TAMPA,FL – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended the the 2023-24 preseason with a 26-202 win over the Baltimore Ravens at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday. the Bucs finished the preseason with a 2-1 record.
Official starter Baker Mayfield had a solid night, going 6 for 6 for 42 yards and a nice touchdown pass over the middle to Chris Godwin.
After a three-and-out to begin the game, Mayfield led the offense on a six-play, 59-yard scoring drive to wipe out a 7-0 deficit.
“We did all the little things right on that second drive. … It was a good outing for us,” said Mayfield, who — despite playing a little less than two quarters during the preseason — feels he and the first-string offense are ready for the regular season.
“We’ve had a lot of good work (in practice and games),” Mayfield said. “I think we’re ready. We’ll see Week 1.”
Backup QB Kyle Trask lifted most of the weight in the game, going 19-31 for 192 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Bucs managed 385 yards of offense, 227 yards passing and 58 yds on the ground. They managed to get their penalties under control, only drawing 4 for 23 yards, way better that the 12 penalties in game 1 against the Steelers. Tampa had zero turnovers in the game.
Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson didn’t play in he game, as the Ravens wanted to get a further look at it’s backup QB’s.
Baltimore has a first for the NFL. They are the first NFL team to have four black quarterbacks as its staff for a season, with Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Josh Johnson, and Anthony Brown. Johnson and Brown too the snaps against the Bucs.
The nights was also the first night of extended play of it’s defensive starters, as Bucs head coach Todd Bowles rested the majority of it’s starters abasing the Steelers and the Jets.
The Bucs did suffer a majors injury. Center Ryan Jensen announced that he’s headed for injured reserve and will miss the 2023 season. The 10th-year pro tore ligaments in his left knee on the second day of training camp last year and sat out the entire 2022 regular season. He tried again this season but the knee couldn’t take it.
“We did everything we could to get him ready,” Bowles said after the game. “The more he did on it, the worse it got.”
Next, both teams open the regular season on Sept. 10, with the Ravens hosting the Houston Texans and the Bucs traveling to Minnesota to face the Vikings.
