The Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two of the league’s prime offenses, might be headed for a shootout in Tampa in an intriguing Monday night time matchup.
The Ravens (4-2) are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place within the AFC North, whereas the Buccaneers (4-2) share the NFC South lead with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Buccaneers are scoring 29.7 factors per recreation, tied for second with the Washington Commanders behind the Detroit Lions (30.2). The Ravens are ranked No. 1 with 453.7 yards per recreation and are averaging 29.5 factors, which ranks fourth.
Conversely, the Ravens and Buccaneers have among the many worst go defenses within the league. Baltimore is ranked thirty first, permitting 275.7 yards passing, and Tampa Bay is twenty eighth with 252.3 yards per recreation.
Because of this, there might be loads of scoring at Raymond James Stadium.
“If you will get a lead and you may make anyone one-dimensional, the fitness center bag is open,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles stated. “You may form of attain in and pull out something you wish to pull out, these guys begin flying round and making performs and you’ll see the outcomes.”
The Ravens have been dominant towards NFC opponents, and the Buccaneers are not any exception. Baltimore has received 5 straight towards Tampa Bay after dropping the primary two conferences relationship again to 2001.
Baltimore has an much more formidable operating assault this season with the addition of All-Professional Derrick Henry, who leads the NFL in dashing yards (704), makes an attempt (119) and dashing touchdowns (eight) coming into this week.
Henry can also be the primary participant since Corridor of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005 with a minimum of one dashing landing in every of his staff’s first six video games.
“He is one in all one,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated about Henry. “Any person requested me within the (community TV) manufacturing assembly this week, ‘Who do you examine him to?’ I am like, ‘Man, who do you examine him to?’ I noticed the Eric Dickerson article. OK, I feel there’s some similarity. I bear in mind Eric Dickerson arising, however after that, and even that, I do not know, man.”
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Precious Participant, is having one other MVP-caliber season. Jackson has accomplished 118 of 176 passes for 1,529 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s additionally second on the staff with 403 yards dashing with two scores.
Jackson is 22-1 towards the NFC opponents, the very best mark by a quarterback towards an opposing convention in NFL historical past. Jackson is 2-0 towards Tampa Bay.
“There’s room for enchancment and we simply acquired to maintain stacking (wins),” Jackson stated.
Not one of the Ravens’ starters missed apply Thursday, so they need to be wholesome for the matchup towards Tampa Bay. Cornerback Arthur Maulet might make his season debut after coping with knee and hamstring accidents.
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield can also be having an distinctive season. He’s 134-for-189 passing for 1,489 yards and a league-high 15 touchdowns with 5 interceptions coming into Week 7.
Mayfield has had two of the NFL’s elite playmaking broad receivers at his disposal in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. The Buccaneers rank eleventh in averaging 230.3 yards passing per recreation.
Godwin and Evans entered Week 7 tied for the league lead with 5 receiving touchdowns apiece. Nonetheless, Evans was held off form Thursday as a precaution due to a hamstring damage, in accordance with the staff’s damage report. Tampa Bay All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr. is restricted with a foot damage.
The Buccaneers’ operating assault is led by rookie Bucky Irving, who has 328 dashing yards. Nonetheless, second-year participant Sean Tucker can also be rising as a playmaker and amassed 192 yards of whole offense — 136 dashing and 56 receiving — with two touchdowns in a 51-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Nonetheless, no staff has been in a position to successfully run towards the Ravens this season. Baltimore is ranked No. 1, permitting 59.0 yards dashing per recreation. The staff’s stout defensive entrance seven, led by linemen Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones and Michael Pierce, have been fierce tacklers and dominated opposing offensive strains.
“They’re bodily,” Mayfield stated of Baltimore’s protection. “They wish to be the bully, however they’ve these guys that set the tone for them on all three ranges.”
–Discipline Degree Media
