2 hours Ago By Jamison Hensley and Jenna Laine
TAMPA, Fla. -- The made a strong case on Monday night that they're the best team in the NFL, and quarterback looked like the best player in the league. While the remain the NFL's only undefeated team, the Ravens have won five straight games, including a over the NFC South-leading .
During this win streak, Baltimore has beaten three current division leaders -- Tampa Bay, the and -- by a combined score of 106-64. Jackson threw for five touchdown passes and combined for 333 yards, improving his campaign for a third NFL Most Valuable Player award. Running back ran for 169 yards, which is the fourth time in five game that he has surpassed 100 yards rushing.
The Ravens offense remains No. 1 in the NFL, delivering explosive plays in the passing and running game. After trailing 10-0, Baltimore scored 34 unanswered points and recorded its league-leading fifth straight game of 27 or more points -- the longest current streak in the NFL.
Jackson continued his dominance of the NFC, . This is the best interconference record since 1970 when the AFC and NFC were created. It was also another stellar performance for him before a national audience.
Jackson is 18-5 as a prime-time starter, the best by any quarterback since the 1970 merger. The long pass returned for Jackson. His 49-yard touchdown pass to in the third quarter was the third touchdown pass of Jackson's seven-year career that traveled at least 45 yards in the air and his first in two years.
Bateman became the first Ravens player with multiple receptions of at least 30 yards downfield in a single game since in 2018. In a span of a year, the Ravens have gone from a team that rarely gave up big plays to a defense that can't stop them. ' 25-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive was the 19th reception of 25 or more yards allowed by Baltimore -- which is the most in the NFL through seven games this season.
In 17 games last season, the Ravens only gave up 22 completions of 25 or more yards, which was tied for the second-fewest in the league. Ravens cornerback recorded multiple interceptions in a game for the first time in his eight-year career. Humphrey picked off in the end zone in the second quarter, which was converted into 's 18-yard touchdown catch.
On Tampa Bay's next possession, Humphrey intercepted Mayfield again but he on the turnover and was later ruled out. Humphrey has four of Baltimore's five interceptions this season. at (1 p.
m. ET, CBS, Sunday) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) Buccaneers quarterback Mayfield found Pro Bowl wide receiver Evans for a 25-yard touchdown on the opening drive, and the defense sacked Jackson twice on back-to-back plays for a 10-0 lead. But things fell apart on both sides of the ball when the 11-year veteran receiver midway through the second quarter.
They couldn't recover from that. Receiver was later injured and carted off the field with 43 seconds remaining in the game. The Bucs didn't lose ground in the NFC South as the also lost to the on Sunday, but they did miss out on an opportunity to make a statement on a national stage against the reigning MVP.
A win this week against Atlanta would give them a chance to split after their Week 5 Thursday night heartbreaker. But could they do it without Evans, who entered Week 7 tied for a league-leading six touchdowns? Heading into Monday night, the Ravens were giving up 59 rushing yards per game. The Bucs had already notched 59 rushing yards midway through the second quarter.
Offensive coordinator Liam Coen utilized running backs in the screen game, for straight rushing and for a mix of both. They generated 108 rushing yards and 87 receiving yards through the first three quarters, finishing the night with 125 rushing yards. Once again, the middle of the field was a vulnerable spot for the Bucs' defense, especially with tight end , who scored two touchdowns and made things particularly difficult for safety .
Jackson went 8-of-9 for 148 yards, with two passing touchdowns between the numbers in the first half, according to ESPN Research. Nothing involving Jackson should come as a surprise, but the Bucs' defense has only given up five passing touchdowns in a game two other times since Bowles arrived in Tampa in 2019 -- in a 39-37 loss at the last season and in a 40-34 loss to the Seahawks in 2019. : vs.
(1 p.m. ET, CBS, Sunday).
