It was an eventful Monday Night Football contest between the Bucks and Ravens at Raymond James Stadium. In a primetime battle between two 4-2 teams with high-powered offenses, it was Baltimore that lit up the scoreboard en route to a 41-31 victory. Although it was a tough loss for Tampa Bay, there were still some impressive performances worth noting.
OC Liam Cohen
Another week, another impressive game for the Bucks’ offensive play-caller. After Tampa Bay had 594 yards of total offense against the Saints, Liam Cohen had no trouble putting together a solid offensive game plan against the Ravens.
Although this wasn’t executed perfectly by the player staff (see “Most Disappointing”), Cohen caught Baltimore’s defense off guard and kept them on guard. They won the possession battle from 18:24 to 11:36 in the first half, and there’s a good chance the team would have been up 21-7 by the time they entered the locker room instead of trailing 17-10. Ta.
bucks offensive line
Although the offense didn’t have enough points on the scoreboard Monday night, the impressive performance of the big men up front shouldn’t be discounted. The offensive line held up more than well against a physical and talented Ravens front seven.
They all opened up rushing lanes for each of the team’s running backs, giving Baker Mayfield enough time to make reads and stay upright. Although they may not have been the driving force for the offense that they could have been, each offensive lineman should be commended for their efforts.
Bucks’ three-headed attack
Bucks RB Bucky Irving and Ravens ILB Roquan Smith – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Once the game started, the plan was for each running back to win an offensive series before offensive coordinator Liam Cohen decided which hot hand to ride that night. Thankfully for the offense, each back brought a different element when receiving touches, and each remained utilized throughout the contest.
Rathard White had 111 total yards and two receiving touchdowns. Bucky Irving became a receiving threat himself, gaining 54 yards on three catches and adding a rushing touchdown. Sean Tucker gained 5.8 yards per carry on five carries.
Overall, the rushing attack was a success and the three-man rotation could be the future of the backfield.
WR Mike Evans
Bucks WR Mike Evans and Sterling Shepard – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Heading into Monday night, there was some uncertainty about how much of an impact Mike Evans would have on the game as the veteran wide receiver is dealing with a hamstring injury. He allayed concerns about the Bucks’ early offense. Sliding for a 25-yard touchdown From quarterback Baker Mayfield. marked 100th touchdown catch of NFL career.
Evans made an impact on the field, but not for long. He got tangled up after running a go route and hit his hamstring hard in the second quarter. After feeling depressed for a moment, he left the field with his trainer, but his limp was noticeable. It will be worth paying attention to in the future.
TE Cade Otton
After Mike Evans was sidelined with an injury, Cade Otton became a bigger target in the passing game and responded with a career game. Otton had a career-high 91 receiving yards on seven catches and showed his toughness after taking several big hits from Ravens defenders.
FS Antwon Winfield Jr.
Amid all the struggles on the Bucs’ defense, Antwaun Winfield Jr. has been one of the lone bright spots. In the first half, Winfield led his team by a wide margin with eight total tackles, including a crucial 9-yard sack on the Ravens’ opening drive that put his team back even further before being forced to punt away. He has to do a lot of cleaning up on the back end of the secondary, and things could have been much worse without his presence.
OLB Yaya Diaby
Yaya Diaby was the most impactful of the Bucks’ pass rushers, recording two tackles and recording his second sack of the season. Diaby provided the most consistent pressure on Lamar Jackson, making it an encouraging game for the second-year outside linebacker.
