Ravens vs. Jaguars: Embarrassing Loss Won't Keep Baltimore from Winning AFC

A painful loss and offensive collapse in Week 7 won't keep the Ravens from winning the AFC North and representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.

The Ravens were fed a heartbreaking and unforeseen loss in front of the whole nation. The loss to the previously 1-5 Jaguars has some writing off Baltimore as a non-playoff team. Like those who were anointing the Bills kings of the world after a 3-0 start, the notion that "you're only as good as your last game" is complete nonsense.

The Ravens' struggles are an easy fix. They have the most talented defense in the league, complete with future Hall of Famers Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, pass rushing nightmare Terrell Suggs and the best defensive lineman in the league, Haloti Ngata.

The problem is that their offensive play-calling incompetency made it impossible for their top-notch defense to deliver a victory. When the Ravens feed Ray Rice the ball and play shut-down defense, they can't be stopped.

Three times this season, Rice has touched the ball less than 20 times. Once was against the Rams, in a game that the Ravens couldn't have lost the game if they tried. The other two were their only two losses of the season.

That's no accident. Last night, Rice had eight carries and five catches. Sure, he fumbled the ball early, but putting the game on Joe Flacco's shoulders and allowing him to yuck the ball close to 40 times isn't how the Ravens operate.

The Patriots have been let down in the postseason due to their lackluster defense. It will happen again this season, regardless of what they do in the regular season.

The Steelers were blown away when the two teams met earlier in the season, and their consistency is still a major issue.

The Ravens have the No. 1 defense in the league and a running back who can deliver as long as he's touching the ball. Altering the play calling is a quick fix, and this loss isn't indicative of the talent the Ravens have or how far they are going this season.

They are allowing 13.8 PPG. It doesn't take an offensive masterpiece to earn them a victory. With the toughest part of their schedule behind them, the Ravens are going to coast to a first-round bye en route to torching the rest of the AFC in the playoffs.