Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson breaks down the game film from Sunday's game between the Ravens and the Jacksonville Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium.
GAME PLAN: The Ravens rarely needed to blitz against the Jacksonville Jaguars' overmatched offensive line, manufacturing a dominant pass rush primarily from their front seven by bull-rushing and running around blockers to sack rookie quarterback Blake Bortles eight times. There were some well-executed stunts that confused the Jaguars' blockers and kept Bortles off-balance throughout the game. Just one sack came on a designed blitz as rookie inside linebacker C.J. Mosley sprinted into the backfield to knock down Bortles for a 5-yard loss in the fourth quarter. Offensively, the Ravens stuck with a struggling running game to keep the Jaguars honest and force them to respect play-action fakes despite only rushing for 82 yards on 23 carries. Joe Flacco's mobility was on display on waggle passes and a quarterback keeper, adding a dimension to the offense.
PERSONNEL: Despite a sprained right knee that has affected him for the past few games, wide receiver Torrey Smith started and played 51 of 62 offensive snaps, the same amount as Steve Smith. With limited mobility, Torrey Smith didn't make much of an impact with two receptions for 16 yards and one dropped pass on three targets. He did draw another defensive pass interference penalty. Tight end Owen Daniels was on the field for all but three offensive snaps. Rookie Crockett Gillmore played 23 snaps in his return from a back injury. Wide receiver Marlon Brown went up to 27 snaps, 14 more than Kamar Aiken, who was primarily used on special teams one week after one of his top offensive games. Jacoby Jones played just one snap on offense. Mosley and inside linebacker Daryl Smith played every defensive snap, with free safety Will Hill and cornerback Lardarius Webb missing just one snap and two snaps, respectively. Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs played 58 snaps, 16 more than Elvis Dumervil. Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee and nose tackle Brandon Williams played 34 snaps apiece, four more than outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. Rookie defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan played a career-high 43 snaps. Strong safeties Jeromy Miles and Darian Stewart played 47 snaps and 22 snaps, respectively. Cornerback Rashaan Melvin played 24 snaps after starting cornerback Asa Jackson damaged his posterior cruciate ligament, a season-ending injury. Rookie safety Terrence Brooks suffered a season-ending knee injury on the opening kickoff.
WHAT WENT RIGHT ON OFFENSE: Flacco managed the game efficiently, completing 20 of 30 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown. He was accurate and sharp, for the most part, despite his receivers not creating a ton of separation. Flacco built his timing with Brown, who caught a season-high five passes for 66 yards. Steve Smith caught every pass thrown to him for five receptions for 37 yards. Daniels caught four passes for 62 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Running back Bernard Pierce broke free for a 28-yard run late in the game, the second week in a row that he has helped the Ravens finish off an opponent. Right tackle Rick Wagner and right guard Marshal Yanda continue to have strong blocking performances each week.
WHAT WENT WRONG ON OFFENSE: Fullback Kyle Juszczyk lost his second fumble of the season, failing to secure the football after a reception. Juszczyk has to do a better job of protecting the football or the Ravens won't be able to utilize his versatility in the passing game. The offensive line was regularly defeated at the point of attack as the running game slowed down considerably. Justin Forsett didn't break or avoid as many tackles as usual, gaining just 48 yards on 13 carries with a long run of 6 yards. The Ravens weren't prepared for an onside kick, costing them a possession in the first half after a field goal by the Jaguars. A penalty pushed back one of kicker Justin Tucker's field-goal attempts, a miss from 54 yards. And Tucker also misfired after a high snap from long snapper Kevin McDermott that threw off the timing of a failed attempt from 54 yards. Left guard Kelechi Osemele didn't grade out as highly as he normally does and had a holding penalty.
WHAT WENT RIGHT ON DEFENSE: Suggs' burst off the edge was impressive. Jernigan busted into the backfield, displaying quickness and instincts in his best game since being drafted in the second round. The primary replacement for suspended Haloti Ngata, Jernigan had two sacks and five quarterback hits. He manhandled the Jaguars' center during an early red-zone stop for a sack. McPhee had 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hits. Dumervil added another sack to boost his season total to 17, tied for the most in the NFL. Stewart blocked a punt as he was unblocked, and Aiken alertly scooped up the ball and ran it for a touchdown. Aiken also had a big hit in punt coverage. In his final game of an injury-plagued season, Jackson had a team-high eight tackles, one for a loss, and a pass deflection. Melvin replaced Jackson with five tackles, one tackle for a loss and nearly intercepted a pass. Veteran defensive tackle Chris Canty continues to upgrade his play in recent weeks, slipping blocks and getting into the backfield. Miles intercepted his first NFL pass. Mosley had seven tackles and two quarterback hits. Jaguars rookie receiver Marqise Lee was limited to four catches for 14 yards on nine targets.
WHAT WENT WRONG ON DEFENSE: Upshaw lost containment outside, allowing running back Toby Gerhart to gain extra yards. Jackson's injury represents yet another blow to team's secondary as he became the fifth cornerback to be placed on injured reserve this season. The Jaguars averaged 10.4 yards per reception as Cecil Shorts caught six passes for 76 yards on 11 targets. The coverage will need to be tighter against better quarterbacks if the Ravens qualify for the playoffs.
KEY PLAY: Trailing, 12-10, in the third quarter, Daniels scored the game-winning touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Flacco to the corner of the end zone. The Ravens wouldn't trail again. Flacco convincingly sold the play-action run fake as Daniels got a clean release for the score, one play after his 29-yard reception on a sideline waggle pass to set up the Ravens at the Jaguars' three-yard line.
BEST HIT: An unblocked Mosley slammed into Bortles at high speed in the fourth quarter.
GAME BALLS: 1. Suggs (2.5 sacks for 18 yards of losses), Jernigan (two sacks, five quarterback hits), McPhee (1.5 sacks, four quarterback hits) and Dumervil (one sack); 2. Flacco (99.4 passer rating); 3. Daniels (go-ahead touchdown); 4. Melvin (five tackles, one for loss, pass deflection).
INTANGIBLES: Despite another slow start and being caught napping on special teams, the Ravens eventually discovered their focus and managed to pull out a victory against a team they were favored to beat by two touchdowns. There are no style points in football.
LOOKING AHEAD: Although the Houston Texans have been affected by multiple injuries at quarterback and will have to start Thad Lewis or Case Keenum, they're still a dangerous team. That's because of the presence of defensive end J.J. Watt (16.5 sacks), running back Arian Foster (1,127 yards and eight touchdown runs, 54 catches, four touchdowns) and wide receivers Andre Johnson (69 catches, 737 yards) and DeAndre Hopkins (69 catches, 1,169 yards and six touchdowns).
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