NFL

Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

· National Football League
5-2, 3-1 Away
Final
41 - 31
4-3, 2-2 Home

Lamar Jackson throws for 281 yards, 5 TDs to lead streaking Ravens to 41-31 victory over Buccaneers

The two-time MVP threw for 281 yards and five touchdowns Monday night, helping the Baltimore Ravens overcome an early double-digit deficit and extend their winning streak to five games with a 41-31 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost their top two receivers to injuries.

“Trying to win. That’s all that’s on my mind,” Jackson said after the AFC North co-leaders scored on seven of nine possessions before removing him from the game with just under two minutes left.

“I’m proud of him. I’m happy for him. He’s a great leader, a great player.” coach John Harbaugh added. ”He’s the ultimate competitor on a level with the greatest competitors I’ve ever seen.”

Jackson improved improved to 23-1 against NFC teams, the best mark by a quarterback against an opposing conference in NFL history. He's 3-0 against the Bucs (4-3), who faded after taking a 10-0 lead with help from the 100th TD reception of Mike Evans' career.

Evans departed with a hamstring injury after Baker Mayfield tried to connect with him in the end zone again, and late in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach, leading Bucs receiver Chris Godwin was carted off the field with a left ankle injury. ESPN declined to show replays of Godwin's injury, which appeared to be severe.

“Early indication is that it's dislocated. Doesn't look good,” said Bucs coach Todd Bowles, who defended the decision to still have Godwin on the field in the closing minutes.

“He's a player. We'e trying to win the ballgame. We were still down 10, we're trying to get extra points and kick another onside kick. It just happened,” Bowles added. “With Mike (Evans) going down, we didn't have that many receivers left as it was, so we play what we got.”

Jackson completed 17 of 22 passes without an interception, including TD throws of 9 and 4 yards to Mark Andrews. He also tossed scoring passes of Rashod Bateman, 18 yards to Justice Hill and Derrick Henry, who rushed for 169 yards on 15 carries. Bateman had four catches for 121 yards.

The Ravens (5-2) rebounded from a slow start on defense, with cornerback Marlon Humphrey turning the game around with a pair of second-quarter interceptions — one of them in the Baltimore end zone. Jackson led a four-play, 80-yard TD drive after the first pick, and the second interception set up Justin Tucker's 28-yard field goal for a 17-10 halftime lead.

“It doesn’t matter when, where or what. He’s the ultimate competitor,” Andrews said of Jackson. "It’s just play after play after play of him making big-time plays and helping this team win games. He does it better than anybody in the league. He lays it all out on the line every game. He’s the best. He’s the MVP.”

Mayfield finished 31 of 45 passing for 370 yards, three TDs and two interceptions. Evans joined Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens as the only players to have at least 100 TD receptions in the first 11 seasons of a career when he caught a 25-yard scoring pass in the first quarter.

Evans, who missed two days of practice last week with what the Bucs described as a nagging hamstring issue, appeared to aggravate the injury on the scoring reception. Mayfield nearly connected with him in the end zone again in the second quarter, but this time the ball glanced off Evans’ hands as he and Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens went to the ground.

Evans remained on the turf for several minutes before being helped to his feet and limping to the locker room. He did not return.

The Bucs played at home for the first time since Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast, causing extensive damage in the Tampa Bay area and along the path it took across the state. The Bucs relocated ahead of the storm to New Orleans, where they practiced for four days before trouncing the Saints 51-7 last week.

The Ravens lead the the NFL with 1,476 rushing yards this season and have run for at least 150 in every game. With 243 on the ground Monday night, they became the fourth team since 1980 to begin a season with at least 1,400 yards in their first seven games. The others are the 1984 Chicago Bears (1,508), 2006 Atlanta Falcons (1,476) and 2019 Ravens (1,429).

Henry's touchdown catch midway through the fourth quarter made it 41-18. The Bucs scored twice in the closing minutes, including after a successful onside kick, the second time the Ravens have failed to recover an opponent's onside kick this season.

