A Big-Boy Challenge
October 19th, 2024
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Brad Berlin needs to be on his game Monday night.
Tampa Bay’s long-time equipment manager has to make sure the Bucs are wearing their big-boy pants when they trade blows with the surging Ravens. If you crave physical football, this one’s for you.
Lamar Jackson returns to Tampa.
The 2024 Ravens represent a throwback to old-school football. They’re coming into Raymond James Stadium intent on educating the Bucs on the art of dominating the line of scrimmage.
No team runs more forcefully or defends the run with more aggression than the Ravens, who have reeled off four consecutive wins after an 0-2 start. Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson are the stars of an offense that has averaged 472 total yards per game during the winning streak.
Helped by Jackson’s elite scrambling skills, Baltimore averages 5.9 yards per rushing attempt.
Raven opponents average only 3.0 yards on the ground, a startling disparity that tends to obscure Jackson’s gaudy 108.4 passer rating, which ranks third in the league behind Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield.
After two years of rushing woes, the Bucs have been running effectively through six weeks. Tampa Bay is 16th in rushing attempts but seventh in rushing yards, a mark of efficiency on the ground. Rookie Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker have injected juice into the run game and a young offensive line is carving holes to the second level.
Baltimore’s offense is scary good at the moment. The Ravens are converting an NFL-best 51.5 percent on third down and OC Todd Monken is playing to Baltimore’s strengths — a sturdy line and Henry’s punishing runs.
The Ravens have already ripped off 10 runs of at least 25 yards while allowing only 3 runs of at least 10 yards. That’s the epitome of physicality — and the Bucs will need to match that aggression as a lively underdog.
If you’re looking for a potential weakness on the visitor’s side, the Ravens are yielding 275.7 yards per game through the air.
That’s the second-most in the league behind Jacksonville.
“Defensively, we know they’re good against the run,” says Bill Belichick. “It’s just how well can they hold up in the passing game.”
According to Bruce Arians, Baltimore’s pass defense numbers are skewed because the Ravens are usually playing with a lead and opponents abandon their ground game early.
The Bucs are no strangers to BullyBall.
Tampa Bay’s offensive line owned the line of scrimmage against the Saints last week. By the fourth quarter, it appeared New Orleans defenders were battered and beaten down by Tampa Bay’s physicality. The Bucs ran at will for most of the second half en route to a 51-27 triumph that keeps them tied with Atlanta atop the NFC South.
Todd Bowles, coming off a second-half shutout in the Big Easy, has kept himself busy this week by watching film of the 245-pound Henry breaking tackles while breaking the spirit of opposing defenses.
Bowles has faced Henry three times as a head coach and his defenses have kept Henry in check.
“We’re going to Tampa and it’s a very good team and a very good defense that plays hard and flies to the ball,” says Henry, in the midst of a Hall of Fame career. “I think they’re solid all around … very solid. They’re probably one of the best defenses we’ve faced this year. It’s going to be a tough matchup.”
“Tough” is the operative word for this prime-time clash. It’s almost time to rumble.
October 19th, 2024 at 10:06 am
LFG!!!!!
October 19th, 2024 at 10:18 am
As measuring sticks go, this is a big one. Bucs have been disrespected this season. Now they’re finally being talked about in a positive light. Can they keep it going? Atlanta, K.C., S.F., better keep the big boy pants handy. We’re going to need them.
October 19th, 2024 at 10:20 am
Indeed this game is likely a good baramoter to see how good this Tampa team is and which team is going to show up. The team that beat down Detroit and the Saints, with Phil. on the way, or the team that went on the field in Denver and Atl.
I don’t think they will be alsleep in this one. Even if they lose , but play Balt down to the wire in a close one, it will show that the team is maturing and gaining confidence. However, yes their are no moral victories and a win would show everyone including the team they are a team to be delt with down the stretch!!!. Let’s hope the right team shows up. It has been a while since Tampa has played well in front of a national audience.You figure that has to change sometime, hopefully it will be Mon. Yes Ira, the Bucs need to be strapped in on this one, cause you know Balt is coming. Make no mistake Balt is confident in knowing who they are.
October 19th, 2024 at 10:39 am
Dead on Ira. Physicality will be the theme in this game. We all know how Baltimore and, the AFC north in general, play a very physical smash mouth brand of football. I hope our coaching staff is pounding that into our team this week. The Bucs are inconsistent in that regard but, have shown that we can physically dominate an opponent when we put our mind to it. I’d like to see a more consistent week to week effort from the Bucs to that end. It’s a mindset of want to. And do it without stupid penalties.
October 19th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Go BUCS!!!
October 19th, 2024 at 10:48 am
We have to stop the run on Defense, and take advantage of their secondary on Offense. If we can do both, we have a chance to pull this one out. Otherwise, it could get ugly.
October 19th, 2024 at 10:50 am
Stats are deceiving, and Arians is absolutely right. Passing yards are high against the Ravens because opposing teams can’t run the ball. So they abandon the run and have to pass on nearly every down to catch up. The more times you throw the ball, the more yards you’re likely to have. However, I think a good game plan for the Bucs would be to start a little pass happy to open up the running game. Then incorporate a lot of play action. I’m sure Coen is relishing this opportunity to show what he’s got. Let’s go boys!
