The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) beat the Baltimore Ravens (5-3) 27-22 Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium.
The Ravens received the opening kickoff; after a significant gain on the game's opening play, the Ravens drive stalled out. Jaelon Darden fumbled the punt, and the Ravens recovered the loose ball and took over with possession at Tampa's six-yard line. The Bucs defense stood tall, forcing the Ravens to settle for Justin Tucker's 22-yard field goal to give Baltimore a 3-0 lead with 11:03 left in the opening quarter. The Bucs follow up the field goal with a TD of their own; Leonard Fournette punches it in from a yard out, giving the Bucs a 7-3 lead with 6:56 remaining in Q1. The Bucs took a 10-3 lead late in the 1st quarter courtesy of Ryan Succop's 31-yard field goal with less than 30 seconds left in the opening quarter. The Bucs took their 10-3 lead into the 2nd quarter.
The Bucs defense looked strong in the 2nd quarter. Unfortunately, the Bucs offense wasn't able to get anything going. The Ravens were able to dink and dime their way down the field. Baltimore went for it on 4th & 2 inside Tampa's 10-yard line; Bucs CB Jamel Dean made a play on the ball, breaking up Lamar Jackson's pass. The Ravens attempted a Justin Tucker 61-yard field goal, but Patrick O'Connor blocked the field goal try to end the 1st half, with the Bucs holding onto a 10-3 lead.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens tied up the game at 10, Kenyan Drake with a 5-yard TD reception in the 3rd quarter. The Ravens added another touchdown to the scoreboard; Lamar Jackson found Isaiah Likely in the back of the end zone to give the Ravens a 17-10 lead heading into the 4th quarter.
Tampa Bay tacked on three more points courtesy of a 30-yard Ryan Succop field goal. The Ravens led 17-13 with 12:26 remaining in regulation. Late in the 4th quarter, the Ravens tacked on another touchdown; Devin Duvernay punched it in from 15-yards out with less than 7-minutes in regulation. The Bucs offense returned to work and quietly marched their way down the field, setting up a 26-yard field goal from Ryan Succop. The Ravens held onto a lead, 24-16, with 4:54 left in the 4th quarter. Baltimore later extended their lead to 11-points after Justin Tucker knocked down a 30-yard field goal with 2:12 left to play. Tom Brady connected with Julio Jones on an 8-yard TD pass. The Bucs trailed 27-22 following the failed 2-point try. That's the ball game; the Bucs fall to (3-5) on the season.
The Buccaneers now prepare to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, November 6th, in Tampa Bay. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 PM - you can hear the game on 97.9 WXTB-FM - The Mighty 98 Rock.
PHOTO COURTESY: GETTY IMAGES