The Baltimore Ravens have been a buzzsaw over the past month of the season during a four-game win streak, and in Week 7, they’re headed to Tampa Bay to take on a 4-2 Buccaneers team that is looking to stay ahead of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South.
The Buccaneers are averaging 38 points per game over the last three weeks, and they stuck 51 on the Saints in New Orleans last week in a blowout win. The Ravens are the No. 1 offense in the NFL, averaging more than 450 yards per game. These are the No. 3 and No. 4 scoring offenses in the league, so expect fireworks in Tampa Bay on Monday night.
The second game of the night has the 3-2 Los Angeles Chargers trying to stay in the AFC playoff chase at the 2-4 Arizona Cardinals. The Chargers are coming off a win over the Denver Broncos in Week 6, while the Cardinals have lost three of their last four games. But Marvin Harrison Jr., who sustained a concussion last week, was a full participant in practice and didn’t have an injury designation heading into Monday Night Football.
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Ravens answer, cut deficit to 10-7
After two sacks stunted their opening drive, the Ravens struck quickly on their second. A 6-play, 70-yard drive ends with a Lamar Jackson touchdown pass to Mark Andrews. Bucs’ lead is now 10-7 early in the second quarter.
Bucs 10, Ravens 0
The Bucs settle for a field goal after another nice drive comes up short of the end zone. They thought they had a touchdown on a third-down completion from Baker Mayfield to Chris Godwin in the end zone. But a holding penalty in the backfield negated it. Bucs increase their lead to 10-0 on a 23-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin with the first quarter almost done..
Lamar Jackson is under attack. YaYa Diaby dumps him for an 8-yard loss on a second-down sack to set up third-and-19. Antoine Winfield then drops him for another sack to force a Ravens punt. Bucs lead, 7-0 after a single possession for each team.
ESPN just posted a remarkable stat about Lamar Jackson. The Ravens are 22-1 against NFC teams in games that he’s started. He’s facing an early 7-0 deficit in his effort to make it 23-1.
The 25-yard catch by Evans is the 100th touchdown of his career. Bucs converted on fourth-and-1 at the Baltimore 36-yard line to set up the touchdown. Extra point is good. Bucs lead, 7-0.
A nice opening drive by the Bucs ends with a touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to Mike Evans.
This is the first game in Tampa since Hurricane Milton. Raymond James Stadium appears to be in full functioning order.
The Bucs won the toss and will receive the opening kickoff.
Roquan Smith — who plays for the very much respected Ravens — is playing the no respect card to fire up his teammates before kickoff. … Whatever it takes.
We’re minutes from kickoff in Tampa. Bucs and Ravens players have taken the field for pregame introductions.
Roof opening at State Farm Stadium
The roof, the roof is opening up for tonight’s Chargers-Cardinals game.
Bucs will go with hot hand at running back
Sean Tucker was a dual threat for Tampa Bay last week with 192 combined yards rushing and receiving with two touchdowns.
But according to ESPN, Tucker will split up snaps with Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. Irving is the Buccaneers’ leading rusher so far this season with 328 yards and 2 TDs on 58 carries.
Sean Tucker told me his family wasn’t in New Orleans for his 192 all-purpose yard performance (with two touchdowns) last week. But the Owings Mills native said they’re in town for this one tonight. Liam Coen said all three backs will play tonight and they’ll go with the hot hand.
Rob Gronkowski is leaving Sam Elliott alone tonight, appearing at the Ravens-Bucs game:
Kurt Warner praises Baker Mayfield
They’re probably not the same sort of player, but Kurt Warner sees some of his resilience and willingness to always look for the big play in Baker Mayfield.
