ExtremeRavens Posted December 18, 2023 Share Posted December 18, 2023 The Ravens fought past tense moments to clinch a playoff berth and greatly enhance their chances at the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed with a grinding win over the Jaguars. Here are five things we learned from the game. The Ravens are the AFC’s best because they win without their fastball Inside the bubble of intense Ravens fandom, there’s a tendency to nitpick, even during an 8-1 stretch that secures a playoff berth and puts a No. 1 playoff seed within reach. Why does the offense seem to lose its compass for stretches of every game? Why can’t the defense smother the run? Can the tackles be trusted to protect Lamar Jackson? Will the ghost of blown leads past reappear at some unwelcome moment? There were legitimate reasons to ask these questions over the past two months. And yet, after NBC’s Cris Collinsworth watched the Ravens grind down a fellow division leader in front of its boisterous home crowd, he had this to say: “As of today, you’d have to say in the AFC, they’re the team to beat.” Their record says so, as does their statistical resume. Every top AFC contender has faltered at some point — the Miami Dolphins lacking offensive zest on the road against their toughest opponents, the Kansas City Chiefs’ pass catchers bumbling away Patrick Mahomes’ best efforts, the Jaguars dropping three straight against the AFC North. The Ravens let three games slip away — yes, they really could be 14-0 — but have stood sturdiest in the pack because they win in the widest variety of ways. Some weeks, they cruise past 30 points. Others, their defense carries the load with a barrage of sacks and forced turnovers. And there was Sunday in Jacksonville, where they navigated tense moments because Jackson is impossible to corral — “I could give Lamar Jackson our game ball every single game,” coach John Harbaugh said afterward — and because their running game and defense never stopped pressing on a worthy opponent. The Ravens don’t fight with the sizzling knockout punch of a young Mike Tyson. They’re more middle-period Muhammad Ali, absorbing punches on the ropes as they dig up another way to outpoint you or stop you late. Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) tries to get past Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) kicks a 34-yard field goal as Jacksonville Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson (26) rushes in during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Ravens defensive players celebrate after recovering a fumble by the Jaguars in the second half Sunday night in Jacksonville, Florida. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell is taken off the field in the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is brought down by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike after Lawrence tried to pass in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is brought down by Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike in the second half Sunday night in Jacksonville, Florida. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, top, makes a reception over Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (42) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) scores a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jamal Agnew (39) scores a touchdown on a 65-yard pass reception against the Baltimore Ravens in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones (7) reaches for more distance as he is brought down by Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (80) catches a touchdown pass as he is defended by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (42) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, left, catches a touchdown pass as he is defended by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (42) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones (7) catches a pass beyond the reach of Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) catches a pass against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) catches a pass over Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) fumbles the ball as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet (10) closes in during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. Maulet recovered the ball on the play. (AP Photo/John Raoux)Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (34) tries to get past Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (34) is brought down by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen, right, in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) scrambles against Jacksonville Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson (26) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) runs against Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike (92) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) is hit byJacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) gets a pass away as he is pressured by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, left, and Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh meet on the field before an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith takes a picture with fans before an NFL football game between the Ravens and the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Fans watch as players warm up before an NFL football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Show Caption of Expand The Jaguars did their part to hand the Ravens a leg up. Kicker Brandon McManus