Mapping a out a blueprint to success in this interconference showdown.
The Baltimore Ravens will be back on the road in Week 7, traveling to the Sunshine State to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in primetime on Monday Night Football. Coming off a victory over the Washington Commanders in a Week 6 edition of the Battle of the Beltway, the Ravens will be looking to extend their winning streak against a formidable NFC South team with the same record as them at 4-2 and are led by Pro Bowl veteran quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield. Not only would a win put their record three games over .500, but it may keep them in first place in the division — even if the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New York Jets the day before in Sunday Night Football.
Here are five keys integral to the Ravens’ coming out on top in Week 7.
Keep pounding on the ground with the King
Some pundits would prefer that the Ravens dial back some of their heavy usage of four-time Pro Bowl running back and league-leading rusher, Derrick Henry, in an effort to preserve him later in the season and playoffs. However, he has shown no signs of slowing down and is poised to have yet another strong outing going up against a Buccaneers defense that is allowing 4.6 yards per carry to opposing running backs and 4.7 yards per carry overall which is tied for the sixth-highest clip in the league. Under lights on Monday night, a heavy dose of Henry with some runs from fellow veteran Justice Hill and quarterback Lamar Jackson sprinkled in would help the Ravens’ offense excel while keeping the Buccaneers’ explosive unit on the sideline.
Make more plays on the ball downfield defensively
The Buccaneers boast one of the most explosive offenses in the league that is tied for the second-most points scored per game with 29.7 and is fresh off dropping 44 points on a division rival in Week 6. They possess one of the top wide receiver duos with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans dominating on the outside and Pro Bowler Chris Godwin on pace for a career year out of the slot. Leading the charge for the offense as a whole is Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield who leads the league in touchdown passes with 15 and while his average yards per attempt is just 7.9, he can and isn’t afraid to push the ball downfield and attack opposing defenses vertically with either of his explosive weapons.
While the Ravens’ pass defense has forced the second-most incompletions in the league, their 42 receptions of 10-plus yards have been the most allowed. Baltimore’s propensity for giving up big plays through the air isn’t due to a lack of talent or ability to play tight coverage as some might be led to believe passed off looking at box scores after games. By digging a little deeper, the opposite is actually proven to be true. According to Next Gen Stats, the Ravens have forced the highest percentage of tight window throws (23%) and targeted wide receivers have been open just 40.5% of the time which is the second-lowest mark in the league behind the New York Jets (37.6%).
Despite impressive in both metrics, the Ravens are allowing 8.1 passing yards per attempt which is tied for the second-most in the NFL. In essence, first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s unit is making opposing offenses have to attempt a low percentage of passes into tight windows consistently and just aren’t making enough plays on the ball when it arrives which can’t continue to be the case heading into this game because it could very well end up turning into a shootout.
Heavy use of play action
One of the greatest benefits of the Ravens having the most dangerous and potent rushing attack in the league is that it makes their ability to air the ball out on play action even more deadly and effective. According to Sports Info Solutions, the Ravens dial up play-action about 17 percent of the time which is seventh seventh-highest mark in the league and their success rate on such plays is the sixth-best mark through the first six weeks of the season.
In recent weeks and especially during their four-game winning streak, they’ve been using play action even more to much success and going up against a Buccaneers defense allowing a 65.9 completion percentage, eight yards per attempt and an opposing passer rating of over 95, Jackson could be poised to have an even more efficient outing passing the ball than he did last time. In Week 8 of the 2022 season, the Ravens’ star signal caller carved up Todd Bowles’ defense to the tune of 27-of-38 for 238 yards, a completion percentage of 71.05%, two touchdowns and no interceptions with a passing rating of 104.9.
Limit YAC with sure-tackling
The Buccaneers’ offensive skill players will be rolling into this game with confidence coming off what was essentially a flag football game against the New Orleans Saints last week. Godwin had his most productive game of the year in which he caught 11-of-13 targets for 125 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns—all of which were season highs. According to Next Gen Stats, he gained 105 of his 125 receiving yards after the catch, marking his highest YAC in a game since Week 8, 2021 which also came against the Saints where he finished with 105 YAC. Godwin currently leads the league in yards after catch this season with 335.
Godwin wasn’t the only Buccaneer feasting both after the catch and after contact last Sunday, running backs Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving each had career days on the ground, combining for 217 rushing yards and a couple of scores on 14 attempts each, averaging over five yards a carry. They also made plays out of the backfield as pass catchers including a 36-yard catch and run for a score by Tucker.
Last week wasn’t a fluke or flash in the pan for Tampa, on the season, the Buccaneers have been a dangerous extended play and yards-after-catch offense. However, while the Ravens have struggled in coverage down the field at times and for stretches this season an area where they have been extremely stout and physical is tackling in space and blowing passing plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. Their cornerbacks, safeties and linebackers play fast and downhill led by All Pros Marlon Humphrey, Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith who each are having strong starts to the seasons and are the team’s strongest and most physical open-field tacklers.
Pressure Baker Mayfield; limit scrambles
The best way for the Ravens to avoid getting into a shootout with an explosive Buccaneers offense is by generating constant and relentless pressure on their gunslinger of a quarterback. Doing so will not only result in sacks and throwaways but could also lead to errant passes that get intercepted outright or after getting tipped. While Mayfield threw for over 320 yards and four touchdowns last week, he was also intercepted thrice. He has turned the ball over at least once in four of his team’s first six games between interceptions and strip sacks. Forcing him into mistakes by holding onto the ball too long or trying to get too aggressive could help a Ravens defense that led the league in turnovers last season but only has five through the first six games to make more big plays instead of giving them up.
While Mayfield will never be mistaken for or compared to Jackson with the ball in his hands as a runner, he has stepped up his game as a scrambler this year and has been able to extend plays and pickup key first downs with his legs. However, the Ravens have not only been the best run defense by a wide margin through the first six games but they’ve been especially effective in neutralizing or at least limiting scrambles by opposing quarterbacks. In last week’s win over the Commanders, they held one of the most dangerous dual-threats, rookie Jayden Daniels to a season-low in attempts (six) and (22) yards. As long as they continue to maintain their rush-lane integrity, they’ll have an easier time keeping Mayfield in the pocket and corralling behind the line of scrimmage when he does escape.