Baltimore Ravens Extend Winning Streak with 41-31 Victory Over Buccaneers

In a thrilling matchup on Monday night, the Baltimore Ravens secured their fifth consecutive win, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 41-31. Lamar Jackson delivered an impressive performance, throwing for 281 yards and five touchdowns, further solidifying his remarkable record against the NFC.

Wide receiver Rashod Bateman stood out, making four catches for a career-high 121 yards and a touchdown. Despite a slow start, Ravens running back Derrick Henry turned things around with an explosive 81-yard run in the third quarter, contributing to his total of 169 yards on 15 carries, along with a touchdown reception.

After falling behind 10-0, the Ravens responded decisively, scoring 34 unanswered points. With this win, Jackson improved his remarkable NFC record to 23-1, marking the best by any quarterback in NFL history against an opposing conference.

Tight end Mark Andrews also made his mark, catching two touchdown passes and breaking the franchise record for career touchdowns, previously held by Todd Heap with 41.

On the other side, the Buccaneers faced significant setbacks. While Mike Evans caught a 25-yard touchdown pass, he aggravated a hamstring injury that ruled him out for the rest of the game. Head coach Todd Bowles revealed that fellow wide receiver Chris Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle and is out indefinitely, expressing his disappointment: “Chris is a hell of a player, and he’s a hell of a human being. Our hearts are heavy.”

Quarterback Baker Mayfield reflected on the situation, stating, “I’m going to be thinking about Chris and Mike for a while, but we need to move forward. Our group needs to be resilient and step up.”

Mayfield finished the game 31 of 45 for 370 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, while he was sacked three times. Tight end Cade Otton also had a notable game, catching eight passes for 100 yards, and running back Rachaad White caught two touchdown passes.

The Ravens built a significant lead with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Bateman and Henry’s subsequent scoring plays. Despite a fumble recovery that allowed Tampa Bay to pull closer at 34-18, Henry’s 33-yard run shifted the momentum back in Baltimore’s favor.

Defensively, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey made a career-high two interceptions but exited the game due to a knee injury. Tampa Bay attempted to rally with a late touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Ravens’ offensive surge, which totaled 508 yards compared to the Buccaneers’ 481.

In a separate game on Monday night, the Arizona Cardinals triumphed over the Los Angeles Chargers 17-15, thanks to a last-second 32-yard field goal from Chad Ryland. James Conner played a pivotal role, racking up 152 total yards while assisting in setting up the winning kick.

Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker matched his career high with five field goals, but the team fell short for the third time in four games. Quarterback Justin Herbert excelled, completing 27 of 39 passes for a season-high 349 yards, while Will Dissly achieved a career-best with eight catches.