10/21/24 10:44:00
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10/21 22:42 CDT Lamar Jackson throws for 281 yards, 5 TDs to lead streaking
Ravens to 41-31 victory over Buccaneers
Lamar Jackson throws for 281 yards, 5 TDs to lead streaking Ravens to 41-31
victory over Buccaneers
By FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) --- Lamar Jackson threw for 281 yards and five touchdowns,
helping the Baltimore Ravens overcome an early double-digit deficit and extend
their winning streak to five games with a 41-31 victory Monday night over the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost their top two receivers to injuries.
The two-time NFL MVP improved to 23-1 against NFC teams, the best mark by a
quarterback against an opposing conference in NFL history. He's 3-0 against the
Bucs (4-3), who faded after taking a 10-0 lead with help from the 100th TD
reception of Mike Evans' career.
Evans departed with a hamstring injury after Baker Mayfield tried to connect
with him in the end zone again, and late in the fourth quarter with the game
out of reach, leading Bucs receiver Chris Godwin was carted off the field with
a left ankle injury. ESPN declined to show replays of Godwin's injury, which
appeared to be severe.
Jackson completed 17 of 22 passes without an interception, including TD throws
of 9 and 4 yards to Mark Andrews. He also tossed scoring passes of 49 yards to
Rashod Bateman, 18 yards to Justice Hill and 11 yards to Derrick Henry, who
rushed for 169 yards on 15 carries. Bateman had four catches for 121 yards.
The Ravens (5-2) rebounded from a slow start on defense, with cornerback Marlon
Humphrey turning the game around with a pair of second-quarter interceptions
--- one of them in the Baltimore end zone. Jackson led a four-play, 80-yard TD
drive after the first pick, and the second interception set up Justin Tucker's
28-yard field goal for a 17-10 halftime lead.
Mayfield finished 31 of 45 passing for 370 yards, three TDs and two
interceptions. Evans joined Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Marvin
Harrison and Terrell Owens as the only players to have at least 100 TD
receptions in the first 11 seasons of a career when he caught a 25-yard scoring
pass in the first quarter.
Evans, who missed two days of practice last week with what the Bucs described
as a nagging hamstring issue, appeared to aggravate the injury on the scoring
reception. Mayfield nearly connected with him in the end zone again in the
second quarter, but this time the ball glanced off Evans' hands as he and
Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens went to the ground.
Evans remained on the turf for several minutes before being helped to his feet
and limping to the locker room. He did not return.
The Bucs played at home for the first time since Hurricane Milton made landfall
on Florida's Gulf Coast, causing extensive damage in the Tampa Bay area and
along the path it took across the state. The Bucs relocated ahead of the storm
to New Orleans, where they practiced for four days before trouncing the Saints
51-7 last week.
The Ravens lead the the NFL with 1,476 rushing yards this season and have run
for at least 150 in every game. With 243 on the ground Monday night, they
became the fourth team since 1980 to begin a season with at least 1,400 yards
in their first seven games. The others are the 1984 Chicago Bears (1,508), 2006
Atlanta Falcons (1,476) and 2019 Ravens (1,429).
Henry's touchdown catch midway through the fourth quarter made it 41-18. The
Bucs scored twice in the closing minutes, including after a successful onside
kick, the second time the Ravens have failed to recover an opponent's onside
kick this season.
Injuries
Ravens: Humphrey (knee) departed after colliding with a teammate while making
his second interception and did not return.
Buccaneers: Evans' TD catch was his only reception. ... Safety Tykee Smith
(concussion) left in the second quarter and did not return.
Up next
Ravens: At AFC North rival Cleveland next Sunday.
Buccaneers: Host Falcons on Sunday.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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