Steve Smith has shown he’s still got some gas in the tank since joining the Baltimore Ravens and he scored a 56-yard touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday.
In some states, a 35-point lead in a football game means a running clock as mercy rule protocols go into effect.
Unfortunately for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they aren’t in high school anymore.
Steve Smith hauled in a long pass from Joe Flacco for a 56-yard touchdown to put the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the Bucs 35-0 just 51 seconds into the second quarter.
It was Flacco’s fifth touchdown pass of the day—already a new career high. Flacco had four touchdown passes in a win over the Bears on Dec. 20, 2009.
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Smith’s resurgence in Baltimore, meanwhile, keeps rolling along. He came into the game with 30 catches for 463 yards and three touchdowns—all scored in a win over Carolina two weeks ago.
The 35-year-old Smith was released by the Panthers this spring after a 64-catch, 745-yard season in 2013.
Flacco, meanwhile, came into the game with seven touchdown passes this season. Still early in the second quarter, Flacco had completed 11-of-15 for 207 yards. Baltimore was outgaining Tampa Bay 295-20 at that point in the game.
Tampa Bay is 1-4 under former Bears coach Lovie Smith and they have already taken one blowout, getting thumped 56-14 by the Falcons in Atlanta on Sept. 18.
But this one is happening at home, which is always worse.
More from Baltimore Ravens
- Ravens need to give Odell Beckham Jr. a reason not to retire
- NFL Rumors: Ravens additions might not be done after signing Melvin Gordon
- NFL Power Rankings: Who is the best quarterback in each division?
- Is Mark Ingram’s new CFB gig a signal that he’s retired from NFL?
- NFL Power Rankings: Which teams will have the best rushing attacks this season?