While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost two key pieces of their offense Monday night, Lamar Jackson was absolutely cooking on offense to lead the Baltimore Ravens to a 41-31 victory.
The Ravens are now 5-2 on the year, while the Bucs fell to 4-3.
It was the definition of a prime-time matchup as Jackson and Baker Mayfield, two quarterbacks currently MVP candidates, faced off in the Sunshine State.
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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) is congratulated by quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)
These quarterbacks have combined for eight total touchdown passes. It was Jackson who provided five in an incredible performance to bolster his own MVP resume.
Jackson was 17 of 22 through the air for 281 yards, finding tight end Mark Andrews twice for a touchdown, while Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Rashod Bateman also each had their own catches thanks to their dynamic quarterback .
Meanwhile, the key pieces the Bucs lost in this game were Mayfield’s two top targets, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the latter of whom could be played for the rest of the season after head coach Todd Bowles revealed the first indications that he had suffered a dislocated ankle with 43 seconds remaining in the match.
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The ESPN broadcast didn’t even show Godwin’s injury, although the initial view saw his ankle facing the wrong direction after Patrick Queen rolled over it while making a tackle. He was quickly placed in an overhead throw and carried off the field.
Evans, who was already dealing with a hamstring injury Monday night, made his only catch for a touchdown on a 25-yard strike to open the scoring in this game on the Bucs’ first drive. But, two drives later, he couldn’t recover another deep touchdown pass from Mayfield and he immediately grabbed his right leg after being called back by Brandon Stephens, who was also injured during the play.
Evans was quickly ruled out for the rest of the match.
For the Ravens, Zay Flowers was tackled on the Ravens’ first drive after an 11-yard catch, where replay showed he had a rolled ankle. He would only get one target from Jackson on the night, but No. 8 passed the ball to his receivers as he dissected the Tampa Bay defense to the delight of every Ravens fan.
Bateman needed just four catches to rack up a game-high 121 yards with his 49-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He also hauled in a 59-yard bomb downfield to Jackson in the first half, after the quarterback came out of a broken pocket and ordered him midplay to open it.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) is stopped by Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker, fullback, after a reception during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday 21 October 2024, in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
It also appears that Andrews, Jackson’s tight end in years past, is getting more involved week to week, as he had another solid game with his two scores and 41 yards on four catches.
And, of course, the NFL’s best rushing attack allowed Henry to have another elite game with 169 rushing yards on just 15 carries, including an 81-yard sprint down the field before being stopped.
Mayfield did his best to get back into this game, as Jackson and the Ravens’ offense took a 34-10 lead late in the third quarter.
The Bucs scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, as Rachaad White hauled in two touchdown passes from Mayfield, while fellow running back Bucky Irving also went in from a yard out.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
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It all ultimately came to naught, and the loss of Godwin, who has the second-most receiving yards in the NFL this season after adding 65 yards to his 2024 total, and Evans piled up the loss to home for a high-level team. in the NFC.
Meanwhile, the Ravens now own a five-game winning streak after starting the year 0-2.
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