Jacksonville Jaguars vs Baltimore Ravens: What's the Game Plan for Jacksonville?

The Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Maryland this Sunday to take on the Baltimore Ravens in what could be a vital moment for this season. The Ravens, like the Jaguars, are 2-6, and winning a crucial road game would help build momentum for the second half of the season.

However, the Jaguars can't be fooled by the Ravens' record. There is still a lot of talent on that team, both on offense and defense. The Jaguars have done a good job of getting up for games and playing competitively, and they can't afford to take a breather this weekend.

The Jaguars haven't won a road game with quarterback Blake Bortles starting, but the Ravens' suspect secondary and 29th-ranked pass defense should be a good breeding ground for an extensive day through the air and a possible win.

On defense, the Jaguars will have to deal with veteran QB Joe Flacco, but he will be without wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. and tight end Dennis Pitta, according to Baltimore's official injury reserve list.

Gail Burton/Associated Press

The Jaguars also have to stop making mental errors that end up costing them. This team has competed with some decent teams—squads that are arguably better than the Ravens—but the only thing that has stopped the Jags from beating their opponents is themselves.

Offensive Game Plan

While the Ravens pass defense is 29th in the NFL, their run defense is much stronger, allowing an average of 99.8 rushing yards per game, which is 10th in the NFL. The Jaguars need to strive for a balanced attack, but it may be best to focus on the passing game.

The wide receiver tandem of Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns has been lethal this season and will look for continued success on Sunday. The Allens will be the focal point of this offense, with fellow wide receivers Bryan Walters and Marqise Lee playing supporting roles.

Then there is the unpredictable case of tight end Julius Thomas. He had a massive game against the Houston Texans but has looked flat and off-speed since. He'll play a decent part in this offense, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Bortles look elsewhere if Thomas continues to struggle.

Running back T.J. Yeldon needs to improve off a mediocre-at-best performance against the New York Jets, and getting 50-70 yards and a decent average would keep the Ravens playing honest. He could bust a few more big runs like the 45-yard streak last week.

Finally, the offensive line has to continue to be serviceable for both the run and the pass and possibly do more for Yeldon. The O-line has actually done a decent job this season; it's just a matter of winning the individual battles down the line on a consistent basis.

Defensive Game Plan

While the Ravens are missing some key offensive weapons, the Jaguars defense will still need to act with a heavy hand, look to pressure Flacco and hopefully force a few turnovers thanks to a solid pass rush.

Corners Davon House and Demetrius McCray will need to take care of Ravens wide receivers Chris Givens and Kamar Aiken, but that shouldn't be too difficult, especially if free safety James Sample returns and strong safety Johnathan Cyprien can assist as well.

It will be important for the linebacker group to continue to perform at a high level, especially outside linebacker Telvin Smith and inside linebacker Paul Posluszny. Both have been racking up lots of tackles, and Smith's electric play as of late could be a game-changer.

The most important aspect of the defense this Sunday, as usual, will be to try to improve the pass rush and finally make a difference. The "Leo" ends and returning defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks haven't delivered as of late, but this weekend poses as good as a chance as any to turn it around.

It should almost be expected that the Jaguars will deliver against the run, but the pass rush is the true concern. It's time for this defensive front to wake up and embrace the explosiveness we saw in 2014.

This is another winnable game for the Jaguars, and it's hard to see them not being competitive or getting soundly beaten. The Ravens have looked like a less-than-average team this season, and the injuries haven't helped either.

If the Jaguars want to be legitimate contenders for the AFC South, they have to prove they can win games. The wins over the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins were nice, but those kinds of performances have to become the norm rather than the exception.

All stats provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter @evanreier.