Around the end of the third quarter of the Tampa game, I texted in the family chat:
Y’know what’s crazy? We’re up 34-10, and I kind of think Tampa has played better than Baltimore
It reminded me of many, many games from the pre-Harbs/pre-Flacco Billick era, where the Ravens were bigger/stronger/faster than their opponent, more physical, played better defense – and lost because the other team “got lucky” with a quick-strike score or a blown coverage. In the 1st quarter, and at times in the 4th, the Bucs defense just overwhelmed the Ravens O-line. The Ravens looked like a juggernaut when they played teams without a big defensive front with a stud centerpiece: Dallas, Buffalo, Cincy, Washington.