Ravens vs. Buccaneers Critical Matchups: Limiting another dangerous wide receiver duo is top priority

This interconference clash features key battles between specific players, units, and coaches.

The Baltimore Ravens will be back on the road in Week 7 where they will travel to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a primetime interconference showdown on Monday Night Football. For the sixth straight week, the Ravens are favored to come out on top in this clash between 4-2 teams with explosive offenses.

However, games aren’t won on paper or decided by betting odds. There are some pivotal matchups between individual players, units, and coaches that will go a long way in determining the outcome of this contest.

Below are a handful of those key battles that could be deciding factors in Week 7.

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Ravens cornerbacks v. Buccaneers wide receivers

Baltimore has already been through quite the gauntlet of upper-echelon-to-elite pass catchers through the first six games of the season and this week won’t get any easier with veteran Pro Bowl duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. They are two of the most dangerous and versatile wideouts in the game capable of lining up and making plays all over the field with Evans primarily doing his best work on the perimeter and Godwin dominating in the slot.

Of the Ravens’ 11 passing touchdowns allowed this season, 10 have been scored by opposing wide receivers including a pair in each of their last two games. Their top cornerback trio of Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey, fourth-year pro Brandon Stephens and first-round rookie Nate Wiggins have all been very tight and physical in coverage, helping to force the highest percentage of tight window throws and second-most incompletions. However, to ensure this game doesn’t turn into a shootout, they’ll need to make more plays on the ball, limit yards after catch, and not tackle well in the space.

QB Lamar Jackson v. HC Todd Bowles

The Buccaneers’ head coach is one of the creative and aggressive defensive play callers when it comes to dialing up blitzes to try to confuse and heat up opposing quarterbacks. While that strategy has worked against some mobile players at the position, it could backfire in a bad way on Monday night and play right into the hands of the Ravens’ star signal caller as Jackson has been lights out as a passer when pressured this season. According to Pro Football Focus, his 608 passing yards against the blitz are the fourth most in the league through six games and going up against a Buccaneers’ defense that ranks third in blitz rate, the reigning league MVP could be poised for another explosive outing through the air, especially off play action if the run game gets rolling as it is projected to do.

Ravens rushing attack v. Buccaneers run defense

Baltimore will be bringing the league’s most potent and productive ground game to town on Monday night for the whole world to see on primetime for the second time in the last three weeks. Headlined and spearheaded by the seemingly unstoppable tandem of Jackson and four-time Pro Bowl running Derrick Henry who lead the NFL rushing, the Ravens have racked up 1,232 rushing yards and are averaging 205.3 rushing yards per game and 5.9 yards per carry—all of which are league highs. They are going up against a Buccaneers defense that has struggled at times to stop the run this season and are allowing 4.6 yards per carry to opposing running backs which could bode well for the likelihood of Henry having another monster night under a national spotlight. Establishing and leaning on the run will help the Ravens dominate time of possession and keep Tampa’s explosive offense off the field for long stretches.

Ravens pass rush v. Buccaneers offensive line

Another great way to limit an opposing offense’s possessions is by cutting them short before they can get started and generating consistent pressure on Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield will help make that happen. Tampa’s starting blocking unit is tied for the sixth-most sacks given up through six games this season with 17 and they’re going up against a Baltimore pass rush that has logged the fourth-most sacks during that same span with 19 and has recorded multiple in every game to date. The Ravens are primed to wreak havoc, especially up the middle from Pro Bowler Nnamdi Madubuike, breakout stud Travis Jones and veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce who are all disruptive interior pass rushers as well as elite run stuffers. Whoever lines up across from First Team All Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs will have their hands full but those who get to lineup on the opposite side against starting right tackle Luke Goedeke will face a much less daunting task.

Ravens offensive line v. Buccaneers defensive line

Not to be outshined or overlooked, Tampa also has a talented trio of interior defensive linemen who can be highly disruptive. Leading their pack is Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea who popped up on the injury report over the weekend with a hamstring injury but is expected to play on Monday night. He is tied with third-year pro Logan Hall for team-lead in sacks with three and this will mark the second game back in action for 2023 first-rounder Calijah Kancey who missed the first five games due to injury but recorded a sack, two solo tackles for a loss and a quarterback hit in his 2024 debut last week. Even at less than 100 percent health, Vea and his compatriots will be a challenge for Ravens Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, first-year starting right guard Daniel Faalele and veteran utility lineman Patrick Mekari who make up the interior of a blocking unit that has improved tremendously the more it has been able to gel since the season started.

Ravens wide receivers v. Buccaneers cornerbacks

Tampa was already thin at corner depth prior to ruling out veteran starter Jamel Dean for this matchup with a hamstring injury. With him out, that leaves third-year pro Zyon McCollum who leads the team with two interceptions and 10 pass breakups with the daunting task of trying to keep up with and cover Ravens second-year wideout Zay Flowers fresh off his second straight game of 100-plus receiving yards. The 2023 first-rounder is a nightmare to tackle in the open field and is excellent at creating separation at the top of his routes. If McCollum does end up shadowing Flowers, that would make even more favorable matchups for fourth-year pro Rashod Bateman who is coming off a season-best performance last week and is also an excellent separator. Veteran Nelson Agholor is also an underrated vertical threat for the Ravens in this game as he averages 16.3 yards a reception—the second-highest mark on the team.