The Baltimore Ravens have won seven of their last eight games. The Jaguars have lost two in a row and three of their last five. Even with that being true and with the Jaguars facing some pretty significant injury issues, the Jaguars have a great shot at winning their Sunday Night matchup with the Ravens. Both teams are loaded with talent at some key positions, but it is the Lamar Jackson-Trevor Lawrence matchup at quarterback that could be the deciding factor in this 24th Jaguars vs Ravens matchup.
How the Jaguars Can Beat the Ravens In Week 15
The last five games for the Jaguars have been difficult. They are 2-3 in those matchups and have played very poorly against two backup quarterbacks in games they should have won. They are still in first place in the AFC South, but their hold on that position is tenuous at best. If the Jaguars lose to the 10-3 Ravens and either the Texans or Colts win, there will be a tie at the top of the AFC South. While the Jaguars hold the tiebreaker over both teams, they need a win on Sunday night. Here are five things the team must do to get that win.
Run the Ball
There was a thought coming into the season that Travis Etienne was one of the best and most versatile backs in the league. Thus far in 2023 that does not seem to be the case. His per carry average is way down at 3.7 and he has been nonexistent in the passing game recently. What is most concerning, however, is how D’Ernest Johnson has looked as a backup. Johnson is a career journeyman, and he has looked far better in limited action than Etienne. In fact, on many carries, Etienne looks like he has lost a step or two. The combination of the atrocious play of third-round pick Tank Bigsby, Etienne underperforming, and a banged-up offensive line has made the Jaguars a one-dimensional team. As a rule, one-dimensional teams do not win playoff games. The Jaguars need to find balance if they want to go on a deep playoff run, and that starts with the Ravens.
Get Calvin Ridley Involved Early and Often
Calvin Ridley has been one of the biggest disappointments of the season for the Jaguars. He has dropped passes, looked uninterested, and consistently disappears from games for large chunks of time. He is also the most dangerous receiving option the Jaguars have now that Christian Kirk is out. Ridley is still a weapon when he is on, and the Jaguars need him to step up now. Evan Engram is showing his skills at tight end again, but he is not a downfield threat. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars need Ridley to open up the field.
Fix the Communication
It is not a good sign to see so much miscommunication on both sides of the ball this late in the season. Busted coverages, wrong routes, and missed blocking assignments have been the norm rather than the exception for this team lately. Communication comes down to coaching, and offensive coordinator Press Taylor and defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell need to fix this issue quickly. Trevor Lawrence has looked consistently frustrated at the poor communication on offense and it is starting to show. Whether simplifying the schemes or focusing on communication during the week, this team looks like they are still working out first-week kinks rather than playing in week 15.
Fix the Pass Defense
It is easy to harp on the pass defense, especially with Lamar Jackson coming to town. After Jake Browning and Joe Flacco combined for 665 yards in two games, Jackson could throw for 1,000 and rush for 100 more. The good thing for the Jaguars is that they are getting healthier ahead of their matchup with the Ravens. The secondary is banged up, but it looks like Tre Herndon, Tyson Campbell, and Andre Cisco all have a decent chance at playing. Herndon has been an underrated success story for this defense, and Campbell was on his way to becoming a shutdown corner before the injury. If the starters play Sunday night, the pass defense is dramatically different.
Help Trevor Lawrence Find his Rhythm
Helping Trevor Lawrence find his rhythm comes down to two things: offensive line play and play calling. The offensive line has been both hurt and terrible, not a good combination. Lawrence has not had time to let plays develop, and the lack of a running game has allowed defenses to attack. When the running game is bad and there are few downfield plays, picking up yards becomes a challenge. It looks like Ezra Cleveland and Walker Little will be back at left tackle and left guard, which should really shore up that side of the line. Against the Browns, fourth-string tackle Blake Hance played most of the snaps and he was not very good.
The playcalling also remains questionable. There have been a lot of deep passes on third-and-short and a lot of throws in front of the sticks on third-and-long. Taylor may be working with a subpar offensive line, but he has struggled to put a whole game together as a playcaller. Lawrence is mobile and accurate on the run, and the wildcat was working against the Browns. When your offensive line is struggling, your play calling has to improve, and Taylor is still not there.
Main Photo: Ken Blaze – USA Today Sports
