ExtremeRavens Posted October 22 Posted October 22 TAMPA, Fla. — The lights inside Raymond James Stadium went dark to start the fourth quarter on Monday night as is customary for Buccaneers prime-time games. But the Ravens had turned them out long before that. In a game billed as a showdown between superstar quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield and a pair of explosive offenses, only one managed to show up. Jackson completed 17 of 22 passes for 281 yards and five touchdowns and Derrick Henry ran for 169 yards and caught a touchdown pass as the Ravens overcame an early 10-0 deficit with 34 straight points en route to a 41-31 victory over the Buccaneers. With the win, Jackson improved to 23-1 against the NFC and 18-5 in prime time, the best mark of any quarterback since the NFL merger in 1970. It also keeps the Ravens (5-2) tied atop the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers while putting another notch on Jackson’s belt as he seeks to become just the eighth player to win three NFL Most Valuable Player Awards, which would place him alongside Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers. More importantly for Baltimore, it won its fifth in a row with its league-best offense continuing to roll — and a much-beleaguered pass defense mostly shutting down the high-octane Buccaneers’ offense until the home team rallied late. After Tampa Bay moved down the field with ease and jumped out to a 10-0 lead behind a 25-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Mike Evans and a 23-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin, Baltimore bounced back with five straight scoring drives beginning in the second quarter. Among them was a 9-yard strike to Mark Andrews early in the second, the 42nd career touchdown catch for the star tight end whose score broke Todd Heap’s franchise record for receiving touchdowns. It was also just the beginning for the high-powered Ravens. On Baltimore’s next possession, Jackson dumped a short screen to running back Justice Hill, who, behind a convoy of blockers, scored from 18 yards. After a pair of Justin Tucker field goals from 28 and 52 yards, the Ravens kept rolling with Jackson lofting a 49-yard touchdown pass to receiver Rashod Bateman, who easily beat cornerback Zyon McCollum to the back corner of the end zone. Jackson then hit Andrews for another score, this time from 4 yards late in the third quarter for a 34-10 advantage. Ravens vs. Buccaneers, October 21, 2024 | PHOTOS Five of the Ravens’ seven scoring drives took six plays or fewer. Meanwhile, after Mayfield torched the Ravens early, he struggled for much of the night, especially after Evans went out with a hamstring injury midway through the second quarter. He went just 1 of 4 for 15 yards with two interceptions the rest of the first half and after leading three fourth-quarter scoring drives with the game out of reach finished 31 of 45 for 370 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey had both interceptions in the second quarter, including one in the end zone with the Buccaneers on the Ravens’ 3-yard line. Humphrey injured his knee, however, on the second interception and did not return. It didn’t matter. Tampa Bay scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough. Already up 17, Baltimore leaned on Henry to finish. Backed up to the Ravens’ 4-yard line, he broke free down the left sideline for an 81-yard run to the Buccaneers’ 11. The 30-year-old became the third player in the past 30 years with multiple 80-yard runs through seven games in a season, joining Barry Sanders (1994 and 1997) and Chris Johnson (2009). By the time the Buccaneers recovered an onside kick with 3:45 remaining, it was too little, too late. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Week 8 Ravens at Browns Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 8 1/2 Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey had two interceptions in the second quarter before being ruled out with a knee injury Monday night against the Buccaneers. (Chris O’Meara/AP) View the full article Quote
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