The Baltimore Ravens continued their strong start to the 2024 season with a commanding 41-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. The victory lifted the Ravens to 5-2, tying them with the Steelers atop the AFC North and keeping them in a four-way tie with Pittsburgh, Houston, and Buffalo behind the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC’s top playoff seed.
Tampa Bay, now 4-3, saw their night further marred by a major injury. Wide receiver Chris Godwin was carted off the field late in the game with what Bucs coach Todd Bowles described as a dislocated ankle. Bowles admitted the injury “doesn’t look good,” and when asked about Godwin still playing late in a 10-point game, Bowles explained, “We’re trying to win. We were short on receivers, so we played who we had.”
Bucs WR Chris Godwin was carted off the field with 43 seconds left in the game. pic.twitter.com/6Ip0ikHdGZ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 22, 2024
The game started well for Tampa Bay, as quarterback Baker Mayfield connected with Mike Evans for his 100th career receiving touchdown, making Evans the 11th player in NFL history to achieve the milestone and the fifth to do it with one team. However, the momentum quickly shifted. Evans left the game with a hamstring injury during the Bucs’ third drive, and three plays later, Marlon Humphrey intercepted Mayfield in the end zone, marking the first of two picks for the Ravens’ cornerback. Humphrey later exited the game with a knee injury.
Lamar Jackson put on a stellar performance, throwing for five touchdown passes, marking his fifth career game with at least five TDs — second only to Patrick Mahomes since 2018. Derrick Henry also shined, rushing for 169 yards on 15 carries and adding a 13-yard touchdown reception. Rashod Bateman set a career-high with 121 receiving yards, while Mark Andrews’ two-touchdown game earned him the Ravens’ all-time receiving touchdown record.
Although the Buccaneers mounted a late comeback, cutting the deficit to 10 points and scoring touchdowns on consecutive drives after recovering an onside kick, the Ravens’ lead proved insurmountable.
Ravens’ Offensive Power Surges
Baltimore’s offense looked unstoppable at times, with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the rest of the team executing in multiple ways. Despite some mistakes, Jackson’s five touchdown passes and Henry’s 169 rushing yards helped the Ravens score 34 unanswered points at one stage, demonstrating the offense’s growing dominance. “The Ravens can attack teams in so many ways, and nobody is playing the quarterback position better than Jackson right now,” said Ravens beat writer Jeff Zrebiec.
Humphrey’s Injury a Major Concern
While the Ravens’ secondary struggled earlier in the season, Marlon Humphrey’s return to form after an injury-plagued 2023 was a bright spot. His knee injury in this game raises concerns, and while rookie Nate Wiggins stepped in, replacing a player of Humphrey’s caliber will be a challenge for the Ravens.
Bucs Falter After Evans’ Departure
Before Mike Evans left the game with a hamstring injury, the Buccaneers’ offense was rolling, with Mayfield throwing a touchdown and the team scoring on two of its first three drives. However, after Evans went down, Tampa Bay’s offense sputtered. Mayfield threw two interceptions on his next four passes, and the team never fully recovered. Although Evans wasn’t going to chase down Lamar Jackson or stop Derrick Henry, his absence significantly impacted the Bucs’ momentum.
Key Takeaways
The Ravens continue to solidify themselves as one of the top teams in the AFC, while the Buccaneers will need to regroup after losing Evans and Godwin to injuries.
Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)