Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Baltimore Ravens: Full Jacksonville Game Preview
The Jacksonville Jaguars are back on the road in Week 10, this time traveling to Maryland to take on the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are having an off year, and their vulnerability in pass defense may make this a favorable game for the Jaguars.
The Jaguars have shown moments of excitement and competence this year, but in the majority of the team's six losses, they've undone themselves late to make a potentially opportunistic season a difficult one.
But with eight games remaining on the schedule and a lot of promise, the Jaguars still have a very real chance to compete for the AFC South title and win some important games down the stretch.
The season hasn't gone according to plan, and a few—if not all—of the losses were pretty much unacceptable.
However, the ability to succeed and chance to make a statement are there. It starts this week in Baltimore.
Week 9 Results and Recap
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The defense held New York Jets running back Chris Ivory to 26 yards on 23 carries, quarterback Blake Bortles threw for 381 yards and wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns combined for 243 yards and a touchdown.
But all of the good things that happened on Sunday were sadly nullified by the Jaguars' three turnovers in the fourth quarter.
A muffed punt from punt returner/corner Nick Marshall as well as a fumble and interception by Bortles were the nails in Jacksonville's coffin.
One of the most impressive aspects of this game is that the Jaguars trailed 14-3 after a relatively bad start. It would've been easy to write them off after nearly two quarters, but an explosive end to the first half thanks to Bortles, Hurns and Jason Myers resulted in a 14-10 score at halftime.
The Jaguars brought the game to 14-13 in the third quarter, but they failed to reach the end zone for the majority of the half. After turnovers, two scores from the Jets and another field goal from Myers, the score was 28-16.
Another striking drive by Bortles brought the Jaguars to within five points, but after a crucial stop, Bortles' third turnover of the day sealed the Jaguars' fate and dropped them to 2-6.
News and Notes
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Jaguars Pushing for Allen Hurns Pro Bowl Bid
The Jaguars' official Twitter account recently tweeted about Hurns' impressive numbers this season and also linked the official Pro Bowl voting site. There, you can vote for not only Hurns but various Jaguars players like Bortles and linebacker Telvin Smith.
While the results on the field haven't been up to snuff, there are several individual performances that deserve recognition on this squad, with Hurns and Robinson leading the way.
The Pro Bowl has lost a bit of its luster over the years, but a selection is still a major award that praises legitimate performances. It's been a while since the Jaguars have had this many legitimate competitors for a spot, so it's definitely time to support and vote.
Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck Expected to Miss a Month
No one should cheer for injury or hope that opposing teams lose players—especially one like Andrew Luck—but the Jaguars' race for the AFC South title may have caught a legitimate break with his injury.
According to ESPN.com, the "realistic expectation" for Luck's return is at least a month, although the initial thought was that he could possibly return from his lacerated kidney and torn abdominal muscle in a couple of weeks.
The Colts losing luck at a crucial point of the season continues to blow open the AFC South title race, and it makes the Jaguars'—as well as the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans'—chances for the playoffs even greater.
Latest Injury News
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| Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Zane Beadles | G | Knee |
| Michael Bennett | DT | Hamstring |
| Marqise Lee | WR | Hamstring |
| Chris Clemons | DE | Not Injury Related |
| Rashad Greene | WR | Thumb |
| Toby Gerhart | RB | Groin |
| Allen Hurns | WR | Foot/Thigh |
| James Sample | S | Shoulder |
| Dan Skuta | LB | Groin |
| Julius Thomas | TE | Abdomen |
The injury list on Jaguars.com saw some newcomers after the loss against the Jets, and the Jaguars will hope that most will be ready for this Sunday.
Guard Zane Beadles, wide receiver Rashad Greene, running back Toby Gerhart and tight end Julius Thomas all practiced in full on Wednesday, so they're off to a good start.
Wide receiver Marqise Lee and safety James Sample practiced in a limited fashion, and both seem to be ready—if not very close—to making their returns this Sunday. Defensive tackle Michael Bennett, defensive end Chris Clemons, linebacker Dan Skuta and Hurns did not practice on Wednesday.
Clemons missed practice for non-injury-related reasons, but Skuta and Hurns would be important players to have absent on Sunday. Hopefully both will be available, but it could come down to the wire.
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Key Matchups
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Jaguars Offensive Line vs. Baltimore's Defensive Front
The Jaguars allowed six sacks against the Jets, and besides T.J. Yeldon's 45-yard streak down the sideline, he only totaled 19 yards on 13 carries. While some of that rests on Yeldon's shoulders, getting a push from the offensive line is just as important.
The Ravens rank 29th in the NFL in pass defense, but they should expect heavy blitzing from Baltimore—much like what they saw against the Jets.
The Ravens are much better against the run than the pass, and earning space for Yeldon early and often will create more opportunities to establish the offense.
The Jaguars offense may have an easy day on Sunday, but it will begin with success on the offensive line's part. The rest of the offense can and will likely deliver, but the offensive line has to put in a complete performance.
Jaguars Secondary vs. Struggling Ravens Receiving Group
The Ravens have suffered a lot of injuries this season, and the receiving corps has lost Steve Smith and Michael Campanaro to injured reserve.
With a hindered group, the Jaguars secondary should have a much easier assignment.
While that may mean a big day for cornerback Davon House, the rest of the secondary needs to step up as well. Corners Dwayne Gratz and Aaron Colvin need to step up their play after quiet weekends against the Jets, and this is a chance to do it.
Safety Johnathan Cyprien performed exceptionally well on Sunday, and having another big performance would do wonders for the Jaguars defense against the run and the pass.
With the possible return of free safety James Sample, the Jaguars could have their preferred secondary taking the field.
X-Factor: Telvin Smith
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Smith is this week's X-factor thanks to his forced fumble, pick-six and three tackles for loss over the past couple of weeks. Smith has been a dynamic player, and his recent games are starting to pay dividends.
Considering that the secondary still hasn't earned an interception this season and the Jaguars' pass rush has been lackluster at best, the Jaguars may have to look to Smith to make the big plays and possibly force a turnover.
It's unfair to ask him to carry the team in this regard, but no one else has consistently stepped up his game as the season's progressed.
The Ravens haven't performed up to expectations on offense, but if the Jaguars don't produce some kind of spark, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will rip the defense apart no matter the receiving options.
No one's quite sure why the defense as a whole hasn't performed up to the higher expectations it set in 2014, but it's time for the entire defense to reach its potential. Until that happens, however, the Jaguars will have to look to Smith as their best option.
Final Prediction: Jaguars 28, Ravens 24
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Despite being winless on the road in Bortles' time at quarterback, the Jaguars should be able to win this weekend. The Ravens are not only performing at a lower level than expected, but they've also been unlucky with injuries.
This opens up a prime opportunity for the Jaguars to make a statement and possibly begin a streak of games that they should—at the very least—compete in.
Beating the Ravens in Maryland would do wonders for confidence and prove that the team can win games.
Bortles will be looked to heavily again this game, mostly to exploit the Ravens' poor pass defense. Baltimore is much stronger against the run, so Yeldon could see some carries, but it probably won't be too many unless he gets going.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars need to pressure Flacco and make his throws to a downgraded receiving group less comfortable. Hopefully, that will make life easier for the secondary and might create turnovers.
Finally, just don't turn the ball over. The overarching reason the Jaguars lost last week was four turnovers. Take those away, and the Jaguars offense could have an explosive Sunday.
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.
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