Ravens 41, Bucs 31 – Bucs Lose to Baltimore Ravens in Week 7

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the visiting Baltimore Ravens in Week Seven, 41-31. Overall, Baker Mayfield completed 31-of-45 attempts for 370 yards and threw three touchdowns and two interceptions for a 97.5 quarterback rating. The Buccaneers marched down the field on their opening drive, courtesy of a conversion on fourth-and-one off an 11-yard jet sweep by Jalen McMillan. The next play, Mike Evans capped off the eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive with a 25-yard touchdown – becoming the 11th player in NFL history to hit 100 career touchdown receptions. The Buccaneers defense followed suit, forcing a quick Ravens’ exit. Calijah Kancey dropped Derrick Henry in the backfield for a loss on first down and both Yaya Diaby and Antoine Winfield Jr. were credited with sacks on the two ensuing plays. On second down, Diaby came inside on a loop and dropped Lamar Jackson for a loss of eight yards and Winfield Jr. forced the punt on third down.

On the next possession, Mayfield hit McMillan, who boxed out defenders for a first down conversion. A roughing the passer penalty set the Bucs’ up at the Baltimore 34-yard-line. A shifty 14-yard gain by Bucky Irving post-catch helped set up Chris Godwin’s eight-yard touchdown. However, a holding penalty nullified the scored and led to an ensuing Chase McLaughlin 23-yard field goal, giving the home team a 10-0 advantage.

On the next drive, Baltimore marched down the field off a 14-yard gain by Charlie Kolar, an 11-yard scramble by Jackson and a 10-yard pickup by Isaiah Likely. Jackson finished the six-play, 70-yard scoring drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews, making it a 10-7 game.

Following a deep incompletion to Evans on the Bucs’ next offensive series, Godwin picked up the first on third down with a gain of 15 off a slant. The drive ended with a Marlon Humphrey interception in the end zone for a touchback. The Ravens followed up with a four-play, 80-yard scoring drive, courtesy of a 59-yard explosive play. Jackson rolled out of the pocket and scrambled to the right, keeping his eyes downfield. He threw the ball down the field to Rashod Bateman and the Ravens cashed in with a Jackson connection with Justice Hill on an 18-yard touchdown.

The Bucs’ next drive ended promptly with a turnover. Mayfield was intercepted by Humphrey at the Baltimore 40-yard line, putting Jackson and company right back on the field. Just before the half, Justin Tucker kicked a 28-yard field goal, extending the Ravens’ lead 17-10. After the Bucs started10-0 and outgained the Ravens 140-8, the tide shifted as the Ravens put up 17 unanswered and outgained the Bucs, 225-78 to conclude the first half.

Coming out of the half, Trucker drilled a 52-yard field goal, extending the Ravens’ lead, 20-10. On the following drive for Tampa Bay, the Bucs sent out Chase McLaughlin from fourth-and-four at the Baltimore 37 to attempt a 55-yard field goal. The attempt was no good, keeping the Ravens with a 10-point advantage. The Ravens then moved down the field on a four-play, 55-yard scoring drive. Bateman worked over the top of the Bucs’ defense and Jackson heaved a deep 49-yard bomb to Bateman, who hauled in the grab for a touchdown, giving the Ravens a 27-10 lead. The Bucs next drive ended with a third-down sack of Mayfield by Odafe Oweh, forcing a punt. The Ravens put the exclamation mark on their lead, with a subsequent 92-yard scoring drive in five plays, spearheaded by an 81-yard run by Henry. He quickly bounced to the outside and accelerated down the left sideline. Henry was pushed out of bounds by Zyon McCollum, and the Ravens capitalized with a four-yard Andrews touchdown.

An unorthodox turn of events to begin the fourth shifted the momentum to the Bucs. A Jackson fumble and ensuing recovery by McCollum, put Mayfield and company back on the field. In what initially appeared to be a sensational touchdown in which half the defense pushed McCollum back into the end zone, was called back. He was ruled down, but the Bucs cashed in on the turnover with a White touchdown and successful two-point attempt to trim the deficit, 34-18. The Ravens immediately responded with an eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive of their own, culminating in a Derrick Henry 13-yard touchdown. He was wide open in the flat and Jackson passed to his favorite target, who turned upfield and crossed the goal line. On that play, the Ravens exceeded 500 total net yards and extended their lead, 41-18.

Late in the fourth, Bucky Irving plunged into the end zone on a one-yard touchdown rush after Cade Otton made a physical grab to bring the Bucs to first-and-goal. Mayfield was sacked on the two-point attempt, keeping the score at 41-24. Tavierre Thomas then recovered the onside kick, putting the Bucs’ offense right back on the field. The unit capitalized with a 23-yard touchdown. Mayfield hit White, who was wide-open in the flat and turned north after the catch. The Bucs trailed by 10, 41-31 after too many miscues sealed the team’s fate.