Michael Penix Jr. throws four picks as Atlanta loses to a team with no completions

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not complete a pass on Sunday. The Atlanta Falcons lost to them 16-0 anyway, because Michael Penix Jr. threw four interceptions.

Penix went 8 of 24 for 125 yards in a driving rain. Alex Anzalone picked him off twice, and Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish added one each. Parrish's came on fourth down at the Tampa Bay 17. Atlanta never scored, and the Bucs ran for a franchise-record 324 yards while Baker Mayfield went 0 for 3.

Per the AP recap on ESPN, Tampa Bay is the first team since the Bills on Sept. 29, 1974, to finish a game without a completion. Buffalo won that day too.

The weather explains some of it, since both teams had to play on a soaked field. It does not explain Atlanta's offense. Drake London was targeted six times and caught one pass for 8 yards, and he also drew an unsportsmanlike penalty that moved Tampa Bay to the Falcons 18 after Anzalone's first interception. Jahan Dotson's 76-yard catch accounted for most of Atlanta's passing yards. Bijan Robinson ran for 76 yards on 19 carries, and Nick Folk missed a 53-yard field goal on the opening drive.

The Falcons did catch one break. On the drive after London's penalty, Bucky Irving took a lateral from Mayfield and fumbled through the end zone for a touchback when Jessie Bates III knocked it loose. Atlanta did nothing with it. Irving finished with 170 yards and Kenny Gainwell with 140, and Chase McLaughlin's three field goals were plenty.

There was another subplot. Atlanta coach Kevin Stefanski coached Mayfield in Cleveland, and the AP notes the two never had a close relationship. Mayfield was upset Stefanski didn't reach out after the Browns traded him in 2022.

Atlanta falls to 3-5 and has to fix this in Madrid, where it plays Cincinnati next Sunday. Tampa Bay is also 3-5 and a half-game behind Carolina in the NFC South.