The Baltimore Ravens scored 34 straight points starting in the second quarter after giving up the first ten points, en route to a 41-31 victory at the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.
Since starting the season with two losses, the Ravens have been unstoppable; they signed a fifth consecutive success in Tampa, thus joining the Pittsburgh Steelers from the same at the top of the American Association North Division standings.
Lamar Jackson threw five touchdown passes to tie a career high, including two throws to Mark Andrews for the major, while Derrick Henry again surpassed the 100-yard mark on the ground, including a massive 81 yards at the end of the third quarter.
Author of 169 yards by land, “ King » Henry wasn’t able to add to his already impressive tally of eight rushing touchdowns in six games in his first campaign as a Ravens, but he did score one in the air game – his second in 2024 – to deliver the knockout blow in the fourth quarter.
John Harbaugh’s men racked up at least 100 yards on the ground for the 40th time in a row, which brings them three games closer to a record that already belongs to the Ravens (2028-2021), as well as the Steelers (1974- 1977).
For the Bucs (4-3), Mike Evans’ evening got off to an ideal start, as he caught a 25-yard pass for his 100th career touchdown, in the 5th minute of play.
Except midway through the second quarter, Evans appeared to reaggravate a hamstring injury he was already carrying by stretching to catch a ball aimed at him in the end zone.
The Bucs announced a few minutes later that the 31-year-old veteran pass catcher would not return to the game.
Evans is just the 11th player in NFL history to have 100 catches for touchdowns. The all-time mark in this regard belongs to the great Jerry Rice, at 197.
Others are Randy Moss (156), Terrell Owens (153), Cris Carter (130), Marvin Harrison (128), Larry Fitzgerald (121), Antonio Gates (116), Tony Gonzalez (111), Tim Brown (100) and Steve Largent (100).
Godwin also falls in battle
After losing Evans, Tampa was not at the end of its troubles, however, since its other high-profile wide winger, Chris Godwin, also fell in action late in the fourth quarter.
The Bucs had little chance of coming back when Godwin’s rival’s helmet slammed against his knee, and the eight-year veteran wide receiver was left on the ground writhing in pain, before leaving aboard. ‘a cart.
Godwin has suffered a torn knee ligament in the past. It was January 2022, and he returned to the game some ten months later, in October.
Tampa wanted to continue in the vein of last week, after their 51-27 victory at the expense of the New Orleans Saints in Week 6.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield ran into trouble after the middle finger scored on his offense’s first offensive sequence of the game. He was also the victim of two interceptions which helped Baltimore gain rhythm.
However, he recovered at the end of two games, spotting running back Rachaad White twice in the aerial game when the outcome of the duel was already decided.
