PewterReport.com Publisher and Bucs Beat Writer Scott Reynolds
Tampa Bay will face a team unlike any they have battled against all year in Baltimore as the Ravens like to run the ball at a 2:1 ratio – by the far the most in the league. The Bucs have really struggled stopping the run on the road. Tampa Bay gave up 138 yards rushing in a loss at Cincinnati, 163 yards rushing in a loss at New York and 179 yards rushing in a defeat at Carolina. Baltimore is fourth in the NFL in rushing with 134.2 yards per game.

Tampa Bay may be without run-stuffing defensive tackle Beau Allen, who is listed as questionable with a wrist injury he suffered on Friday during practice. Defensive tackles Vita Vea and Gerald McCoy are going to have to be stout against the run this week and not get driven out of their gaps.

Getting the Ravens to go three-and-out early will be critical for Mark Duffner’s defense in order to stay fresh for the fourth quarter and avoid wearing out with Baltimore’s potent ground game led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, the team’s first-round pick, who has 471 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Spying Jackson with linebacker Lavonte David will be critical in limiting him from breaking off big runs. Jackson also leads the team with 30 first downs via rushing. As a passer, Jackson has four touchdowns and three interceptions, and the Bucs need to get Baltimore in third-and-long situations to force Jackson to pass, as he is only completing 58.4 percent of his throws.

Offensively, the Bucs need to stay away from having Jameis Winston using five- and seven-step drops against the Ravens due to their potent pass rush, which has three players – linebackers Terrell Suggs and Matthew Judon and defensive lineman Zadarius Smith – with seven sacks apiece. Baltimore has the second-rated defense in the NFL, allowing just 294 yards, along with the third-best passing defense (206.2 ypg.) and the fourth-best run defense (87.8 ypg).

It will be tough for the Bucs’ No. 1 ranked offense to generate yards and explosive plays against the Ravens’ stout front seven. Winston will need to utilize screen passes to wide receiver Adam Humphries and running backs Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones in order to take advantage of the Bucs’ weak offensive line and aggressive Ravens’ pass rush. Using Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on quick slant passes and quick outs to move the chains and get Winston in rhythm early and avoid taking hits and sacks will also be key. That goes against what Dirk Koetter and Todd Monken like to do offensively. But with shaky offensive line play and right tackle Demar Dotson being questionable for this game, they will have to call plays against their nature to have a chance to win.

Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Ravens 26, Buccaneers 20
Reynolds’ Pick-To-Click: LB Lavonte David

PewterReport.com Editor And Bucs Beat Writer Mark Cook
Like last week against the Saints I have tried to talk myself into a case for the Buccaneers going on the road and beating the Ravens. I tried. I can’t.

Therefore, there is just no logical way I see Tampa Bay coming back home with a win. Their season-long track record of not being able to stop opposing teams on the road, and the way the offense finds a way to make just enough mistakes to lose, keeps me from a scenario where the Bucs win on Sunday.

The Ravens are in the middle of a legit race to make the playoffs, while the Bucs know it would take a miracle for them to get in. The Ravens defense is better than the Bucs offensive line. The Ravens run the football and will be starting the versatile rookie Lamar Jackson, who will frustrate the Bucs’ depleted defense. The weather looks to be rainy and cold. The Bucs can’t run the football. The Ravens have a Super Bowl-winning coach and an experienced staff. These are just a few reasons why the Ravens will beat the Bucs who will come home 5-9 I am afraid.

Can the Bucs keep it close? I suppose, but we will have to see a much better offensive line performance than we saw last week where when left off, Jameis Winston was running for his life. We will have to see a nearly flawless performance in all three phases on Sunday. No dumb penalties. No turnovers. No questionable play-calling. No field goal misses or blocked punts. An almost perfect game.

And then the Bucs have to hope Jackson has some rookie moments and gets careless with the football. If all those things happen then it might be close as the fourth quarter is winding down. But do you trust the Bucs can manage all of those things? Does the team even believe it can manage all of those things?

If Dirk Koetter and his staff hold onto to any hope of returning in 2018 they can’t lose on Sunday. Then they need to follow it up with a win at Dallas and close the season with a home victory over Atlanta. Not an impossible feat, but a highly improbable one if you ask me.

Cook’s Score Prediction: Ravens 27, Buccaneers 17
Cook’s Pick to Click: DE Carl Nassib

PewterReport.com Bucs Beat Reporter Trevor Sikkema
Believe it or not, there is a recipe for the Buccaneers to win this game, even if it is on the road. Though Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is dynamic when rushing the ball, in the passing game he leaves much to be desired. The recipe for the Buccaneers is then this: score early and often. If the Bucs can win the toss, take the ball and score touchdowns on two of their first three drives, they can win this game.

I have watched every snap of Lamar Jackson in two of his four starts. The Ravens have done a nice job scheming around his talents. They’ll run motion pre-snap to tip Jackson on the type of coverage and alignment the defensive will be deploying. They’ll also run and pass out of the same sets. Usually the Ravens will be in either 11, 12 or 21 personnel with tight ends and running backs, and these players could be lead blockers on one play and pass catchers the next. That also keeps the defense honest.

But if the Buccaneers can get up early, they’ll force the Ravens to abandon some of their run game and get out of their comfort zone. Anytime you can do something like that with a rookie quarterback, you know you’ll have your advantages. It will be up to Jameis Winston, Mike Evans and the rest of Tampa Bay’s receivers to make it happen and start fast. if they don’t, that Ravens defense can suffocate them as the game goes on.

The Bucs have to play this one like they have nothing to lose – be as aggressive on offense as they can be.

Sikkema‘s Score Prediction: Ravens 26, Buccaneers 23
Sikkema’s Pick to Click: QB Jameis Winston

PewterReport.com Intern Taylor Jenkins
When the Buccaneers head to Baltimore this Sunday to face the Ravens it’s going to be cold, it’s going to be wet and Tampa Bay will have its hands full with one of the league’s top defenses. Baltimore has allowed opposing teams to gain just 294 total yards of offense per game while holding them to a league-low 18.5 points per game.

One of the biggest hurdles the Bucs will face on Sunday will without a doubt be their ability to establish the run game. With rain expected all weekend, it will probably be a sloppy and grind-it-out game. When you add the Bucs’ terrible track record on the road, an offensive line that makes a consistent run game seem like a pipe dream and the offense’s tendency to struggle with execution in the red zone, the math seems to back the Ravens. The Ravens have also averaged a staggering 227.5 yards on the ground since Lamar Jackson took over at QB – something that should benefit their cause given the weather.

I can’t see the Bucs making any sudden change that will open up their run game and the passing game – should Jameis Winston find a way to stay on his feet – will 100 percent come down to grit and execution. The Ravens aren’t built to blow the doors off of anyone offensively, so if the Bucs can get their offense clicking early and not continuously leave points on the field, it could be a winnable game for them.

I see a big chance for rookie defensive tackle Vita Vea to make an impact as the Bucs look to plug up the middle and I can’t see a world where defensive coordinator Mark Duffner doesn’t send consistent pressure from his linebackers, forcing the Ravens to beat them by attacking a poor performing and injured Bucs secondary in the rain. Free safety Justin Evans (toe) has been ruled out while rookie cornerback Carlton Davis (knee) remains questionable.

Jenkins’ Score Prediction: Ravens 23, Buccaneers 20
Jenkins’ Pick to Click: DT Gerald McCoy