Football is a Game of Momentum
Last night, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 41-31. But they lost a hell of a lot more than a ballgame. They probably lost their season. There is an old saying:
“Football is a game of momentum.” (Unknown)
Momentum was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield right out of the gate. The Bucs drove 70 yards down the field on 8 plays for the games 1st touchdown. Baker Mayfield threw a 25 yard timing pass to Mike Evans, sore hamstring and all, for the touchdown. The extra point was good and the Buccaneers were up 7-0 with 10:27 left on the clock in the first quarter. The Ravens defense looked confused.
On the Baltimore Ravens’ 1st possession, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense initially seemed invincible. They forced the Ravens to punt after only running 6 plays. The Ravens drive stalled when when Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety, Antoine Winfield, Jr. sacked Lamar Jackson at the Baltimore 43 for a loss of 9 yards.
Tampa Bay’s second possession led to a field goal putting the Buccaneers up 10-0. The field goal opportunity came only after Baker Mayfield elusively scrambled to complete an 8 yard pass to Chris Godwin, which was called back for an invisible hold by offensive tackle, Tristan Wirfs. Tampa Bay then kicked a field goal and the score was now 10-0
The Ravens collected themselves on their next possession. Lamar Jackson engineered a series of alternating passes and runs culminating in 9 yard, short middle touchdown pass to a wide open tight end, Mark Andrews. Justin Tucker’s extra point was good, and the score was cut to 10-7, favoring Tampa Bay.
The Game was Lost for Tampa Bay When Tampa Bay Lost Evans
But the Tampa Bay did not let up. On their third possession they drove 67 yards on 11 plays. The Tampa Buccaneers, with Baker Mayfield at the helm, were on a mission, until the clock showed 7:37 remaining in the 2nd quarter of the game. That’s when the game ended for the Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield threw a pass deep left to future Hall of Famer, Mike Evans. The pass dropped incomplete as Evans, grimaced in pain grabbed for his right leg’s hamstring muscle.
Evans was done for the day…and so were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After Evans went down, and left the game, the teams’s momentum left with him. From that point forward, until the 4th quarter, Mayfield struggle to find an open receiver. In fact, 3 plays after Evan’s departure, Mayfield threw an interception in the end zone to Baltimore Ravens’ cornerback, Marion Humphrey, for a touchback.
Momentum Shifted From the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Baltimore Ravens Once Evans Left the Game
The Ravens took the lead for good on their next possession. A screen pass to Justice Hill, went 18 yards for the touchdown. After the extra point the score was 14-10, in favor of Baltimore.
On the Buccaneers next possession, Mayfield, once again, seemed like he just couldn’t find an open receiver. After throwing an incomplete pass to Chris Godwin on 2nd and 8, and incurring a 5 yard, false start penalty on offensive tackle, Luke Goedeke, Mayfield then threw a 2nd interception to Marion Humphrey. Unbelievable!
The Ravens then, once again drove down the field, kicking a field goal bring the score to 17-10 at the half in favor of the Ravens.
The Baltimore Ravens Rose to the Occasion While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Struggled to Keep Their Ship a Float
During most of the second half, momentum remained with the Baltimore Ravens. In their first possession of the second half they kicked a field goal. The Buccaneers then missed a 55 yard field goal attempt. In their second possession, of the second half, Lamar Jackson hit wide receiver Rashod Bateman on a 49 pass for a touchdown. The Buccaneers next drive culminated in a punt. The Ravens’ quarterback then found his wide open tight end, Mark Andrews for a 4 yard touchdown. The next possession, after a series of incomplete passes, quarterback scrambles, and a Kyle Van Noy sacking of Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers again punted. The score was now 34-10 in favor of the Ravens.
In the Ravens 1st series of the 4th quarter, Tampa Bay caught a break…or so it seemed. Lamar Jackson threw a backwards swing pass to his receiver that counted as a Lamar Jackson fumble. Tampa Bay’s Zyon McCollum scooped it up dragging 4 of the Raven’s offensive players 30 yards for the touchdown. But the his touchdown was nullified. Despite his noble effort, McCollum was ruled down at the Raven’s 30 yard line.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Finally Started to gain Momentum After the Lamar Jackson “Fumble”
But things were now looking-uo for the Buccaneers. Mayfield had zeroed in on his new “go-to” receivers, (at least for this game), tight end Cade Otton and running back Rachaad White. Eventually, Mayfield threw White a short underneath pass for an 11 yard touchdown. Mayfield then connected with Sterling Shepard for a 2 point conversion. The score was now 34-18, Ravens.
But Tampa Bays defense again failed them as the Ravens came back to score another touchdown on Lamar Jacksons 13 yard pass to Derrick Henry. With the extra post, the score was now 41-18.
Tampa Bay scored 2 more touchdowns. The 1st one came on a Bucky Irving 1 yard run, but the 2 point conversion failed. The second came after a successful onside kick bye Chase McLaughlin which was recovered by Buccaneers tailback Tavierre Thomas. After a series of passes to White, Godwin, Otton, Shepard, and McMillan, Baker Mayfield threw a short pass left, to Rachaad White and he went 23 yards for the touchdown. The extra point was good, and the score was now 41-31, still in favor of the Ravens.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers again tried their luck with another onside kick but this time it was recovered by the Ravens, Zay Flowers. After series of runs by tailback Justice Hill failed to get a 1st down, the Ravens punted.
Tampa Bay got the ball back and it was starting to feel like Baker Mayfield might pull a “Tom Brady”, and some how, hope beyond hope, get another touchdown, and one more field goal to tie the score up.
The End of the Season for Chris Godwin…and the Rest of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And then it happened…The Tampa Bay Buccaneers LOST. Not the game. That was already lost when Evans went down. No, they lost their season. On 3rd and 17, at the Tampa Bay 18 yard line, Baker Mayfield threw a pass for 21 yards to Chris Godwin. Godwin wound up on Tampa Bays 39 yard line, his lower left leg trapped awkwardly under Roquan Smith’s body. It appeared Godwin had suffered an ankle dislocation.
It was season ending injury, not just for Chris Godwin, but for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prior to the injury, Godwin was leading the NFL in receptions. Now he will face a lengthy rehab.
The Buccaneers, while not being able to lay claim to the title: “Best Team in the NFC”, are now unlikely to have the fire power to prevail as a wild card, let alone NFC South Champions. Their next game will be against the Atlanta Falcons and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it will give new meaning to the cliche’: “Next Man Up”.
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