We'll post observations here during the game. We welcome your comments. Please leave your name and hometown.

FIRST QUARTER

• Shelton Quarles is inactive for today's game. Barrett Ruud starts at middle linebacker. Let's keep an eye on him.



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• Ravens RB Jamal Lewis, photo at left, looks like a load again.
• On third down in red zone, Ravens are beneficiaries of tight pass interference call on Ronde Barber.

7-0, Ravens. Just like that, Baltimore marches 80 yards on the opening possession.

• The Bucs offense goes short run, dropped pass, completion for no gain, punt.
• Steve McNair is part of two fumbles and Ravens lose 20 yards.
• Even with the referees wearing their new jerseys, a drive-altering holding call still looks ugly.

14-0, Ravens. Chris McAllister intercepts Chris Simms and returns 60 yards for a touchdown. The CBS analyst Rich Gannon (who knows something about interceptions) criticizes Simms for not seeing McAllister.

SECOND QUARTER

• Three possessions for Bucs, three dropped passes: Mike Alstott, Joey Galloway, Anthony Becht.
• Bucs lose first challenge of season.
• Subtle play by Baltimore punt returner B.J. Sams. It looks like Josh Bidwell's punt might be killed inside the Baltimore 5-yard line, but Sams blocks the Bucs' cover man and the punt dribbles into the end zone. Touchback.
• Other scores of note: Bills 17, Patriots 7 . . . Rams 9, Broncos 0 . . . Falcons 6, Panthers 3 . . . Saints 9, Browns 0 (Reggie Bush has 40 yards on seven carries).
• Back to the game . . . Simms' first completion to a wide receiver is followed by Simms' first ball batted down down by a defensive lineman.
• Since that opening Baltimore drive, the Bucs defense has forced four consecutive punts, three straight possessions without a first down. The Bucs have good field position just before the half but . . .



• Simms' second batted ball is a killer. Haloti Ngata, photo at right, all 340 pounds of him, intercepts and returns 60 yards to the Bucs' 9-yard line.

17-0, Ravens. Field goal means 10 free points for Baltimore.

Halftime. Listen to the boos.

Scores around league: Bills 17, Pats 7 . . . Bengals 17, Chiefs 3 . . . Jets 13, Titans 0 (Vince Young is 3-of-4 but throws an interception) . . . Saints 9, Browns 0 (Reggie Bush has 10 carries, 51 yards) . . . Falcons 13, Panthers 3 (Keyshawn Johnson has one catch for 8 yards).

THIRD QUARTER

• Bucs have 62 yards of offense, three first downs, two turnovers.
• To start second half, Ravens LB Bart Scott crushes Cadillac Williams for a 4-yard loss, then sacks Simms for an 11-yard loss. Rich Gannon says Bucs' patchwork offensive line (minus Davin Joseph and Dan Buenning) is having a bad day.

20-0, Ravens. Short field for Ravens offense.

• Three batted balls for Simms.
• Something to cheer about: Alstott takes a pass in the flat, slips a defender for a first down; Simms finds Michael Clayton for 27 yards; Alex Smith turns a checkoff pass into an 18-yard gain.
• Hit of the day: Ray Lewis pancakes Pittman on an incomplete pass.
• Game over? The Bucs turn the ball over on downs inside the Ravens' 10-yard line.

FOURTH QUARTER

27-0, Ravens. After Simms' third interception, Steve McNair throws his first TD pass.

• The white towel is thrown. Bruce Gradkowski is playing quarterback for Tampa Bay.

POSTSCRIPT

• Here are some numbers:
  Chris Simms: 17-of-29, 133 yards, three interceptions
  Cadillac Williams: 8 carries, 22 yards
  Joey Galloway: zero

• As openers go, this ties for second-worst loss.
  1996: Packers 34, Bucs 3
  1988: Eagles 41, Bucs 14
  2006: Ravens 27, Bucs 0
  1993: Chiefs 27, Bucs 3
  1986: 49ers 31, Bucs 7
  1998: Vikings 31, Bucs 7

• This was the third shutout loss on opening day. The others:
  1976: Oilers 20, Bucs 0
  1983: Lions 11, Bucs 0