The Ravens survived one other fourth-quarter scare to carry off the Cleveland Browns in Week 7. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a humiliating 21-3 defeat to the Carolina Panthers, leaving the staff in a “dark place,” in coach Todd Bowles’ phrases. Which of those waffling would-be contenders could have the benefit after they match up Thursday night time?
Ravens passing sport vs. Buccaneers cross protection
The Ravens largely stored their passing assault within the holster in opposition to the Browns as Lamar Jackson tried simply 16 passes and threw for 120 yards, his lowest complete because the final sport of the 2020 season. No. 1 huge receiver Rashod Bateman returned after lacking two video games due to a foot sprain and made a direct affect with a team-high 4 catches on 5 targets. Tight finish Mark Andrews, who missed two practices final week, went with out a catch for the primary time since his rookie season. The Ravens additionally must do extra to get the ball to Devin Duvernay, who caught two of the three passes thrown his means for 42 yards. Might this be the week we see huge receiver DeSean Jackson, who signed to the staff’s apply squad final week however was not referred to as as much as face the Browns? Jackson’s passing manufacturing took a notable dip after Week 3 and has not rebounded. He has struggled to punish strain however has additionally failed to search out open receivers when he has ample time to throw. He will attempt to regain his type in opposition to one of many league’s greatest cross defenses.
The Buccaneers blitz on 27.8% of drop backs and rank eleventh in strain share, in response to Pro-Football Reference. Cornerback Jamel Dean and security Antoine Winfield Jr. are standouts, although Winfield was in concussion protocol Monday, and Bowles mentioned he’s unlikely to play in opposition to the Ravens. Lavonte David is among the league’s high all-around linebackers. Defensive sort out Vita Vea is a menace speeding from the within. Baltimore native Shaquil Barrett is a formidable edge rusher. Opposing quarterbacks have averaged simply 5.3 yards per try in opposition to Tampa Bay.
EDGE: Buccaneers
Buccaneers passing sport vs. Ravens cross protection
At age 45, Tom Brady remains to be an correct passer who makes some terrific throws exterior the numbers and avoids turnovers, however he’s not constantly punishing opponents downfield. The Buccaneers rank sixteenth in yards per try after rating fifth in 2021, they usually’re twenty sixth in third-down effectivity after rating second in 2021. Those numbers assist clarify why a Brady-led staff is averaging a stunning 17.7 factors per sport. Wide receiver Mike Evans (33 catches, 453 yards, three touchdowns) is Brady’s best goal whereas his operating mate, Chris Godwin, is averaging a career-low 10.1 yards per catch. Brady regularly checks right down to operating again Leonard Fournette, who leads the Buccaneers with 34 catches on 39 targets, three of these for touchdowns. Tampa Bay has not discovered an appropriate substitute for retired tight finish Rob Gronkowski, although Brady will unfold the ball round to Cameron Brate and Cade Otton. The Buccaneers have strong cross blockers in guard Shaq Mason and tackles Tristan Wirfs and Donovan Smith, and Brady removes the ball faster than any quarterback within the league. So the Ravens in all probability is not going to roll up 5 sacks as they did in opposition to the Browns.
Outside linebacker Justin Houston made a welcome return from the groin damage that value him three video games with two sacks and a pressured fumble on simply 16 snaps. Brady won’t check the Ravens on the again finish, however he’ll check the depth of their secondary by throwing to many alternative targets. Safety Geno Stone has performed properly filling in for injured Marcus Williams, however the Ravens may even want good work from cornerbacks Damarion “Pepe” Williams and Brandon Stephens and security Kyle Hamilton. After a tough begin, the Ravens rank eighth in pass-defense effectivity, in response to Football Outsiders, in order that they’re trending in the fitting course.
EDGE: Even
Ravens operating sport vs. Buccaneers run protection
The Ravens ran 44 occasions on 63 offensive performs in opposition to the Browns, selecting to grind out a win behind the ability operating of Gus Edwards (16 carries, 66 yards, two touchdowns), who performed for the primary time since January 2021. Kenyan Drake (11 carries, 5 yards) couldn’t discover any room on the surface in opposition to the Browns after he produced a giant sport the week earlier than in opposition to the New York Giants. Justice Hill ran properly in his return from the hamstring damage that value him two video games, however he fumbled to finish a probable scoring drive at a key juncture of the fourth quarter. Jackson stays the ace within the gap, main the Ravens with 510 speeding yards. While the staff averaged 3.6 yards per carry in opposition to Cleveland, he averaged 5.9.
The Buccaneers gave up 173 speeding yards of their loss to the Panthers and 189 of their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, so this might be one other sport the Ravens try to manage on the bottom. Middle linebacker Devin White has graded terribly in opposition to the run, in response to Pro Football Focus, and Vea, the staff’s high inside defender, makes extra affect as a cross rusher than as a run stuffer.
EDGE: Ravens
Buccaneers operating sport vs. Ravens run protection
The Buccaneers don’t trouble a lot with the run, rating thirty first in makes an attempt and thirty second in speeding yards per sport. Fournette, who averages 3.5 yards per carry, is their solely important floor risk, and he’s no Nick Chubb or Saquon Barkley.
The Ravens have performed the cross higher than the run this season, in response to Football Outsiders’ DVOA. Inside linebackers Patrick Queen and Josh Bynes don’t at all times take the very best angles or convey down ball carriers with one hit. But Tampa Bay appears unlikely to use this relative weak point.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens particular groups vs. Buccaneers particular groups
The Ravens beat the Browns due to a dominant particular groups efficiency. Justin Tucker made all three of his field-goal makes an attempt, together with a 55-yarder within the fourth quarter. Punter Jordan Stout performed his greatest sport as a professional. Duvernay returned a punt 46 yards to arrange a discipline aim within the second quarter. Linebacker Malik Harrison’s field-goal block clinched the sport. They rank first in special-teams DVOA by a mile, and we noticed why.
The Buccaneers rank twenty fourth in special-teams DVOA. Kicker Ryan Succop has made 16 of 17 field-goal makes an attempt, so he hasn’t been the issue. But opponents have averaged 27.6 yards per kickoff return, and Tampa Bay has not answered with huge performs from its return sport.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens intangibles vs. Buccaneers intangibles
The Ravens appear to make life tough for themselves each week, however no less than they’d an opportunity to exhale after holding on in opposition to the Browns. For all their ups and downs, they lead the AFC North and can face only one staff with a present successful report over their final 10 video games. The Buccaneers, however, got here out of their loss to the Panthers sounding like a staff in disaster. Brady has at all times defied those that would bury him prematurely, and the Buccaneers are simply two seasons faraway from a Super Bowl win. So it’s too early to cross them off.
EDGE: Ravens
Prediction
Can Tom Brady decide the Ravens aside with fast throws? Can the Ravens pound the Buccaneers with one other run-first sport plan? Neither staff has reached peak type via the primary seven weeks, however the Buccaneers have struggled in opposition to lesser competitors and have misplaced twice at residence. The Ravens will exploit Tampa Bay’s disadvantages on particular groups and within the energy sport to grind out one other slender victory. Ravens 26, Buccaneers 22
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Source: www.bostonherald.com