The Bucs have shown more resolve in recent weeks, winning two of the past three games. They have hung around in every game this season, and a rainy Sunday against an NFC South rival was very similar. Even with stormy skies, Tampa Bay did enough to defeat Atlanta, 16-0.

Despite the convincing victory, a few disappointing aspects emerged from the Bucs’ Week 8 performance. Let’s take a look.

Who Needs A Passing Game In 2026?

The NFL has evolved into a passing league in the 21st century. Zac Robinson has emphasized turning back the clock. It is hard to argue with the Bucs’ run game results, as Bucky Irving was once again a star as the team put on a clinic with a franchise-record 324 rushing yards.

Still, where is the passing game?

Does it exist — at all?

Baker Mayfield completed, count them, zero passes. Granted, Tampa Bay went heavy on the run in a torrential downpour and executed it to perfection, so it’s hard to complain about the way this all turned out. But ZERO completions in 2026 is something.

By comparison, Michael Penix Jr. completed more passes to Bucs defenders than Mayfield did to anyone in 60 minutes. Entering Week 8, Tampa Bay had the 32nd-ranked passing game. This matchup did nothing to ease the concerns of the offense moving the football through the air. It must emerge eventually, right? The offensive gameplan worked, but No. 6 has thrown for just 64 passing yards in the past two games.

Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Will it ever get better? We’ll find out on another, drier day. For what it’s worth, Mayfield and the Bucs remain confident that they can execute through the air when the time comes.

“Whenever we need it, we’ll have it,” Mayfield said after the game.

WR Ted Hurst III

I put Ted Hurst III on last week’s list for his lack of involvement in the passing game more than his individual performance. But this week, Hurst had a chance at a big play early in the game when Baker Mayfield put a well-placed deep ball in his hands.

Then he dropped it.

It was right there.

Bucs WR Ted Hurst III – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Hurst turned the right way, but he still failed to haul in a catchable football in the challenging weather conditions.

It would have been a big play, but the big plays have largely eluded the third-round pick. He has had a chance to make an impact as a starter with Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan missing time, but he has yet to break out.

Bucky Irving’s Fumble

Bucky Irving electrified the Raymond James Stadium crowd from the moment he turned his first carry of the game into a 24-yard gain. I’m not denying that or in any way trying to lessen that by mentioning him here. Irving was far and away the Bucs’ best offensive playmaker in this one and has been all season, but he also had a significant first-quarter fumble.

Somehow, quarterback Baker Mayfield avoided going down with a collapsing pocket after a fumbled snap and rolled to his left. His backward lateral to Irving appeared to be a beautiful play that would result in a touchdown and a 10-0 lead. Instead, Jessie Bates III forced a fumble near the goal-line, which was vintage Antoine Winfield Jr.-esque.

It was a phenomenal play by Bates, to be clear, but the way Irving was holding the ball left a lot to be desired in terms of security. Rather than Irving getting in for a touchdown, the loose ball went into the endzone for a touchback. That was disappointing, as it kept the game at 3-0. On another day, that could’ve been extremely costly.

Irving more than made up for it in the end, though.