Two of the NFL's top teams square off Monday night in Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers host the Baltimore Ravens with plenty of intrigue. Will Tampa Bay stop Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, who lead one of the best rushing attacks in recent memory? How will Baker Mayfield fare against Baltimore's vaunted defense?
Stay with NBC News all night for updates between two top contenders.
Touchdown, Ravens!
Baltimore marches down the field with ease, needing only six plays to go 70 yards before a nine-yard touchdown catch by Mark Andrews.
It’s now only a 10-7 lead for the Bucs.
Bucs settle for field goal in red zone
Tampa Bay’s offense continues to move the ball incredibly well, but a holding penalty on 3rd-and-goal wiped out a touchdown pass to Chris Godwin, and the Bucs were forced to settle for a field goal on their latest drive.
Tough way to lose four points, but Tampa Bay now leads 10-0.
Baker Mayfield is already 8 of 9 for 101 yards.
Ravens punt after a couple first downs
Baltimore got into Bucs territory before three straight negative plays — losing a yard on a rush before back-to-back sacks on Lamar Jackson — pushed the Ravens back into their own side of the field.
Tampa Bay will take over after a touchback on the punt.
Mike Evans continues to make history
Touchdown, Bucs!
What an opening drive from the Bucs, which included a fourth-down conversion one play before Baker Mayfield found Mike Evans for a 25-yard touchdown strike.
It’s Mayfield’s 16th TD pass of the season, and Evans’s 100th career touchdown reception.
Tampa Bay leads 7-0.
We’re off!
Baker Mayfield, his league-leading 17 touchdowns, and the Buccaneers will take the field first. Their first play from scrimmage is a Baker scramble for five yards.
Zay Flowers showing potential in 2024
The Ravens get a ton of (warranted) credit for their rushing attack, but passing isn't too shabby either. They currently rank No. 6 in the NFL with 248.3 passing yards per game and Zay Flowers is the leader in the air.
Through six games, the shifty Flowers tops all Ravens wideouts with 401 yards. He's only gotten in the end zone once, however, which will need to improve if Baltimore is to contend for a Super Bowl.
Ravens announce inactives
Bucs announce inactives for Monday night
Ravens coming off win in 'Battle of the Beltway'
The Ravens beat the Commanders 30-23 in Week 6 to win their fourth straight game since starting season 0-2. Over that slate of games, Baltimore if averaging 33.5 points per contest.
Against Washington, Derrick Henry was the star. The running back had 132 yards on the ground and two scores.
Expect a ton of points tonight
Prepare for points. Baltimore’s 35.5 points per game over its last three games is third-best in the NFL behind only Detroit and, yes, Tampa Bay (38.0). Behind quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers also lead the league in points per play, and gained a franchise record 594 net yards last week in a win at New Orleans.
What to watch in Ravens-Bucs
How long will Derrick Henry’s running-back renaissance continue? Henry has rushed for 574 yards in his last four games alone, a total so high it would rank third among all NFL rushers through six weeks. Going on the road hasn’t been much of a deterrent, either. Henry is averaging 5.4 yards per carry on the road, where quarterback Lamar Jackson is averaging 6.2 yards, too. It sets up a strength vs. strength matchup, given the Buccaneers’ defense ranks among the league leaders in stopping the run by allowing 113 rushing yards per game.