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Ravens 48, Buccaneers 17
TAMPA, Fla. — Quarterback Joe Flacco torched a depleted Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary as the Baltimore Ravens cruised to a 48-17 win over Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.
Flacco finished the day with 306 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes on 21-for-29 passing as the Ravens (4-2) sprinted out to a big lead and never looked back.
The Bucs, meanwhile, looked every bit like the team that lost to a pair of backup quarterbacks in their first two games before getting blown out by the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3.
Coach Lovie Smith promised during the week that the Bucs (1-5) would be a different team Sunday than they were when they last played on their home field in Week 2. Instead, it was more of the same as they head into their bye week with plenty to work on.
The Ravens were more than happy to take advantage in the meantime.
Running back Justin Forsett ran for 111 yards, receiver Steve Smith totaled 110 yards and the Ravens outgained the Bucs 347-101 in the first half.
Flacco and receiver Torrey Smith hooked up for two touchdowns within the game’s first six minutes.
Receiver Kamar Aiken picked up his first career touchdown, and rookie wide receiver Michael Campanaro snagged his first NFL reception, a 19-yard touchdown catch, with one second remaining in the first quarter.
Sixty-four seconds later, wide receiver Steve Smith streaked toward the end zone and reeled in Flacco’s deep pass for a 56-yard touchdown that put the Ravens ahead 35-0.
At 16 minutes and 3 seconds, it was the quickest five-touchdown performance from the start of the game since the NFL-AFL merger.
Baltimore ended the first half with a 38-0 lead after Justin Tucker tacked on a 46-yard field goal with 3:44 remaining in the second quarter.
The Bucs’ 38-point halftime deficit was the largest for a home team in NFL history.
Bucs kicker Patrick Murray got them on the board with a 47-yard field goal, and Tampa Bay quarterback Mike Glennon connected with Mike Evans and Louis Murphy for a pair of second-half touchdowns.
But the Ravens didn’t let up. Running back Bernard Pierce capped off an 80-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown plunge in the final seconds of the third quarter, and Tucker nailed a 49-yard field goal midway through the fourth.
Glennon finished 24-for-44 for 314 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
NOTES: Buccaneers CB Johnthan Banks (neck) was inactive. Crezdon Butler got his first NFL start in Banks’ place. Inactive S Dashon Goldson (ankle) was replaced in Sunday’s starting lineup by S Major Wright. … Ravens rookies John Urschel and James Hurst started in place of LG Kelechi Osemele (knee) and OT Eugene Monroe (knee surgery). … Bucs LB Danny Lansanah left the game in the first quarter and was evaluated for a head injury. … Ravens WR Kamar Aiken left the game in the third quarter with a concussion.
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