The Baltimore Ravens and their superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson continued to light up the NFL with another dazzling performance on Monday night. Jackson threw for 281 yards and a whopping 5 touchdowns to lead the Ravens to their fifth consecutive victory, a 41-31 thrashing of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The win improved Baltimore’s record to 5-2 on the season and further cemented Jackson’s status as one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers.
Jackson Shatters Records, Connects with Bateman and Andrews
On a night filled with highlight-reel plays, perhaps none was more impressive than Jackson’s 49-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Rashod Bateman in the third quarter. The scoring toss put the Ravens up 27-10 and gave Bateman a new career-high of 121 receiving yards. Not to be outdone, Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews hauled in two of Jackson’s five TD passes, giving him 43 for his career and surpassing Todd Heap for the most by a tight end in Ravens history.
Even more remarkable than the gaudy stats was the efficiency with which Jackson picked apart the Buccaneers defense. The 2019 MVP completed a blistering 17 of 22 passes on the night, at one point connecting on 10 straight throws. The performance boosted Jackson’s career mark against NFC opponents to an astonishing 23-1, the best record by a starting quarterback against the opposing conference in NFL history.
“He’s just elite,” gushed Ravens head coach John Harbaugh when asked about Jackson after the game. “The way he can extend plays, the way he can make big-time throws in clutch moments, it’s special. We’re lucky to have him.”
– Ravens HC John Harbaugh on Lamar Jackson
Henry Gashes Bucs on the Ground
While Jackson deservedly grabbed the headlines, the Ravens also got a vintage performance from star running back Derrick Henry. After a relatively quiet first half, Henry exploded for 169 rushing yards, including an 81-yard rumble in the third quarter that set up Baltimore’s fourth touchdown. The two-time NFL rushing leader also scored his second receiving TD of the season, proving once again to be the perfect complement to Jackson’s aerial wizardry.
Bucs Bitten by Injury Bug
For the Buccaneers, who fell to 3-4 with the loss, the night was nothing short of a disaster. Not only did the defense surrender 34 straight points after taking an early 10-0 lead, but the offense lost its top two weapons when Mike Evans aggravated a hamstring injury in the second quarter and Chris Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle in the final minute. The extent of Godwin’s injury is not yet known, but Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said the receiver is out indefinitely.
“Chris is a hell of a player, and he’s a hell of a human being even more so than that. There’s not much you can say…our hearts are heavy.”
– Bucs HC Todd Bowles on Chris Godwin injury
With Evans and Godwin sidelined, quarterback Baker Mayfield was forced to rely on rookie tight end Cade Otton (8 catches, 100 yards) and unheralded receivers like Zay Flowers. Despite throwing for 370 yards and 3 TDs, Mayfield was also picked off twice and sacked three times, encapsulating the kind of up-and-down night it was for Tampa Bay.
Other Week 9 Action
Elsewhere around the NFL in Week 9:
- Cardinals 17, Chargers 15: James Conner’s 33-yard catch-and-run in the final seconds set up Chad Ryland’s 33-yard field goal as time expired, lifting Arizona over Los Angeles.
- Patriots 24, Jets 17: Mac Jones threw 2 TD passes and New England’s defense held New York under 250 total yards to win the AFC East showdown.
- Bills 20, Packers 10: Josh Allen accounted for 2 TDs and Buffalo’s top-ranked defense frustrated Aaron Rodgers all afternoon at chilly Lambeau Field.
But the story of the day was once again Lamar Jackson, who in his fifth season has already rewritten the NFL record books and redefined the quarterback position. With a 5-game winning streak and their next three games against sub-.500 opponents, there’s no telling how far he can take these high-flying Ravens.
