The praise has come from everywhere for a Baltimore Ravens offense that just a month ago was criticized for lacking an identity.
“Good luck finding an offensive category that the Ravens don’t rank first in,” legendary quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Tom Brady said. “You name it, they’re at the top.”
NBC “Football Night in America” analyst Jason Garrett, a longtime NFL coach, said unequivocally that the Ravens have the best offense in the league.
The numbers support that claim. The Ravens (4-2) rank first in total yards (453.7) and rushing yards (205.3) per game. They also sit atop the NFL in third-down (51.5 percent) and red zone offense (75 percent). They’re first in offensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), too.
As they prepare for another rigid test Monday in prime time against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) at Raymond James Stadium, Ravens players and coaches downplayed the accolades and praise they’re receiving.
“I try to put it in perspective. It’s not hard for guys to remember what was being said four weeks ago, five weeks ago,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Noise is noise. New noise is new noise, it doesn’t matter.”
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took a similar approach, saying, “We were just 0-2 and we were the worst offense in the league.”
The focus all week for the Ravens has been on the areas where they can get better. Despite scoring 28 or more in four straight games and averaging 472 yards during that span, the Ravens recognize there’s plenty of room for improvement, Jackson said.
Baltimore still wants to cut down on what offensive coordinator Todd Monken, a former Buccaneers offensive coordinator, describes as “drag,” a confluence of penalties, mental errors and lack of execution. They want to be more consistent on offense and less prone to drive-ending mistakes.
The Ravens scored on their final five “full” drives in last weekend’s 30-23 victory over the Washington Commanders, but their first three drives ended with just three total points. A Jackson pass that hit off the hands of tight end Mark Andrews was intercepted and ended their first possession. Center Tyler Linderbaum’s grounded snap forced them to settle for a field goal on their second drive. They then went three-and-out on their third.
“Every week, we leave a lot of points on the field,” wide receiver Rashod Bateman said.
In many ways, Tampa Bay’s defense figures to be one of the bigger tests Jackson and the Ravens have faced. Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has had plenty of success limiting top offenses. Tampa Bay ranks 26th in yards allowed per game, but other metrics suggest it has a much more formidable group than the rankings show. The Buccaneers rank a respectable 13th in defensive DVOA, and in Vita Vea, Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr., they have an elite player at every level of their defense.
“A very good defense who plays hard, who flies to the ball. I think they’re solid all around — very solid,” Ravens running back Derrick Henry said. “Probably one of the best defenses we’ve faced this year.”
During game weeks, we’ll examine some of the storylines, matchups and questions the Ravens face heading into the contest. This week’s first-and-10:
1. Jackson and the Ravens offense have been lethal with play-action this season. They have called play-action on just over 32 percent of Jackson’s dropbacks, and Jackson has completed 72.9 percent of those passes for 592 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, according to TruMedia. Jackson’s quarterback rating off play-action is 127.2. Those numbers feel notable this week since the Buccaneers struggle mightily against play-action. They rank 29th in expected points added and opponents quarterback rating when defending play-action. The Buccaneers also have the third-highest blitz rate in the league, and Jackson has punished blitzes this season.
2. Baltimore is nearing exclusive company with its run game. With 168 rushing yards Monday, a number the team has reached in all but one of its six games, the Ravens would become the fourth team since 1980 to have at least 1,400 rushing yards through seven games. The Ravens can also become the first team in the Super Bowl era to post at least 150 rushing yards and a touchdown in each of its first seven games. Standing in their way is a Buccaneers run defense that allows 113.3 rushing yards per game.
3. Washington stacked the box last week against Henry, and the Commanders still weren’t able to stop him with the game hanging in the balance. Expect a similar approach from Bowles, whose defense loves loading up at the line of scrimmage to take away the run. The Buccaneers have had eight-plus defenders in the box on 34 percent of the opponent’s offensive plays, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. That’s more than any team except the Cleveland Browns.
4. In a game that features two of the four highest-scoring teams in football, holding offenses to field goal attempts may feel like a win. The Ravens have the best red zone offense in the league, scoring touchdowns on 75 percent of their possessions inside the 20. The Buccaneers rank ninth (65.2 percent). Tampa Bay has had far more success than Baltimore at keeping teams out of the end zone. The Buccaneers rank 12th in red zone defense (48 percent), while the Ravens are 25th (66.7). Both of these teams are going to move the ball. This game will probably be decided from the 20-yard line and in.
