LAMAR JACKSON LEADS RAVENS TO VICTORY OVER BUCCANEERS
In a thrilling matchup on Monday night, Lamar Jackson showcased his prowess by throwing for 281 yards and five touchdowns, propelling the Baltimore Ravens to a 41-31 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This victory allowed the Ravens to stretch their winning streak to five games, despite facing an early 10-point deficit against the Bucs, who were missing their two leading receivers due to injuries.
With this win, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson has now improved his record to 23-1 against NFC opponents, marking the most impressive performance by a quarterback from one conference against another in NFL history. He also holds a perfect 3-0 record against the Buccaneers, who initially took a 10-0 lead thanks to Mike Evans’ career 100th touchdown reception. However, the game took a turn when Evans suffered a hamstring injury after an unsuccessful connection with Baker Mayfield in the end zone. Chris Godwin, the Bucs’ leading receiver, was carted off the field late in the game with a concerning left ankle injury that prompted ESPN to refrain from airing replays of the incident.
Jackson’s accuracy was paramount, as he completed 17 of his 22 passes with no interceptions. His touchdowns included strikes of 9 and 4 yards to tight end Mark Andrews, a 49-yard connection with Rashod Bateman, an 18-yard pass to Justice Hill, and an 11-yarder to Derrick Henry, who finished the game with an impressive 169 rushing yards on just 15 carries. Bateman also had an excellent outing, accumulating 121 yards on four receptions.
The Ravens (5-2) managed to recover after a sluggish start in the defensive department. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey sparked a turnaround by recording two crucial interceptions in the second quarter, one of which came from an attempt in the end zone. Following the first interception, Jackson led his team down the field for a swift four-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. The second interception set up Justin Tucker for a 28-yard field goal, granting Baltimore a 17-10 lead at the break.
On the other hand, Baker Mayfield had a strong performance for the Buccaneers, completing 31 of 45 attempts for 370 yards, with three touchdown passes and two interceptions. Evans made history as he joined the elite ranks of Hall of Famers like Jerry Rice and Randy Moss with 100 touchdown receptions in his first 11 seasons.
Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, Evans’ touchdown catch was his sole reception of the game. He had previously missed two practice days the week leading up to the game due to a lingering hamstring issue that seemed to worsen during play. After an unsuccessful pass attempt from Mayfield in the second quarter, Evans was left lying on the field for several minutes before being assisted to the locker room, ultimately sidelining him for the remainder of the game.
The Buccaneers were looking to make a strong impression at home after being displaced by Hurricane Milton, which caused destruction in the Tampa Bay region. They had relocated to New Orleans for practice ahead of a decisive 51-7 win against the Saints the previous week. The Ravens have been dominating the ground game this season, leading the NFL with 1,476 rushing yards, averaging over 150 yards per game. With 243 rushing yards in the contest, the Ravens achieved a spectacular milestone, joining a select group with at least 1,400 rushing yards in their first seven games of a season.
Henry’s touchdown reception half-way through the fourth quarter propelled the score to 41-18. Despite being out of reach, the Buccaneers managed to score twice in the final minutes, benefiting from a successful onside kick, marking the second time this season that the Ravens failed to recover an opponent’s attempt.
Injury updates indicated that Ravens’ cornerback Humphrey did not return after sustaining a knee injury, while Bucs safety Tykee Smith was ruled out due to a concussion suffered in the second quarter.
Looking ahead, the Ravens will face off against AFC North rival Cleveland next Sunday, while the Buccaneers will host the Atlanta Falcons on the same day.