Buccaneers vs. Ravens live updates: Picks, TV info for Week 7 'Monday Night Football' game
The Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two of the NFL's most high-powered offenses, meet in a "Monday Night Football" scrap.
The Ravens (4-2) are ranked fourth in the NFL in points scored entering Week 7, and they're riding an offensive hot streak entering Monday night's matchup. Lamar Jackson, the NFL's reigning MVP, has helped guide the Ravens to four straight wins, and they've scored 28 points or more in each of those matchups.
The Buccaneers (4-2) are coming off an explosive 51-27 win over NFC South rival New Orleans in Week 6. Baker Mayfield continued his scorching play in 2024, tossing four touchdowns in the win. Mayfield has helped lead Tampa Bay to the NFL's No. 2-ranked scoring offense entering Week 7.
Coincidentally, both teams also share some of the worst pass defense stats in 2024: The Ravens and Buccaneers rank 31st and 28th in passing yards allowed, respectively, entering Week 7.
That means both quarterbacks will probably lick their chops when they take snaps on Monday night. Expect a shootout.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the Week 7 "Monday Night Football" matchup between the Ravens and Buccaneers below.
Buccaneers vs. Ravens start time
Date: Monday, Oct. 21
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
The Buccaneers vs. Ravens matchup is the first of two "MNF" games in Week 7. It will kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET.
The second, the Chargers and Cardinals, will start at 9 p.m. ET.
Buccaneers vs. Ravens TV channel
TV channel: ESPN | ESPN2 ("ManningCast")
ESPN is the broadcast home of "Monday Night Football" in Week 6. Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (color commentary), and Lisa Salters (sideline reporter) will be on the call.
ESPN's popular alternate broadcast, the "ManningCast" returns. The two former NFL quarterbacks will have double duty with both matchups on Monday.
Buccaneers vs. Ravens picks, predictions
Here's how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Week 7 "MNF" matchup between the Ravens and Buccaneers will shape up:
Lorenzo Reyes: Ravens 29, Buccaneers 20
Tyler Dragon: Ravens 26, Buccaneers 20
Richard Morin: Ravens 33, Buccaneers 24
Jordan Mendoza: Buccaneers 24, Ravens 23
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Who are the highest paid NFL players at each position?
We have a complete list at every position:
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Who is the highest-paid NFL player?
The NFL's top 18 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league's highest-paid player in the preseason, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after striking a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason.
Buccaneers vs. Ravens odds, moneyline, over/under
The Ravens are favorites to defeat the Buccaneers, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
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Spread: Ravens (-4)
Moneyline: Ravens (-225); Buccaneers (+180)
Over/under: 50.5
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Why did Lamar Jackson fall in the draft?
There was one notable stat that stood out as a potential problem for Jackson. He completed just 59.1 percent of his passes during his final college season and just 57 percent total for his college career. It's rare for quarterbacks to significantly improve their accuracy and efficiency at the NFL level so Jackson's "tendency to miss on simple throws," as NFL.com's Lance Zierlein put it, was a concern some talent evaluators had.
That's also why a select few – like former Indianapolis Colts general manager and ESPN talent Bill Polian – argued that Jackson should move to receiver at the NFL level.
Few agreed with Polian's take, though Jackson revealed on one of the Ravens' podcasts that the Los Angeles Chargers asked him to work out as a receiver at the 2018 NFL Combine.
AFC North standings
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)
Cleveland Browns (1-6)
NFC South standings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)
Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
New Orleans Saints (2-5)
Carolina Panthers (1-6)
Buccaneers vs. Ravens weather update
It's going to be a clear night in Tampa with a high of 78 degrees at kickoff and a low of 73 degrees at midnight. According to the Weather Channel, winds will max out at five mph while chances of precipitation are 5% and under for the entire game.
Ravens inactives vs. Buccaneers
S Beau Brade
RB Rasheen Ali
LB Malik Harrison
EDGE Adisa Isaac
C Nick Samac
DT Broderick Washington
Buccaneers inactives vs. Ravens
DL C.J. Brewer
P Jake Camarda
TE Payne Durham
G Royce Newman
EDGE Jose Ramirez
Derrick Henry can threaten NFL rushing touchdown record
With eight touchdowns through six games, Derrick Henry has one more touchdown through as many games than LaDainian Tomlinson had in his record-breaking campaign in 2006.
Henry also has an extra game with which to chase the record.
The NFL record for rushing touchdowns in a single season is 28, set by Tomlinson.
Baker Mayfield contract details
Mayfield signed an extension with the Buccaneers this offseason to stay with Tampa Bay through the 2026 season.
Term: 3 years
Total value: $100 million
Average annual value (AAV): $33.33 million
Guaranteed money: $50 million
Full list of highest-paid NFL players
Across all metrics, the top-10 highest paid players in the NFL are all quarterbacks. Here's how the breakdown looks by AAV, guarantees, and total contract value this season.
AAV
Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $60 million
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $55 million
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $55 million
Jordan Love, Packers: $55 million
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins: $53.1 million
Jared Goff, Lions: $53 million
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $52.5 million
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $52 million
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $51 million
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $46.1 million
Guaranteed money
Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $231 million
Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $219.01 million
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $218.74 million
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $200 million
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $185 million
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $179.4 million
Jared Goff: $170.61 million
Tua Tagovailoa: $167.17 million
Jordan Love: $160.3 million
Total contract value
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: $450 million
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $275 million
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $275 million
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $262.5 million
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $260 million
Josh Allen, Bills: $258.04 million
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $255 million
Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $240 million
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $230.5 million
Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the highest-paid non-quarterback by AAV at $35 million per year and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback by total value at $170 million.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Buccaneers vs. Ravens live updates: Predictions, how to watch 'MNF'
