BUCS vs. RAVENS

WHEN: Monday, October 21, 2024 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL) | KICKOFF: 8:15 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Joe Buck | ANALYST: Troy Aikman | SIDELINE: Lisa Salters

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Am I Getting Suckered By The Bucs This Week?

Bucs HC Todd Bowles, OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

My initial thought was to pick the Ravens over the Bucs. That was my prediction on Friday when I taped The Insiders show for WDAE and for when I appeared on The Drive with TKras on 95.3 FM. Baltimore is an experienced veteran team. The Ravens are older and have been in the playoffs numerous times and even the AFC Championship Game last year. If this game was to be played in early December – a few weeks from now after the young Bucs players get more seasoning and experience – I’d like Tampa Bay’s chances of winning better. Kind of like how the Eagles manhandled the Bucs on Monday Night Football in Week 3 last year but Tampa Bay got the better of Philadelphia in the playoffs after the young players grew up during the season.

But that’s not an option. We’ve seen some growth in Tampa Bay already. Just look at rookie Tykee Smith’s dynamic game last week. Sean Tucker’s coming out party in New Orleans. Bucky Irving flourish in his role as a starting running back. Calijah Kancey get a sack in his first game back. Liam Coen turn on the running game against the Saints. If these young Bucs exhibit more growth this week against their toughest test yet – the Ravens – they can win this game. There is a path to victory even though Tampa Bay will be without cornerback Jamel Dean and the tight end trio of Isaiah Likely, Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar can wreak havoc in the middle of the Bucs defense.

Yet I believe Todd Bowles will come up with some schemes to shut down – or at least slow down Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. I believe Coen will find some answers to get the Bucs ground game going. I believe in Baker Mayfield – period. And I believe Tampa Bay has learned some lessons from its two losses – the blowout to Denver and blowing it in Atlanta. Tackling will be the key. If the Bucs can effectively tackle the Ravens they’ll have a chance to win. Baltimore’s Todd Monken is a formidable play-caller, but I think Coen is becoming one, too. I like his swagger, his confidence and his creativity. I might be a sucker for buying into last week’s win too much, but give me the Bucs in an upset.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 30, Ravens 27
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 3-3

Matt Matera: Ravens Too Much For Bucs

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

I’ve gone back and forth when deciding who’s going to win over and over. It comes down to which Bucs team are we going to get? Is it going to be the Bucs team that can run the football and spread the ball around in the passing game, or the type of offense that couldn’t go at all against the Broncos or sputtered in the second half against the Falcons?

What I’m saying is I see a lot more of what can go wrong for the Bucs in this game than what can go right. With Mike Evans banged up, the Bucs are going to need more than Chris Godwin, even if he balls out once again. Is Sterling Shepard or Trey Palmer capable of that role? Maybe not against a physical team like the Ravens.

The biggest culprit of all is how the Bucs will be able to slow down Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. They’ll have an easier time against the latter. Containment has been a fickle thing for the Bucs when it comes to mobile quarterbacks. I see Jackson exposing the Bucs in that area and getting loose for tons of gains. If Spencer Rattler found a little success on designed rollouts, what do you think Lamar Jackson is going to do? The Bucs can keep it close, but the Ravens have hit their stride and will be difficult to stop in the game.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Ravens 31, Bucs 28
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 3-3

Bailey Adams: Bucs Fall Just Short In Primetime

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

This game could very well turn into a shootout. It’s not that these defenses aren’t good, though. It’s more so the fact that both offenses match up well against what the opposition’s defense has been struggling with. For the Bucs, their strength is in the passing game. As much as their run game exploded last week, this offense is more about Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin than it is the backfield. The good news for Tampa Bay? Baltimore is near the bottom of the league in stopping the pass.

The Ravens are more well-balanced in terms of their offensive strengths, as Lamar Jackson is plenty capable of getting it done through the air. But the combination of Jackson and Derrick Henry on the ground has been nearly unstoppable this season. Baltimore’s top-ranked rushing offense and 8th-ranked passing attack may prove difficult for the Bucs to stop. And considering the Ravens are the top-ranked run defense, a lot will fall on Baker Mayfield’s shoulders. He may have to play near-perfect football to help the home team pull this one out.