Those late scores gave the Bucs a glimmer of hope that was quickly extinguished when Godwin was hurt while being tackled by Roquan Smith on a 21-yard catch with about a minute left.

Injuries Ravens: Humphrey (knee) departed after colliding with a teammate while making his second interception and did not return.

Buccaneers: Evans' TD catch was his only reception. ... Safety Tykee Smith (concussion) left in the second quarter and did not return.

Up next Ravens: At AFC North rival Cleveland next Sunday.

Buccaneers: Host Atlanta Falcons in a battle for first place in the NFC South on Sunday.

How can I watch Ravens vs. Buccaneers?

  • TV Channel: Ravens at Buccaneers 2021-22 NFL, week 7 is broadcasted nationally on ESPN and ABC.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
    In Canada, viewers can watch Ravens vs. Buccaneers on DAZN.

Matchup Prediction

Buccaneers: 41.0%
Ravens: 58.6%
*According to ESPN's Football Power Index

Scoring Summary

TB TD 1st Period 10:27 Mike Evans 25 Yd pass from Baker Mayfield (Chase McLaughlin Kick)
TB FG 1st Period 0:02 Chase McLaughlin 23 Yd Field Goal
BAL TD 2nd Period 12:29 Mark Andrews 9 Yd pass from Lamar Jackson (Justin Tucker Kick)
BAL TD 2nd Period 4:23 Justice Hill 18 Yd pass from Lamar Jackson (Justin Tucker Kick)
BAL FG 2nd Period 0:04 Justin Tucker 28 Yd Field Goal
BAL FG 3rd Period 12:20 Justin Tucker 52 Yd Field Goal
BAL TD 3rd Period 7:25 Rashod Bateman 49 Yd pass from Lamar Jackson (Justin Tucker Kick)
BAL TD 3rd Period 2:53 Mark Andrews 4 Yd pass from Lamar Jackson (Justin Tucker Kick)
TB TD 4th Period 11:24 Rachaad White 11 Yd pass from Baker Mayfield (Baker Mayfield Pass to Sterling Shepard for Two-Point Conversion)
BAL TD 4th Period 6:32 Derrick Henry 13 Yd pass from Lamar Jackson (Justin Tucker Kick)
TB TD 4th Period 3:46 Bucky Irving 1 Yd Run (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)
TB TD 4th Period 1:58 Rachaad White 23 Yd pass from Baker Mayfield (Chase McLaughlin Kick)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/bal.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originBAL https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/tb.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originTB
22 1st Downs 28
12 Passing 1st downs 19
7 Rushing 1st downs 7
3 1st downs from penalties 2
3-8 3rd down efficiency 11-17
1-1 4th down efficiency 1-1
54 Total Plays 78
508 Total Yards 481
9.4 Yards per Play 6.2
10 Total Drives 12
264 Passing 356
17/22 Comp/Att 31/45
11.0 Yards per pass 7.4
0 Interceptions thrown 2
2-17 Sacks-Yards Lost 3-14
244 Rushing 125
30 Rushing Attempts 30
8.1 Yards per rush 4.2
4-5 Red Zone (Made-Att) 3-5
9-85 Penalties 8-75
1 Turnovers 2
1 Fumbles lost 0
0 Interceptions thrown 2
0 Defensive / Special Teams TDs 0
24:55 Possession 35:05

Game Information

Raymond James Stadium

Location: Tampa, FL
Attendance: 64,828 · Capacity:

2024 AFC North Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Pittsburgh 6 2 .750 0 187 119
Baltimore 5 3 .625 0 242 209
Cincinnati 3 5 .375 0 195 203
Cleveland 2 6 .250 0 138 186

2024 NFC South Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Atlanta 5 3 .625 0 194 195
Tampa Bay 4 4 .500 0 235 213
New Orleans 2 6 .250 0 185 206
Carolina 1 7 .125 0 124 271
Full Standings

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