The Jaguars defense saved Jack Del Rio’s job with a shut-down performance on the Ravens Monday night, stunning Baltimore, 12-7.
They did it with a simple combination of “stick and stay” formations and solid tackling and block-shedding. For the most part, the Jags went with a press man-to-man coverage on the Ravens’ wideouts and tight ends, and put double-team coverage on running back Ray Rice and slot receiver Anquan Boldin. It worked perfectly in the first half and through the first 12 minutes of the 4th quarter. It was more than enough.
Defensive back Rashean Mathis came up with a crucual fumble recovery in the first half after Ray Rice was stripped of the ball… it set the tone for the Ravens’ frustrating evening in Jacksonville.
The Ravens offense simply did not adjust to the Jaguars’ simplified defensive scheme. It seemed almost as if OC Cam Cameron and QB Joe Flacco had game-planned all week to face a Cover-2 zone… and then had no real answer or counter to what they were actually getting from the Jaguars defense. Either that, or the Jaguars had a mysterious spy on the Ravens sideline, because the Jags reacted to almost every call by Flacco as if they knew exactly what was coming.
Left for dead after five consecutive losses, the Jaguars rose, emphatically, lifted by a defense that played like it was worth every penny of free agent money the organization spent last summer on improving its defense. Not just the free-agent acquisitions, but every corner of the defense was inspired as the Jaguars beat the Ravens, 12-7, on Monday night in front of a national audience. An interception by nickel corner Drew Coleman ended the game on a final minute-drive by Flacco.
The Jaguars didn’t score any touchdowns, but their defense made sure that didn’t matter, shutting down an offense that scored at least 29 points in each of the Ravens’ four wins. Kicker Josh Scobee made two 54-yard field goals, a 22-yard field goal and a 51-yarder that sealed the game.
Maurice Jones-Drew eclipsed 100 yards and had one fumble against the best rushing defense in the NFL. He became the first 100-yard rusher against the Ravens this year.
The Jaguars won the coin toss and deferred the ball until the second half and immediately began imposing their will on Baltimore’s offense. First came two three-and-out stops, then a Jaguars fumble recovery. Linebacker Daryl Smith knocked the ball away from Ravens running back Ray Rice and cornerback Rashean Mathis recovered. It was the Jaguars’ first fumble recovery of the season.
The Ravens didn’t make a first down until their 28th play, when running back Rice picked up 12 yards around the right end. Until then Baltimore’s offense ran in place. At halftime, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco had one net yard passing. Eight receivers were targeted for a total of six catches for eight yards and Flacco was sacked once.
The Ravens defense for the most part performed well and as expected—Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert completed only nine of 20 passes for 93 yards.
The Ravens hadn’t been shut out since September of 2002, when seven-time All Pro safety Ed Reed was just a rookie. But over and over again, the Jaguars defense denied them. They forced eight three-and-out stops in the first half. The Ravens finally got into field-goal range midway through the third quarter, converting three first downs. But that drive ended with a missed 52-yard field goal after safety Dwight Lowery sacked Flacco.
The Ravens fought back late, putting together a 13-play, 90-yard drive with just over five minutes remaining in the game. A five-yard touchdown pass from Flacco to receiver Anquan Boldin capped the drive for Baltimore’s first points of the game with 2:02 left.
Rather than kick it deep, the Ravens attempted an onside kick, but touched the ball before it went 10 yards. The penalty gave the Jaguars the ball at the Ravens 37-yard line. The Jaguars offense didn’t go very far, but it didn’t need to in order to give Scobee a chance. He hit his third field goal of 50 or more yards with 1:43 remaining. It ensured the Ravens couldn’t win the game with a field goal, putting the Jaguars up 12-7. Coleman’s interception then ended the Ravens’ final comeback attempt.
For the previous month the Jaguars players, coaches and even the general manager said the team was closer than it looked to winning games. Their defense, they said, was just a few plays from being great. Even Ravens coach John Harbaugh was saying the same things about the Jags just a week ago.
Monday night the Jaguars defense showed Baltimore and the rest of the country why that was more than idle talk or lip service.
It was an incredible effort by the Jags and a reality check for the Ravens offense. Baltimore talk radio shows are lit up tonight with angry fans trying vainly to absorb the absolute befuddlement of their offense— the same offense that put up 35 on the Steelers in Game 1. With the Arizona Cardinals coming to Baltimore next Sunday, Flacco and his offense will have a good chance to find a productive rhythm again. The unspoken question is, however, what exactly will appear on the Jaguars game tape that the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator will no doubt wnat to emulate?
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