Ravens Can't Rely Solely On Home-Field Edge Against Jaguars
BALTIMORE (AP) — There once was a time when the Baltimore Ravens would be overwhelming favorites playing at home against a 2-6 Jacksonville team that's dropped 13 consecutive games on the road.
This season, however, anything goes. The Ravens are also 2-6, have already lost at home to Cleveland and needed a late field goal to slip past visiting, last-place San Diego just two weeks ago.
So, it doesn't really matter that Baltimore has won 11 of its past 12 at home in November and is 46-13 on its own turf in seven-plus seasons under coach John Harbaugh. Against the Jaguars on Sunday, the Ravens can't take anything for granted.
"You can't look at our past and our history, because if you do that nothing's adding up," cornerback Lardarius Webb said. "We've just to be on point this week, and we have to finish. We haven't done that at home or on the road."
Baltimore's six losses have come by a total of 30 points. Jacksonville's past three road defeats have been by a cumulative 15 points.
That, in part, explains why Baltimore is not a heavy favorite.
Injuries have contributed to the collapse of the Ravens, who have reached the playoffs in six of the past seven years. In addition, a team that usually thrives on takeaways hasn't forced a turnover since Week 3.
"Yeah, we expect to be a high turnover team. We have been historically," Harbaugh said. "It's been a big factor."
A year ago, the Ravens sacked Blake Bortles eight times in a 20-12 home win over the Jaguars.
"Baltimore is definitely a tough place to play. The fans are awesome," Bortles said. "But I don't think (the road losing streak) is bothering anybody, or anybody is pressing trying to get over the hump."
The Ravens are 13-6 in their history coming off a bye, including 6-1 under Harbaugh. According to Webb's theory, that probably means nothing. But Baltimore is looking at the second half as a chance to start anew.
"We're coming out of this (bye) with the mindset of playoffs or bust," cornerback Jimmy Smith said. "Our first playoff game is against the Jaguars on Sunday."
Some other things to know about the Ravens-Jaguars matchup:
BAD MEMORIES: Ravens left tackle Eugene Monroe and running back Justin Forsett spent part of their careers in Jacksonville. Neither of them, evidently, looks back on the experience fondly.
During his only season in Jacksonville, Forsett got six carries for 31 yards in 2013 before sitting out the last five weeks with a foot injury.
"There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about my time there. It's motivating to me, because I got another chance," said Forsett, who went from Jacksonville to Baltimore last year and ran for 1,266 yards.
Monroe said of the Jaguars: "They're just the next opponent. That's it."
GOING DEEP: Jaguars wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns have combined for 12 touchdowns, most by a pair of teammates in the NFL. Combine that with the propensity of the Baltimore secondary to give up big plays, and it would appear as if Bortles will be slinging the deep ball Sunday.
"I think we're going to stay within our game plan and be who we are and do what we do," Bortles said, "but it's definitely something that you notice watching tape, the amount of shots taken and the successful shots taken, for sure."
Baltimore has given up 22 completions of at least 25 yards, including eight of 47 yards or more.
LOOKING FOR TRAGETS: Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco lost his leading receiver when Steve Smith tore an Achilles tendon against San Diego.
Wide receivers Kamar Allen, Marlon Brown, Chris Givens and perhaps Joe Morgan (signed as a free agent on Nov. 4) will have to step up.
Givens, obtained in a trade with St. Louis on Oct. 3, is the deep threat.
"Teams are going to have to focus on him a little bit just in case that we do that," Flacco said.
YOUNG DBs: The Jaguars' secondary is a testament to the team's effort to build with youth. Safeties Josh Evans and Johnathan Cyprien were drafted in 2013, and cornerback Aaron Colvin was drafted last year.
"It's very similar to the receiving corps, as far as the maturity deal," coach Gus Bradley said.
"We have great respect for their secondary," Harbaugh said. "We know all those guys from the draft. They play with a lot of energy, and they're a very physical group back there."
(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
