Baltimore (4-3) at Tampa Bay (3-4)
When: Thursday, October 27th 2022
Where: Raymond James Stadium,
Tampa, FL
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: Prime
Opening Odds: Tampa Bay -2.5/44.5
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After three poor prime time matchups last week, things get much more intriguing in Week 8 beginning Thursday night with the Baltimore Ravens visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The defending Super Bowl champion Bucs are in a tailspin right now, with losses in four of their last five games after a shocking 21-3 loss at the Carolina Panthers last week as 13-point favorites. The Bucs lost that game against an interim head coach and third-string quarterback. They went 2-for-12 on third downs and averaged just 2.9 yards per carry in that game. Tom Brady has just eight touchdown passes through seven games this season after recording 21 over the same stretch in 2021. Pro Bowl safety Antoine Winfield Jr. sustained a concussion on Sunday and has yet to practice this week.
The Ravens have blown several double-digit leads this season in losses and they nearly did it again on Sunday. Baltimore blocked the Browns’ 61-yard game-tying field goal attempt to secure the 3-point win. The Ravens didn’t ask Jackson to do much passing as he was just 9-for-16 for 120 yards, but ran for 59 yards and leads all quarterbacks with 510 rushing yards this season. The only other quarterback to run for at least 500 yards in each of their first five seasons is Cam Newton. Outside linebacker Justin Houston returned after missing three games and recorded two sacks. Defensive end Calais Campbell has a sack in back-to-back games and boasts 10 tackles for loss and six sacks in his past five Thursday games. All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews (knee), offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), wide receiver Rashod Bateman (foot), Campbell (illness) and linebacker Josh Bynes (quad) were not at practice on Tuesday.
The Bucs lost as a double-digit road favorite for the second game in a row Sunday and Brady just doesn’t look like himself. He threw for 290 yards but it took him 49 attempts and no touchdowns. Brady is also working behind a makeshift offensive line that includes rookie Luke Goedeke and third-year backup Nick Leverett. In 16 career Thursday starts, he has totaled 4,779 passing yards and 39 touchdowns against nine interceptions for a 103.9 rating. The Buccaneers already had veteran safety Logan Ryan (foot) on injured reserve and are very thin in the secondary. Cornerback Carlton Davis III (hip) and Sean Murphy-Bunting (quad) did not practice this week. Mike Evans (ankle) and Julio Jones (knee) were limited in practice, while fellow wideout Russell Gage Jr. (hamstring) and tight end Cameron Brate (neck) did not practice for a second straight day.
The Bucs really look bad right now and they can’t run the ball worth a lick. They have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games and are just 1-8 ATS in their last nine Thursday games. The Panthers averaged seven yards per play against the Bucs defense and the Ravens average over five yards per play on the season. I can’t be Tampa Bay until I see a significant turnaround.
Pick: Ravens -1.5
