Ahead of tonight's primetime showdown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey offered his thoughts on how to stop the Baltimore Ravens' offense. To put it mildly, his strategy wasn’t exactly a game-changing revelation.
“We want to play behind the line of scrimmage. I think that’s something we got to do as a defense. Just kind of stop them before they get going, just stop them in their tracks. Don’t let Derrick Henry get going, don’t let Lamar get going and I think we’ll be ahead of them,” Kancey said.
Calijah Kancey on facing Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson on Monday night. #Bucs pic.twitter.com/dKtfXUp15n
— BucsGameday (@BucsGameday) October 18, 2024
At first glance, Kancey’s remarks seem like generic coach-speak - basic, almost painfully obvious. Of course, stopping Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry early is crucial to beating the Ravens. But the reality is this: knowing it and actually doing it are two very different things.
Oversimplify the Baltimore Ravens at your own risk, Calijah Kancey
The Ravens’ offensive formula has been simple but devastating during their current four-game winning streak. Derrick Henry has been a force, rushing for at least 90 yards in each victory. Just look at the numbers:
- Week 3 vs. Cowboys: 24 carries, 199 yards, 1 TD (8.3 YPC)
- Week 4 vs. Bills: 24 carries, 151 yards, 2 TDs (6.3 YPC)
- Week 5 vs. Bengals: 15 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD (6.1 YPC)
- Week 6 vs. Commanders: 24 carries, 132 yards, 2 TDs (5.5 YPC)
When Henry gets going, it opens up everything else for the Ravens, including Lamar’s dynamic playmaking ability. Jackson has thrown for 1,529 yards and 10 TDs while completing 67.0% of his passes this season, adding another 403 yards on the ground. He’s making his MVP case once again.
Kancey’s plan hinges on stopping both superstars before they gain momentum, but here’s where Tampa Bay's defense may be in over its head.
The Bucs are allowing the sixth-most total yards per game (365.7) and rank in the bottom third in both rushing and passing yards allowed. Even worse, they're giving up 23.5 points per game, the type of numbers that could make tonight a long one for the Tampa defense.
Kancey's strategy sounds good in theory but underestimates how the Ravens have been able to control games with their offensive versatility. Yes, the goal is to penetrate the backfield and limit the Ravens' run game, but executing that against this offensive line and Henry’s power is another story entirely.
And as soon as the defense sells out to stop Henry, Lamar is fully capable of torching them through the air. Remember Week 5? Jackson threw for 348 yards and 4 TDs against the Bengals in a thriller.
The problem the Buccaneers face is an offense that thrives on adaptability. Baltimore’s play-action game has been lethal during this winning streak, especially when defenders over-commit to stopping Henry. With a play-action attack spearheaded by Jackson’s arm strength and the speed of receivers like Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, Baltimore is set up to exploit overly aggressive defenses.
Undermining the Baltimore Ravens is not a successful strategy
Kancey’s comments may be intended to project confidence, but they actually expose Tampa Bay’s lack of a nuanced game plan. Trying to “stop them before they get going” is something every Ravens' opponent aims for, but few have succeeded. And with Kancey himself just returning from injury, expecting him to be a consistent backfield disruptor against this level of competition is a tall order.
The Bucs may have blown out the Saints last week, but that same game revealed potential cracks in Tampa’s defense, particularly in the second quarter when New Orleans was able to string together successful drives. Against Baltimore, those same defensive lapses could be fatal.
For the Ravens, Kancey’s blunt assessment of their offensive success is actually a positive sign - it indicates a simplified, predictable approach Baltimore can exploit. With Henry in full form and Lamar looking as dangerous as ever, the Ravens are in a prime position to make Tampa’s one-dimensional strategy backfire.
Stop Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. Got it.