Thursday night was a who's who game for the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In posting a 27-22 win in Tampa Bay, the Ravens moved to 5-3 while looking very much like the AFC North's best team. Conversely, the Buccaneers, who are now 3-5 after a third straight loss, looked like a team that has no legitimate shot at playing deep into January.
Tampa Bay started hot before fading over the game's final three quarters. Baltimore's pass rush made life miserable for Tom Brady, who in the first half surpassed Ben Roethlisberger as the most sacked quarterback in NFL history. It was a much better night for the visiting quarterback, as Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes on 27 of 38 passing. Jackson was also part of a running game that rolled up 233 yards that helped chew up over 38 minutes of game clock.
Trailing at halftime, the Ravens took the lead on third-quarter touchdown passes from Jackson to Kenyan Drake and Isaiah Likely. Baltimore took a double-digit lead on Devin Duvernay's 15-yard touchdown run with 6:35 left, less than six minutes after the Buccaneers scored their first points of the half on a Ryan Succop field goal.
Brady briefly kept hope alive with a late touchdown pass to Julio Jones. But the Ravens scooped up the ensuing onside kick, sealing the win while snapping Brady's 302-game streak without three consecutive losses.
The Buccaneers went to halftime with a 10-3 lead after making two red zone stands in the game's first 30 minutes. Tampa Bay also received a decent first half from Brady, whose 44-yard completion to Chris Godwin set up Leonard Fournette's go-ahead touchdown midway through the first quarter.
Both teams suffered significant injuries on Thursday night. The Ravens lost receiver Rashod Bateman (foot) and Mark Andrews (shoulder) during the game's first three quarters, then lost running back Gus Edwards (hamstring) in the fourth quarter. The Bucs lost linebacker Shaquil Barrett during the second half. Barrett is feared to have suffered a torn Achilles injury, via NFL Media.
Here's a closer look at what transpired in Tampa.
Baltimore dominated on the ground while controlling the ball for over two-thirds of the game. Led by Edwards and Drake, Baltimore dominated on the ground while overcoming their first-half miscues in the red zone. The Ravens also received big contributions from Likely and Demarcus Robinson, who combined to catch 12 of 15 targets for 141 yards.
Defensively, the Ravens shut down Brady and the Buccaneers offense for most of the game's final three quarters. Justin Houston took a sip from the Fountain of Youth, recording two sacks and two tackles for loss. Houston and the rest of his teammates shut down Tampa Bay's running game while holding Brady to just 26 of 44 passing.
Tampa Bay's offense completely dried up after the first quarter. The unit punted five consecutive times while giving their defense little to no rest. While his running game did him no favors, Brady also failed to complete several third-down passes that would have kept the chains moving. Penalties, such as Fournette's false start with the Buccaneers down 11 and facing a fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line with 4:57 left, also plagued the Buccaneers offense.
While their offense didn't help them, the Buccaneers defense failed to make a momentum-changing play during the second half. The unit was also unable to contain Baltimore on the outside, as the Ravens ran around and through Tampa Bay's defense.
A bright spot for the Buccaneers was the connection between Brady and Mike Evans. Evans caught 6 of 11 targets for 123 yards that included a 51-yard catch that set up the Buccaneers' first score of the second half.
Baltimore dominated the third quarter, outscoring Tampa Bay 14-0 and controlling the ball for nearly 13 minutes. The Ravens offense started the half with a 9-play, 77-yard drive that ended with Jackson's game-tying touchdown pass to Drake.
The Ravens defense then forced a quick Tampa Bay punt before Baltimore's offense embarked on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that was punctuated by Jackson's nifty touchdown pass to Likely with five seconds left in the third quarter.
With Andrews and Bateman out, Likely stepped up and made a critical touchdown catch that gave the Ravens the lead for good. The rookie tight end caught six passes for 77 yards on Thursday night after having just 10 catches in the season's first seven games.
Jackson let some of his fans do the talking for him following the win. The former league MVP enjoyed a sign that alluded to his current contract situation, as Jackson is playing under his fifth-year rookie option after he and the Ravens were unable to come to terms on a long-term deal this past offseason.
The Buccaneers will play host to the Rams in a rematch of January's thrilling divisional round showdown. Like the Buccaneers, the Rams are off to a slow start this season. The defending champions went into their bye with a 3-3 record.
