @budlight pic.twitter.com/Qqsy63sedQ
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
“I’ll do whatever it takes to win,” Mayfield said after going 0 for 3. “That’s all that matters to me.”
Bucky got the job done 💪 https://t.co/59MhP1pFuZ pic.twitter.com/FZ9TAz7GJA
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
The Buccaneers (3-5) set a team record for yards rushing in a game with 324 and became the first team to have zero completions since Buffalo on Sept. 29, 1974. The Bills beat the Jets 16-12 in that one, and that had been the only time a team didn’t complete a pass in the Super Bowl era.
This defense is really good 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/poAhNItZhg
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
Irving ran for 170 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries; Gainwell ran for 140 on 25 carries and Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals to stay perfect this season at 19 for 19.
What winning in the trenches looks like 😎 https://t.co/URMJSNGu8t pic.twitter.com/ChsRm01UyU
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
Playing in a driving rain for most of the afternoon, Mayfield handed off 52 times in his second game back after missing three weeks with a fractured thumb.
Halftime pic.twitter.com/q7KyUC3Iy8
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 1, 2026
He got out in front when Gainwell reversed direction on a 28-yard run in the fourth quarter, blocked Jessie Bates III and ended up in a puddle.
Game recognize game 🫡
🔜 #TBvsCHI Nov. 8 @ 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC pic.twitter.com/gy5eBVeAdY
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
“If I’m not gonna throw the ball, I have to get active somehow,” Mayfield said. “Me and Jessie were out there playing in mud.”
It's raining picks ‼️ Hallelujah 🙌
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/qcKaGBEVKp
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
Michael Penix Jr. went 8 for 24 for 125 yards with four interceptions for Atlanta (3-5). Bijan Robinson was held to 76 yards on 19 carries.
You can't tackle the man@Bijan5Robinson
FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/nnKWBghiSB
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 1, 2026
Facing his former coach with Cleveland, Mayfield didn’t have to do much with his arm. He scrambled for 13 yards while Irving and Gainwell piled up big numbers. Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski are the only QB-coach combination to win a playoff game for the Browns since the franchise returned in 1999, but they didn’t have a close relationship. Mayfield was upset that Stefanski didn’t reach out to him after the Browns traded him to Carolina in 2022.
Cashing in 💰
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/qO6CoRUj03
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
Tampa Bay’s previous rushing high was 283 yards — including 235 from Doug Martin — in a 45-17 win at Philadelphia on Nov. 22, 2015.
MAN ON A MISSION 😤
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/ZdgiEHk2Z5
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
Irving’s 4-yard TD run in the third quarter gave the Buccaneers a 16-0 lead and the offense kept pounding the ball on the ground.
Dancing in the rain 🕺🌧️
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX
🎉: @budlight https://t.co/quznuyMqWi pic.twitter.com/3ykEltjr71— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
“Those guys up front, I see a different look in their eyes when it’s time to run the ball,” Irving said of an offensive line led by two-time Pro Bowl tackle Tristan Wirfs. “I’ll go to war with those guys any day.”
A rainy first pic.twitter.com/TSiGYGTepP
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 1, 2026
Nick Folk missed a 53-yard field goal wide left on Atlanta’s opening series and McLaughlin made one from 46 yards out on the next series.
The Bucs missed an opportunity after Alex Anzalone picked off Penix at Atlanta’s 41 and returned it 8 yards, and an unsportsmanlike penalty on Drake London put the ball at the 18. But Irving fumbled out of the end zone for a touchback after taking a lateral from Mayfield. Bates forced the fumble.
BACK TO BACK ‼️ It's a great day to be Alex Anzalone 👏
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/L4h19Ko3w7
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
Anzalone picked off Penix again on Atlanta’s next possession to set up Tampa Bay at the Falcons 19. But the Buccaneers couldn’t go anywhere and settled for McLaughlin’s 34-yarder that made it 6-0.
JB3 DOES IT AGAIN
FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/blHVYi3kV4
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 1, 2026
After Jacob Parrish picked off Penix on a fourth-down pass at Tampa Bay’s 17, the Buccaneers drove 65 yards and McLaughlin connected from 42 yards to extend the lead to 9-0.
Last week, Tampa Bay beat the Panthers 43-13 with Mayfield completing just 7 of 11 passes for 64 yards.
SHUTOUT WIN AT HOME 🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/fJN4at3640
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 1, 2026
The Bucs have won three of four since a 0-4 start and are just a half-game behind Carolina (3-4) in the NFC South.
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