Baltimore looked like the best team in football on Monday, delivering on both sides of the ball in Tampa.
— The Baltimore Ravens made a strong case on Monday night that they’re the best team in the NFL, and quarterback Lamar Jackson looked like the best player in the league. While the Kansas City Chiefs remain the NFL’s only undefeated team, the Ravens have won five straight games, including a 41-31 win over the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During this win streak, Baltimore has beaten three current division leaders — Tampa Bay, the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders — by a combined score of 106-64.
Jackson threw for five touchdown passes and combined for 333 yards, improving his campaign for a third NFL Most Valuable Player award. Running back Derrick Henry ran for 169 yards, which is the fourth time in five game that he has surpassed 100 yards rushing. The Ravens offense remains No. 1 in the NFL, delivering explosive plays in the passing and running game.
After trailing 10-0, Baltimore scored 34 unanswered points and recorded its league-leading fifth straight game of 27 or more points — the longest current streak in the NFL.
QB breakdown: Jackson continued his dominance of the NFC, improving to 23-1. This is the best interconference record since 1970 when the AFC and NFC were created. It was also another stellar performance for him before a national audience. Jackson is 18-5 as a prime-time starter, the best by any quarterback since the 1970 merger.
Eye-popping stat: The long pass returned for Jackson. His 49-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman in the third quarter was the third touchdown pass of Jackson’s seven-year career that traveled at least 45 yards in the air and his first in two years.