Baltimore will head to Baton Rouge on Nov. 7 to face the Saints on "Monday Night Football." Offensive injuries have plagued the Saints so far, as New Orleans is just 2-5.
How crazy was this loss by the Buccaneers?
- 2 games under .500 for 1st time in career
- Lost 5 of 6 games for 1st time in career
- Lost 3 straight games for 1st time since 2002 (4)
Greg Roman deserve a lot of credit for the Ravens game plan tonight. Use the pass to set up the run. Baltimore dominated this second half. This is a 10-point lead that won't be blown.
83 yards in 9 plays for the Ravens to take a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. Heck of a play call by Baltimore to do the WR reverse to Duvernay after the Jackson run for the score. Can the defense hold? That's the storyline now.
That's on Tom Brady on that 2nd down throw to Mike Evans. He's yelling at Evans, but he made the poor throw that should have been picked Bucs are fortunate to get a FG there.
5 catches for 61 yards and a TD for Isaiah Likely tonight. The Ravens rookie has been huge all night. Him and Mark Andrews are gonna be so lethal.
DeMarcus Robinson showing up for Baltimore tonight. Gain of 15 on 3rd down. The 58th play Tampa's defense will face tonight as Greg Roman's plan to wear the defense down is working.
Nice series by Jackson, use the run to set up playaction. Jackson had a perfect fake to Edwards to set up his 25-yard run and a perfect fake on a run to set up Kenyan Drake for the tying TD. 9 play, 77-yard drive for 4:53.
That's the Lamar Jackson run that should get the Ravens' rushing attack going. Jackson had 1 yard prior to that 25-yard run. Mark Andrews OUT (shoulder), so expect the Ravens to commit to the run.
The 30 attempts for Jackson were a career high for a half. The Ravens had just 7 rushes in the first half.
That's how you stop Justin Tucker from making 61+ yard kicks...block them. Ravens leave 3 on the board from earlier -- trail 10-3 at half. They're outgaining the Bucs 156-152, but have little to show for it.
Analytics say go for it, but Harbaugh doesn't take the 3 every week. It's costing his team games in a low-scoring game.
Jackson didn't have any option on that fourth down. Even though they have just 27 rushing yards, I would have ran it there with a read option with Jackson and Edwards.
Mark Andrew has 3 catches for 33 yards on this drive. Again, the Ravens have to go to their passing game. Andrews and Bateman are the key with Edwards in the backfield.
The Ravens have -5 rushing yards after their first two possessions. That's very un-Ravens like. Jackson and the pass offense need to carry them tonight with the Bucs run defense starting out to their 2019-2021 form.
Tom Brady was 7 of 10 for 103 yards in the first quarter. The Bucs outgained the Ravens 120 to 15. Dominated the opening 15 minutes, yet they're up 10-3.
Great job by the Buccaneers run game inside the 5. Leonard Fournette ran with power and the run blocking to the left side was strong. Bucs have to commit to that side on the ground more.
About time the Bucs got Chris Godwin involved on a crossing route. 44 yard gain sets the Bucs up inside the 10. Now let's see if the run game can do anything.
Not good enough for the Ravens. 4 yard loss on a run and a 6-yard pass, then incompletion. Bucs are fortunate they only allowed 3 points there.
Of course Delaney runs into his own man before the Bucs even get the ball on the punt return. Just another miscue by the Bucs. 1st-and-goal Ravens.
Chris Godwin has been targeted 10+ times in 3 of his last 4 games... Godwin has yet to score a TD this season.
He's also averaging a career-low 10.1 yards per reception this season. Bucs need to get him going.
This is the latest into a season a Tom Brady-led team has been under .500 since 2002 -- when the Patriots also started 3-4.
The Buccaneers are averaging 64.4 rush yards per game as a team -- which would be the lowest mark by a team in a season.
Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman bring active is huge for the Ravens. Lamar Jackson has his top two pass catchers against a depleted Buccaneers secondary. I don't think the Ravens will divert from their game plan, but they will be wise to throw the ball.
With no Russell Gage, the Buccaneers still have Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as their top two wide receivers. Julio Jones and Breshad Perriman will have the other two spots on the depth chart. Scotty Miller will back up Chris Godwin in the slot.
The Buccaneers inactive report has a bunch of stars out. No Carlton Davis, no Sean Murphy-Bunting, no Antoine Winfield. Lamar Jackson should have a field day throwing the ball.
