DISASTER Strikes in Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Crushing Loss to Ravens

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The sight of Mike Evans stretched out on the ground in the back of the end zone, then limping off with a hamstring injury was bad enough. When Tampa Bay’s other top receiver, Chris Godwin, went down with an injury of his own just moments later, the Buccaneers’ chances of securing a much-needed victory seemed to slip further and further away.

The Buccaneers eventually fell to the visiting Baltimore Ravens by a score of 24-10, a double-digit defeat that highlighted the team’s growing struggles in the absence of their top playmakers. The loss marked the Buccaneers’ third in their last four games and dropped their overall record to 3-5 on the season.

Evans, who was leading the Buccaneers with 44 receptions for 702 yards and a touchdown at the time of his injury, was seen clutching his hamstring in the back of the end zone after making a deep catch down the sideline. The talented wideout was able to limp off the field under his own power but was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game and did not return.

Godwin, the Buccaneers’ second-leading receiver with 38 catches for 537 yards and a score, was injured just three plays later. The fourth-year wideout was attempting to make a catch in the middle of the field when he was hit by a Ravens defender, causing him to land awkwardly on his shoulder. Godwin remained on the turf for several minutes before being helped to his feet and escorted to the locker room by team trainers.

Neither Evans nor Godwin returned to the game, leaving the Buccaneers to rely on their backup wideouts for the majority of the contest. The results were not promising, as quarterback Jameis Winston struggled to move the ball through the air without the benefit of his top targets.

Despite being considered one of the more explosive offenses in the league, the Buccaneers managed to score just three points over the final three quarters of play. The Ravens, meanwhile, took advantage of Tampa Bay’s struggles and built a comfortable lead behind the solid play of quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Mark Ingram.

The defeat was a disappointing one for the Buccaneers, who entered the game looking to snap their recent skid and get back on track in the NFC South. Instead, the team was forced to watch as their division rivals continued to gain ground without them.