THURSDAY NIGHT PREVIEW:
BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-3) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-4)
Week 8 of the 2022 NFL season gets underway on Thursday, October 27 (8:15 PM ET, Prime Video) as the Baltimore Ravens (4-3) visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4). The Ravens lead the all-time regular-season series between the two clubs, 4-2, including wins in each of the past four matchups. In their last meeting, Week 15 of the 2018 season, Baltimore earned a 20-12 victory over Tampa Bay as running back GUS EDWARDS rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON totaled 179 yards (120 passing, 59 rushing) last week, his sixth consecutive game with at least 50 rushing yards, marking the third-longest such streak of his career. Jackson leads all quarterbacks with 510 rushing yards this season and he joined CAM NEWTON as the only quarterbacks ever with at least 500 rushing yards in each of their first five seasons. With 57 rushing yards on Thursday, Jackson will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer STEVE YOUNG (4,239 career rushing yards) for the fifth-most rushing yards ever by a quarterback.
Edwards made his season debut last week and recorded 66 rushing yards and tied his career high with two rushing touchdowns. Running back KENYAN DRAKE has scored a rushing touchdown in three of his past four games on Thursday. Tight end MARK ANDREWS enters Week 8 ranked second among all tight ends in receptions (39), receiving yards (455) and touchdown catches (five) this season. He has recorded a touchdown reception in each of his three career Thursday games and he aims for his fifth in a row in primetime with a touchdown catch.
Linebacker PATRICK QUEEN led the team last week with season highs in tackles (11) and tackles for loss (three) and he aims for his third in a row with a sack. Linebacker JUSTIN HOUSTON recorded a season-high two sacks and his first forced fumble of the season in Week 7 and has a sack in three of his four games this season. Linebacker JASON PIERRE-PAUL returns to Tampa, where he spent four seasons (2018-21) and totaled 33 sacks, 14 passes defensed and eight forced fumbles. Defensive end CALAIS CAMPBELL aims for his third in a row with a sack and has recorded 10 tackles for loss and six sacks in his past five Thursday games. Houston (106 career sacks), Campbell (96.5) and Pierre-Pail (92.5) are three of 10 active players with at least 90 career sacks. The Ravens are one of two teams ever (1994 Packers) with three players each with at least 90 career sacks on their active roster.
Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY passed for 290 yards last week and leads all NFC quarterback in passing yards (1,942) this season. In 16 career Thursday starts, he has totaled 4,779 passing yards (298.7 per game) and 39 touchdowns (35 passing, four rushing) against nine interceptions for a 103.9 rating. Running back LEONARD FOURNETTE ranks third among all running backs this season in receptions (34) and receiving yards (239) and aims for his 11th in a row at home with at least 50 scrimmage yards. Wide receiver MIKE EVANS had 121 receiving yards in the last meeting between the two clubs and has 13 touchdown receptions in his past nine home games.
Linebacker LAVONTE DAVID, who had 12 tackles with two sacks and a fumble recovery in the last meeting between the two teams, aims for his 15th in a row with at least five tackles. Defensive tackle VITA VEA had a sack last week and has at least half a sack in two of his past three Thursday games. In the last meeting between the two clubs, he registered a career-high nine tackles. Safety MIKE EDWARDS has 13 tackles and a tackle for loss in two of his three home games this season.
Prime Video will stream 15 Thursday Night Football games this season (Weeks 2-17, excluding Thanksgiving). The game will feature Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung on the call.
For the Week 8 Baltimore-Tampa Bay capsule, click here.
COURTESY NFLmedia.com