I think I’m setting myself up to look like a big fool because Mayfield very well could go out there and play a near-perfect game while leading the Bucs to a big-time victory. But I’m not ready to bet on that happening. I think he plays well, but the run game sputters and the pass game can’t quite click on all cylinders. Meanwhile, I’m not sure Tampa Bay is going to be fully up to the task of stopping Jackson, and Derrick Henry will get his, too. Give me Baltimore in a close one.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Ravens 27, Bucs 23
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 3-3

Josh Queipo: Bucs Lose Shootout

Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith – photo by: USA Today

I have every confidence in the Bucs offense to keep up with the Ravens high-powered attack. Both offenses are towards the top of the NFL in any/all scoring or efficiency metrics. Baltimore’s two-headed rushing attack of MVP Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry has a higher EPA/play than all but six of the NFL’s passing attacks. But the Bucs boast a Top 10 rushing and passing attack of their own. These two teams are both ranked in the top three in the league in scoring offenses. The fireworks that are set to go off on Monday are big and explosive.

But what I worry about is the Bucs defense facing off against this powerful Baltimore offensive attack. On the season Jackson is 23-26 for 369 yards and four touchdowns when targeting the intermediate center of the field. That’s an 88.5% completion percentage while averaging 14.2 yards per attempt. That’s incredible. And defending that area of the field for the Bucs on Monday night will be K.J. Britt and Lavonte David. I have serious concerns on how well they will be able to slow down Jackson and the Ravens.

Additionally, the Bucs will likely be without starting cornerback Jamel Dean. After losing primary backup Bryce Hall early in the season, Tampa Bay had to rely on Tyrek Funderburk in the second half last week when Dean initially went down. If they have to put Funderburk out there again I am very concerned about his ability to keep up with Ravens receiver Zay Flowers or effectively tackle Henry on the outside.

There were a couple of good reps for Tyrek Funderburk last week, but far more concerns abound. pic.twitter.com/H8GKrSBOSw

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) October 19, 2024

The Bucs can play with any team in the NFL. But Baltimore is uniquely built to exploit Tampa Bay’s weaknesses.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Ravens 31, Bucs 27
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 3-3

Adam Slivon: Bucs Keep It Close, But Can’t Keep Up With Ravens

Ravens RB Derrick Henry Photo by: USA Today

The Ravens come to Tampa Bay to face the Bucs on Monday night in an exciting matchup between two Top 5 scoring offenses in the NFL. The Bucs are coming off a 51-point outburst against the Saints and have scored 30 points or more in the past three games. The only problem, so have the high-flying Ravens. Baltimore boasts two running mavens in Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, and teams have been unable to crack the code when it comes to stopping them.

With the Bucs’ defense allowing 113.3 rushing yards on 4.7 yards-per-carry a game and eight touchdowns this season, they will be in for a long day having to face the two most dynamic running threats in the league and a team that runs the ball nearly 35 times a game. The Vita Vea-Calijah Kancey duo will help in plugging up the middle, but if Jackson and Henry bounce to the outside as they have, they will still pile up yards. With Jackson being equally dangerous in the air, he has the chance to pick apart a passing secondary likely missing Jamel Dean. Expect the two-time MVP quarterback to target Zay Flowers – coming off two consecutive 100-yard games – often.

Looking to keep up will be Baker Mayfield and Co. Mayfield has been playing at an MVP level through the season’s first six games, while the running game has exploded with Sean Tucker leading the way last week. With Rachaad White coming back, it will create a three-man rushing attack with Tucker, White, and Bucky Irving that could catch the Ravens’ run defense off-guard. They have only allowed 59 rushing yards a game, but Liam Coen’s use of three different kinds of runners could equate to more success. With Mike Evans not fully healthy, expect Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton to focus on Chris Godwin, who has been elite this season. Both of these teams are playoff contenders, but in this one, the Ravens’ rushing prowess will allow them to control the time of possession and give them a slight advantage in coming out with a prime time win.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Ravens 34, Bucs 27
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 3-3