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

The Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars square off this week with both clubs looking to find themselves in the midst of 2-6 seasons. 

Neither team is where they had hoped they'd be at this point, and a big reason why they are here is a number of close, gut-wrenching losses. All six of Baltimore's losses have come by one possession, whereas Jacksonville has three losses of one score. 

That said, the Ravens are still viewed as the better team based largely on both franchise's recent history. Since 2008 the Jaguars have no winning seasons or playoff berths, while the Ravens have six playoff berths and a Super Bowl championship over that span.

That also includes no losing seasons, something the Ravens are still capable of avoiding this year, but not if they don't win this game. Here's a look at what Baltimore's game plan for winning this game should look like.

Offensive Game Plan

This will be a tough matchup for a Ravens offense that is geared more towards success by way of the ground game. Baltimore comes into this game ranking No. 22 in rushing yards per game, but in its two wins rushed for a combined 263 yards. 

Too often this year has Baltimore gotten behind and completely abandoned the ground game, something they cannot allow to happen this week. Baltimore simply doesn't have the personnel to win a shootout with the Jaguars, who have enough weapons to win a high-scoring game.

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That's especially true now that Steve Smith Sr. is out for the year after tearing his Achilles. The Ravens just don't have enough on offense to win games just with their passing game. They need a balanced attack that is more predicated on the ground game. 

Baltimore must control this game on the ground, but that will be no easy task against a Jags defense ranking sixth in rushing yards allowed per game (94.3). This offensive line has the personnel to win the trench battles and open up lanes for running backs Justin Forsett and Javorius Allen to run through.

It's just a matter of execution and how much Baltimore wants this game. 

Defensive Game Plan

The Jaguars have struggled to find an offensive identity since last year when Blake Bortles took over as the starting quarterback. He's just 5-16 in his 21 career starts, and a big reason why is he's been a turnover machine.

Bortles has 27 career interceptions and seven career fumbles. Against the Ravens last year, Bortles threw one interception, completed just 57 percent of his passes for 201 yards and didn't get his offense into the end zone.

However, Bortles did do enough to lead his offense to four field goals and only lose the game 20-12 in Baltimore. He has improved significantly since then and should be much more of a challenge to defend this time around. 

Coming into this game, Jacksonville ranks No. 20 in total offense and No. 25 in rushing offense but does have a respectable No. 16-ranked passing offense that's gotten better as this season has progressed. 

They've got no ground game to speak of, and Baltimore's front seven should be able to keep them from doing anything this week. In six of the Ravens eight games, no running back managed to top 70 yards rushing and didn't even hit 40 yards three times. 

The Ravens enter this game with the No. 8-ranked rushing defense while ranking No. 5 in opposing yards per rush (3.8 yards per carry). This is an area of the game Baltimore should dominate in.

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

That's where the passing game comes into play. This is where their offense is more geared towards, and it will present the most challenges for Baltimore's struggling secondary. 

The good news is Baltimore's front seven is capable of controlling this game against a very poor Jaguars offensive line. In last year's matchup, the Ravens sacked Bortles eight times and had 15 QB hits. 

That's a ridiculous amount of pressure Baltimore was able to keep on Bortles, and it kept him from ever exposing the secondary and getting in the end zone. That's the kind of game the Ravens are going to need this time around again. 

The best way to ensure this happens again is for the Ravens to direct a lot of their pressure towards left tackle Luke Joeckel, who is arguably the Jaguars' worst offensive linemen.

According to Pro Football Focus, Joeckel has the second-worst pass-blocking grade of any Jaguar and has allowed six QB hits and 17 QB hurries to go with one sack. Those hits and hurries can disrupt an offense and keep a quarterback from finding open receivers. 

Baltimore hasn't gotten the same kind of pressure they've become accustomed to this year, but linebacker Elvis Dumervil does have three sacks, eight QB hits and 22 QB hurries. He's also PFF's fifth-best 3-4 outside linebacker.

Another way Baltimore can expose the Jaguars' offensive line is by attacking the guards, like rookie A.J. Cann. In just five games, Cann has surrendered 14 QB hurries and two sacks. 

Veteran Zane Beadles has given up 16 QB hurries and five sacks this year. Those two being so bad is great news for the Ravens, who like to serve up a host of different blitzes on the interior.

Inside linebackers C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith have six sacks this season. Defensive lineman Timmy Jernigan has three as well. Those three will be coming at those guards a lot in this game, and how often they get to Bortles will be a huge factor.

In all, it's going to be up to the Ravens' front seven to control this game and keep the Jaguars offense from finding any rhythm. If they can keep the heat on Bortles, the offense should do enough to help Baltimore escape with a win. 

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Matchup to Watch

The Jaguars like to air it out with Blake Bortles' big arm and two dynamic receivers in Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson. While pressuring Bortles to keep him from finding them too often will be key, cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb are going to have to hold their own against those two pass-catchers. 

Hurns has 36 catches for 635 yards (17.6 yards per catch) and six touchdowns. Robinson has 40 grabs for 707 yards (17.7 avg) and six touchdowns himself.

Those two have combined to catch 43 percent of the Jaguars' total receptions this season. Keeping those two in check will be key to getting the win in this game. 

Prediction

The Ravens keep up the positive momentum they built with their Week 8 win over the Chargers Coming out of their bye week. This Jaguars team is easily one of the lesser teams the Ravens will face this season.

The game being in Baltimore only makes it more crucial that the Ravens get the win and keep building towards becoming a winning team again. This game turns out to be a back-and-forth affair that the home team is able to pull out for a narrow win. 

Final Score: Ravens 27, Jaguars 24