5. The Ravens have always respected Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. They tried to sign him during the 2023 offseason when there was uncertainty with Jackson’s contract status. Mayfield wanted a better shot at a starting job, which he got in Tampa, where he resurrected his career. It’s clear the Ravens will be seeing a better Mayfield (with a much better supporting cast) than the guy they faced twice a year in Cleveland. The Ravens have opposed Mayfield nine times. They won six of those meetings. In his career, Mayfield has posted a 58.9 completion percentage against the Ravens with 13 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and an 80.3 quarterback rating.
6. Mayfield leads the NFL with 15 passing touchdowns despite rarely going deep. He ranks 30th among 31 qualified quarterbacks in averaging 5.6 air yards per attempt. However, Mayfield has been adept at working the short and intermediate areas. In wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, he has two matchup nightmares at his disposal. The Ravens have struggled defending the middle of the field all season, and Godwin is one of the top slot receivers in football. He leads the league with 43 receptions and is third with 511 receiving yards. Evans will see plenty of Brandon Stephens and Nate Wiggins on the outside. Stephens and Wiggins have been sticky in coverage, but they’ve had trouble finding the football. Evans excels in making contested catches.
7. One of the focuses for the Ravens’ defense this week was their tackling. Godwin, in particular, has shown an ability to make the first man miss and pick up yards after the catch. Godwin leads all NFL players with 328 yards after the catch. He had 105 of his 125 receiving yards last week after making the reception. Thirty of his 43 receptions have gone for first downs. He’ll probably see a lot of Marlon Humphrey in the slot Monday night.
8. If Rachaad White is healthy, the Buccaneers will have a three-headed rushing attack that also features rookie Bucky Irving and second-year undrafted free agent Sean Tucker. The reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week after his 192 all-purpose yards and two-touchdown performance against New Orleans, Tucker is a guy the Ravens know well. The former Syracuse standout was born in Owings Mills, Md., the site of the Ravens’ headquarters. He played his high school football at Calvert Hall, which is little more than a 25-minute drive from the Ravens’ Under Armour Performance Center.
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9. Bateman and Buccaneers star safety Winfield probably won’t be matched up all too often Monday. But, at least for Bateman, it will be special when they are. The two were college teammates for two years at the University of Minnesota, and Bateman spoke last week about how excited he was to play against Winfield for the first time in the NFL. Another Raven who may do some catching up with Winfield before the game is safety Kyle Hamilton. In May, the Buccaneers made Winfield the highest-paid safety in the sport, signing him to a four-year, $84.1 million extension. Hamilton will surely threaten — and probably exceed — that number when he and the Ravens get to the bargaining table.
10. The Ravens will have until 4 p.m. Monday to make roster moves, and their most interesting decision is whether to activate veteran slot cornerback Arthur Maulet, who would be making his season debut. Maulet had his knee scoped during the preseason and then tweaked his hamstring earlier this month after getting back to practice. He returned to practice on a limited basis this week. The Ravens want to be cautious with Maulet and avoid another setback, but getting him back on the field against a very talented pass offense will surely be tempting. The Ravens won’t have linebacker Malik Harrison (groin), which could prompt them to elevate recently signed linebacker Kristian Welch from the practice squad. They also may not have return specialist Deonte Harty (knee), but they’d probably be comfortable relying on running back Justice Hill and wide receiver Tylan Wallace as their primary returners. If running back Rasheen Ali (ankle) can’t play, the Ravens would likely be forced to add Chris Collier to the game day roster.
Prediction
Ravens 27, Buccaneers 24
Games that are billed as potential shootouts tend to morph into defensive struggles. However, it’s hard to see that happening here. The Ravens and Buccaneers are playing so well on offense, and their defenses have struggled at times this season. This game has a “whoever has the ball last wins” feel to it. It’s just hard to go against the Ravens right now. Jackson, who is 22-1 against NFC teams as a starter, is at the top of his game — and Baltimore has the ultimate closer in Henry.
(Top photo: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
