The Bucs lose top receivers Evans and Godwin in a double-digit loss to the Ravens

The sight of Mike Evans lying 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 wide receiver, Chris Godwin, went down in the final minute of a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, an already frustrating night became more disappointing for the Buccaneers.

“My heart is heavy right now,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “It’s never something you want to happen to any of your boys.”

Evans left the game before he had caught one 25-yard TD pass from Mayfield to become the 11th player in NFL history with at least 100 touchdown receptions in a career. He also joined Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens as the only players to hit 100 in their first 11 seasons.

Godwin injured his left ankle late in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach, leaving coach Todd Bowles to explain why Godwin, off to the best start of his career, was still on the field.

Especially with Evans already hobbled with what Bowles described last week as a nagging injury.

“He is a player. We are trying to win the game. We were still down 10, trying to get extra points and kick another punt,” Bowles said. “It just happened. With Mike (Evans) going down, we didn’t have as many receivers left as we had, so we play what we have.”

Bowles added: “The first indication is that it’s dislocated. It doesn’t look good.”

Evans, who missed two days of practice last week, appeared to aggravate the injury on the receiving end. Mayfield nearly connected with him in the end zone again in the second quarter, but this time the ball glanced out of Evans’ hands as he and Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens went to the ground.

Evans remained on the floor for several minutes before being helped to his feet and hobbled to the locker room.

Mayfield said he couldn’t remember ever being part of a team that lost two players in the same game who mean as much to the Bucs as Godwin and Evans.

“They’re definitely not two of the guys that are the big heartbeat of this team,” the quarterback said.

“But like I said, we’ve got to find a way. … We play for first place in the division next week at home against Atlanta,” Mayfield added. “Guys need to embrace it. That’s the way it is. There’s no other way to do it.”

Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson threw for 281 yards and five touchdowns to help the Ravens (5-2) overcome a double-digit deficit and extend their winning streak to five games.

Jackson improved by improving to 23-1 against NFC teams, the best mark by a quarterback against an opposing conference in NFL history. He is 3-0 against the Bucs (4-3), who faded after going on a 10-0 run with the help of 100th TD reception of Evans’ career.

Jackson completed 17 of 22 passes without an interception, including 9- and 4-yard throws to Mark Andrews. He also threw scoring passes from 49 yards to Rashod Bateman18 yards to Justice Hill and 11 yards to Derrick Henrywho rushed for 169 yards on 15 carries. Bateman had four catches for 121 yards.

Mayfield finished 31 of 45 passing for 370 yards, three TDs and two interceptions.

The Bucs played at home for the first time since Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, causing extensive damage in the Tampa Bay area and along its path across the state . The Bucs moved before the storm to New Orleans, where they practiced for four days before defeating the Saints 51-27 last week.

The Ravens lead the NFL with 1,476 rushing yards this season and have gone for at least 150 in every game. With 243 on the ground Monday night, they became the fourth team since 1980 to start a season with at least 1,400 yards in their first seven games. The others are the 1984 Chicago Bears (1,508), the 2006 Atlanta Falcons (1,476) and the 2019 Ravens (1,429).