Lamar Jackson’s 5-TD effort propels Ravens past Bucs
Lamar Jackson threw for 281 yards with five touchdowns and the Baltimore Ravens extended their winning streak to five games with a 41-31 victory over the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.
Baltimore wide receiver Rashod Bateman made four catches for a career-high 121 yards and a score. Jackson connected on 17 of 22 passes.
After a slow start, Ravens running back Derrick Henry had an 81-yard run late in the third quarter to set up the Ravens’ fourth touchdown. Henry finished with 169 yards on 15 carries, and he made his second touchdown reception of the season.
After trailing 10-0, Baltimore (5-2) scored 34 consecutive points. Jackson improved to 23-1 against the NFC — the best mark by a quarterback against an opposing conference in NFL history.
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews made two touchdown receptions and now has 43 in his career, surpassing Todd Heap’s previous franchise record of 41.
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter but aggravated a hamstring injury in the second quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Fellow wide receiver Chris Godwin was carted off the field with less than a minute left in the game.
Tampa head coach Todd Bowles told reporters after the game that Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle and is out indefinitely.
Baker Mayfield was 31 of 45 for 370 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for Tampa Bay (4-3). He was sacked three times.
Tampa Bay tight end Cade Otton caught eight passes for 100 yards, and Rachaad White caught two TD passes.
Baltimore opened a 27-10 lead on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Bateman with 7:25 left in the third quarter. On the Ravens’ next possession, the 81-yard run by Henry set up a 4-yard scoring pass from Jackson to Andrews.
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers couldn’t handle a backward pass from Jackson that was ruled a fumble and the Buccaneers recovered. Tampa Bay took advantage and pulled to within 34-18 on Mayfield’s 11-yard touchdown pass to White and a two-point conversion pass to Sterling Shepard with 11:24 left in the game.
However, Henry had a 33-yard run to sway the momentum. Henry then caught a 13-yard touchdown pass to boost the lead to 41-18.
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey had a career-high two interceptions but had to leave the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and was ruled out.
Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving had a 1-yard score and White caught a 23-yard TD reception to make it a 10-point game with just under two minutes left.
The Ravens finished with 508 yards on offense, while the Buccaneers amassed 481 yards.
