Associated press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The depth and resilience of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are about to be tested.

The three-time defending NFC South champions lost their top two playmakers during Monday night’s 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are arguably the best receivers the franchise has ever had – not to mention one of the most dynamic duos in the NFL.

Evans, the club’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, touchdown catches and scoring, limped off with a hamstring injury on a night he gave the Bucs an early lead with the 100th TD catch of his career .

Godwin, second on Tampa Bay’s career list in receptions, receiving yards and TD catches, was brought to the locker room after suffering a dislocated left ankle in the final minute of a game that Lamar Jackson and the Ravens dominated more than the final score would suggest. .

Coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday that Godwin will undergo surgery and likely be sidelined for the rest of the regular season. He could potentially return during the playoffs if the Bucs (4-3) play deep into January.

Evans is expected to miss the next three games against Atlanta, Kansas City and San Francisco as Tampa Bay completes a stretch in which it faces three of the four teams that played in the conference finals last season.

If all goes well, Bowles believes the 31-year-old receiver could return to the lineup after the team’s bye week, when the Bucs visit the New York Giants on Nov. 24.

While the Bucs explore options, it appears they are unlikely to reach a deal to land any high-profile receivers.

‘We looked outside the building. But to get a true #1 here, you’ll have to make huge trades and give up quite a bit. That is not where we are right now,” Bowles said. “We feel comfortable with the guys in the building. They probably don’t have the status of Mike and Chris, or aren’t as successful right now, but that doesn’t mean they can’t play.”

So to keep Tampa Bay’s offense alive, Baker Mayfield will likely have to rely more on a rejuvenated running game, as well as a mostly young group of receivers, including rookie Jalen McMillan, second-year pro Trey Palmer and veteran Sterling Shepard, one of Mayfield’s former college teammates in Oklahoma.

“The most important thing is that those guys have to go the extra mile, we’re not going to ask them to be Mike and Chris. We know what they were when they created this team. We’re going to ask them to do the things they can,” Bowles said. “We’re going to specialize in their talents, let them play fast and hard, and everything will be fine.”

What works

Despite being dominated by the Ravens, who scored on seven of nine possessions with Lamar Jackson in the game, the Bucs continued to demonstrate their ability to move the ball against any defense. Mayfield threw for 370 yards and three touchdowns, but he was sacked three times and threw a pair of costly interceptions. The Bucs finished with 481 yards, although much of that came after falling behind by 24 points late in the third quarter.

What needs help

The Ravens have the NFL’s No. 1 rushing attack, and Derrick Henry had another monster night with 169 yards on 15 carries, including an 81-yard run. The Bucs have had one of the best run defenses in the league since Bowles joined the team as defensive coordinator in 2019. Baltimore won 244 points on the ground Monday night, so whatever solutions Bowles is looking for on that side of the ball have to start. fixing the run defense.

Stock up

Rookie running back Bucky Irving, a fourth-round draft pick out of Oregon, continues to impress. He averaged just 2.6 yards per carry and rushed for 23 yards on nine attempts against Baltimore. However, he scored his third TD of the season and contributed to the passing game with three receptions for 54 yards.

Stock down

Slumping gambler Jake Camarda was fired on Tuesday. He was inactive Monday night and had been healthy in three of four games since the Bucs signed Trenton Gill to the practice squad.

Injuries

The Bucs may have to play this week without rookie safety Tykee Smith, who left Monday night’s game after being evaluated for a concussion.

Key number

11 – Evans became the 11th player in NFL history to reach 100 TD catches. The others are Jerry Rice (197), Randy Moss (156), Terrell Owens (153), Cris Carter (130), Marvin Harrison (128), Larry Fitzgerald (121), Antonio Gates (116), Tony Gonzalez (111) , Tim Brown (100) and Steve Largent (100).

Next

Sole possession of first place in the NFC South will be on the line when Atlanta (4-3) visits Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. The Falcons won a Week 5 matchup between the division rivals 36-30 in overtime.

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