The Week 7 Monday Night Football showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers promises to be a captivating contest, featuring two of the NFL’s top quarterbacks—Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield—both former Heisman Trophy winners from back-to-back seasons (Jackson in 2016, Mayfield in 2017). Lamar Jackson is arguably playing the best football of his career, leading the Ravens (4-2) to four consecutive victories after an 0-2 start. Jackson has passed for 1,529 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also rushing for 403 yards and two scores, helping the Ravens to boast the league’s top-ranked offense and rushing attack.
The Ravens enter this game leading the NFL in total rushing yards with 1,232. They’ve rushed for at least 150 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground in every game this season, a mark of offensive consistency that could see them joining elite company if they hit 1,400 rushing yards through seven games. Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, another former Heisman winner, has been a key factor in their success, leading the league with 704 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Henry is on the cusp of making history as well—if he finds the end zone on Monday, he will be the first player since Emmitt Smith in 1994 to rush for a touchdown in each of his team’s first seven games.
Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, leads the NFL with 15 touchdown passes, throwing for 1,489 yards in a productive season for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay (3-3) is looking to bounce back after a tough loss and will rely on Mayfield to guide their offense against Baltimore’s formidable defense.
One key stat favoring Baltimore is Jackson’s dominance over NFC opponents, where he holds a staggering 22-1 record, including 2-0 against the Buccaneers. This matchup also carries historical significance as both Jackson and Mayfield, who were part of the same 2018 NFL Draft class, have developed a friendly rivalry since their Heisman-winning college days.
With a high-powered Ravens offense and a Bucs squad hungry for a win, this Monday night clash promises to be an exciting battle with playoff implications for both teams.