October 19th, 2024 at 11:01 am
Score first on put pressure on them to throw
October 19th, 2024 at 11:02 am
Britt and LVD need to ball out in this game. The Ravens are a huge test for ILB’s with their run game and passing to TE’s. My biggest concern is defending Likely, the Bucs aren’t great against TE’s. The key to the game will be Britt’s play, let’s see if belongs or a pretender.
October 19th, 2024 at 11:10 am
This game will prove who this team is.
October 19th, 2024 at 11:22 am
Hopefully Raven fan doesn’t travel well I’m tired of the Bucs having to go to the silent count at home…..
October 19th, 2024 at 11:39 am
We do have a relatively young team so I hope the lights aren’t too bright for them.
I think the Bucs are gonna play inspired but I fear over pursuit and loss of back side contain on Lamar keepers. It’s rare for the backside OLB to make the tackle and they leave him for a free release when Lamar does keep it. If our blitzes and backside contain actually PLAY Lamar, I like our chances.
On offense we have gone to ME13 on the first play in the last 3 games. I would use that as a fake on the first play and do something different. I think they might just overplay him from film study.
It will be interesting to see if they can stop 21 personnel. Im hoping Coen goes that direction often early to open things up deep. We are due for a Palmer long TD.
I think Tampa will WANT it more, but do we have the horses? Britt just scares me.
Kyle Pitts went off.
Juwan Johnson was wide open.
Here comes Andrews and Likely.
Good Luck!!!
October 19th, 2024 at 11:50 am
Go Bucs!
October 19th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Both the Bucs’ defense AND the Bucs’ offense need to play a great game to beat the Ravens, because they rarely beat themselves. We last played them only 2 years ago when we lost 27-23. They won the TOP Battle 38:23 to 21:37 and the TO Battle 1-0, but otherwise we hung in there. Both teams scored on 5 drives … the Bucs got 2 TDs & 3 FGs, the Ravens got 3 TDs & 2 FGs. And that 4 point differential was the difference in the ball game.
October 19th, 2024 at 1:13 pm
I think this is a real test for our coaching staff, too. They need to step up and manage this game well. No screw ups like we’ve seen far too often. This team deserves their very best efforts. Balt has a top notch staff and they know how to bring out the best in their team. Is this coaching staff capable of delivering a possible Super Bowl run or will they underwhelm? Let’s hope we’re not talking about their blunders come Tuesday morning.
October 19th, 2024 at 1:19 pm
And Todd Bowles better bring his “A” game. From adjustments to timeouts, he cannot afford to exhibit his bumbling game management on a national stage again. And he best have this team frothing at the mouth and prepared, because nobody wants to see them come out flat and disinterested (see Denver game and most national audience games Todd coaches)
October 19th, 2024 at 2:07 pm
I am never 100% sure what team will show on National TV. To get over the hump, we can’t give up like we did the last time we played them at home, with the world watching.
October 19th, 2024 at 2:49 pm
6’3” 245 pounds, runs a 4.5-40. The best RB since E. Smith no doubt. What a perfect FA pickup by these Ravens. That dude is a beast and punishes defenses. Vita is showing a hamstring issue on Saturday and he is going to be the crux of this defensive gameplan to stop Henry and Jackson. This game will be an excellent test for our team. We don’t need this win but 5-2 looks so much better than 4-3, and if we wanna keep up with ATL we need every damn win we can get.
October 19th, 2024 at 3:01 pm
the ravens are a lot to handle…it could be their year…
henry, after starting to fade a bit in tennessee is clearly revitalized with this tough group…
can we out tough them at their own game, like we did to the lions …?
we have a shot if we don’t come out finessing them…we’ve gotta think we are the pittsburgh steelers – if for only one night…
it’s gotta be like a baltimore pittsburgh game…tough, physical, kinda ugly…
a misty, rainy, wet field and mucked up unis would be perfect too…
should be fun
October 19th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
Win or lose the ravens still have to return to that sh!thole of Baltimore so they are ultimately losers no matter what
October 19th, 2024 at 4:49 pm
I got Baltimore winning it all this year. I don’t see a path to victory this week especially if Vita is out.
I’d love to be wrong here. Just not a great match up for us.
October 19th, 2024 at 5:08 pm
The key is the Bucs Offense (finally) against the Ravens. BTW, Joe, according to Birders, Raven and Crows are part of the same biological bird family. Come up with a better insult. How about dead Ravens? Bucs O plays perfect especially in the receiving, they win. It may be a Cardiac Bucs game tho.
October 19th, 2024 at 6:54 pm
orlbucfan Says:Come up with a better insult.
^^^^
How about carrion family?
October 20th, 2024 at 4:50 am
Bucs prime-time Thursday and Monday night games worry me more than day games. Since we are home, it should lean to our advantage. Bucs can win this.
Hoping too that Bowles will be able to keep Henry in check since he has a few times before. Need to keep Zay Flowers in check too.