missed from 50 and 55 yards, just the second and third errant field goals against the Ravens all season. Jacksonville’s franchise quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, inexplicably bobbled the ball while running untouched inside the red zone in the second quarter. He failed to cash in on yet another drive just before halftime when he completed a pass inbounds instead of spiking the ball to stop the clock 5 yards from the goal line. The Jaguars went to their locker room with zero points to show for outgaining the Ravens 181-166. Given their host’s foibles, the Ravens would have liked to lead by more than 10. Lawrence quickly cut that to three when he found Jamal Agnew, who had sprinted into the open country between nickel corner Arthur Maulet and free safety Geno Stone, for a 65-yard touchdown. The Ravens had done exemplary work all season preventing explosive plays, but it took just one — Maulet seemed to think he was handing off Agnew to Brandon Stephens, who instead shaded toward the middle — to throw them into a nervous zone. They seem to know who they are at such moments, and they responded by turning back to fundamentals, running for more than 200 yards in the second half and badgering Lawrence — shoutout to defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, who extended his sack streak to 11 games — into four straight unsuccessful drives after his touchdown heave. The officials helped a bit, ruling Calvin Ridley did not control the ball when he landed in the back of the end zone on a potential touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. But the Ravens controlled the terms of engagement, playing brutal football when circumstances demanded it. “We just kind of kept coming, and after a while, it had its impact,” Harbaugh said. Keaton Mitchell’s injury reminded us that in football, agony and majesty are never far apart Zay Flowers’ pose, hands clamped to his helmet in stunned resignation, told us everything about how it felt to watch Mitchell’s knee buckle. Harbaugh wasted no time delivering the grim news afterward. Mitchell is likely out for the season with a serious knee injury, another reminder that football wounds the soul as often as it uplifts. The rookie burst forth the weekend after Halloween, an undrafted unknown (except to Ravens fans, who will never forget his father, Anthony’s, playoff heroics) out of East Carolina who wasted no time running away from NFL defenders when his opportunity arrived. Mitchell didn’t even carry the ball until the Ravens’ ninth game. As soon as he did, he sent an electric shock through an offense that needed it given the season-long absence of J.K. Dobbins. The Ravens will always run more efficiently than most with Jackson as their fulcrum, but Mitchell turbocharged the operation, averaging more than 8 yards per attempt. With him as the dash to go with Gus Edwards’ bash, they rolled to 298 yards against the Seattle Seahawks, 197 against the Los Angeles Chargers, 251 in their playoff clincher over Jacksonville. Now, Mitchell is out of the picture less than two months after he forced his way in, robbed of a chance to add to his family’s sparkling postseason legacy. The Ravens will miss him, more than just in spirit. Justice Hill is a tough runner with some outside burst, but he doesn’t move with the sprinkle of stardust that separates Mitchell. We saw again Sunday how the Ravens can bury a sturdy opponent with the force and variety of their ground attack. They won’t lose that element without the thrilling rookie, but one of their greatest advantages will be diminished. Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, left, celebrates with quarterback Lamar Jackson after catching a 16-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter Sunday night against the Jaguars. (Mike Carlson/Getty) This Isaiah Likely thing is working out It was an absurd two-man improvisation. Jaguars outside linebacker Dawuane Smoot shook his head, refusing to believe what he’d just seen as he crouched over Jackson, who’d spun out of his grasp once and thrown the ball in his face seconds later. But the magician needed a consummate partner to complete his trick, and Likely did his bit, leaping over and through a pair of defenders to pull Jackson’s floater out of the air. The play covered 26 yards, put the Ravens on the doorstep of going up 17-7 and sucked essential life out of the Jaguars. “I know he can jump a little, so it’s like, just give him a shot, and he made a play, a great play,” Jackson said. It was a play worthy of Mark Andrews, the great tight end Likely is doing his darnedest to replace, and not his only standout moment. We’re seeing all the qualities that made Likely such an exhilarating prospect in his first summer after the Ravens drafted him in the fourth round out of Coastal Carolina last year. At 241 pounds, he’s quick to the outside and springy enough to outleap a safety but rugged enough to fight for extra yards when the first-down marker is near. Likely has been one of the Ravens’ top two receivers in each game since Andrews injured his ankle. He hurt as deeply as anyone when the Pro Bowl tight end, his NFL big brother, hobbled off the field. But Likely did not hesitate to answer affirmatively when asked if he was ready to step in for Jackson’s most trusted target. He said he’d honor his mentor and friend with every catch, and sure enough, he was the Ravens’ most potent target on a night when their passing offense did not flow easily. With the Ravens driving into Jacksonville territory in the second quarter, Jackson appeared to have plenty of room to run for a first down but instead threw across his body into the arms of Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins. Jackson has made a concerted effort to look downfield rather than scramble when he has extended plays this season, but in this case, he overthought the picture in front of him. Jackson demonstrated his poise on the next possession. He’d driven the Ravens to the Jacksonville 1-yard line only for left guard John Simpson to set them back 15 with a post-whistle head butt. Jackson, undaunted, zipped a strike to Likely gliding up the seam for a 16-yard score. Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses are facing the NFL’s best edge rushers at less than 100% Josh Allen vs. Stanley figured to be one of the evening’s marquee matchups. Allen came in with half the Jaguars’ 27 sacks and at least three pressures in every game this season. Stanley has been more vulnerable than usual thanks to his ailing right knee but had allowed just two hurries in 44 pass-blocking snaps a week earlier against the Los Angeles Rams. Round 1 went to the rusher as Allen shoved right past Stanley to force an intentional grounding from Jackson and leave the Ravens with just three points to show for their 76-yard first drive. On their next possession, it was 2022 No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker shedding a block from Moses to drop Jackson for a 15-yard loss on third down. Moses, who missed three games in October and November because of a shoulder injury, seemed to lack his usual punch in hand-to-hand combat. At that point, it seemed the Jaguars’ young edge rushers might become the defining players in a tense contest. That did not turn out to be the case, in part because Stanley and Moses, with aid from Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele, did their best to hold up and in part because the Ravens turned to their running game in the second half. But the veteran tackles continued to have difficulties. With the Ravens driving late in the second quarter, Stanley drew a holding flag that wiped out a 12-yard run for a first down and pushed them back to midfield. As Collinsworth watched a replay, he noticed what Stanley acknowledged in an interview with The Baltimore Sun last Friday. The 2019 All-Pro simply does not feel comfortable bending his body to create leverage against defenders as strong and quick as Allen. Stanley vowed he’ll do his best to manage, but nothing’s coming easily. He ultimately went to the locker room in the fourth quarter to be examined for a concussion, another health concern to go with the knee injury that will likely bother him the rest of the season. The Ravens will face the San Francisco 49ers’ armada of frightening pass rushers on Christmas night, with more to come in their season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers and in the playoffs. They’re using Mekari and Faalele to spell Stanley and Moses for whole drives, hoping to help the veterans to the finish line. But the state of their pass blocking is a subplot to watch. Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike points and celebrates his forced fumble with teammates in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s game against the Jaguars. Madubuike tied an NFL record with his 11th straight game with at least half a sack. (Mike Carlson/Getty) The Ravens earned at least a small cushion with treacherous dates ahead Win or lose, this game was going to determine the mood of the Ravens’ next three weeks. The numbers — analytics models from the likes of ESPN and Pro Football Focus said their chances of capturing the AFC’s No. 1 seed would soar close to 70% with a victory or plummet to about 30% with a defeat — spoke to the matchup’s importance. More than boosting their theoretical destiny, however, the Ravens had a chance to earn some Christmas comfort or allow serious anxiety in the door like an unwelcome holiday spirit. If we had begun to take the Ravens’ AFC North lead for granted, the Cleveland Browns kept nipping at their heels Sunday thanks to Joe Flacco, who divided Baltimore hearts with a pair of brilliant clutch strikes to beat the Chicago Bears. Ravens fans have already begun contemplating the potential horror of greeting their last Super Bowl hero as an enemy playoff combatant. That horror would have felt more immediate if they were protecting a one-game lead on their trip to face the 49ers, the NFC’s best team. Instead, they can treat that matchup as a robust test against a fellow Super Bowl contender, without must-win stakes for either side. The Ravens can’t go into their New Year’s Eve showdown with the Dolphins any worse than tied for the top spot of the conference, and they’ll be favored in that game given Miami’s so-so road record. The Dolphins still have to deal with the talented Dallas Cowboys next weekend and the increasingly dangerous Buffalo Bills in Week 18, so perhaps the Ravens will receive some help. The Ravens have believed for some time that the Super Bowl is within their reach. Everything they do will be judged against that standard, which means no week will pass without tension. But they took an important step toward validating their self-image by handling the Jaguars. “It’s the beginning of what we want to do,” said safety Kyle Hamilton, who delivered his usual do-everything effort despite a knee injury that had him listed as questionable to play. Week 16 Ravens at 49ers Next Monday, 8:15 p.m. TV: ESPN Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: 49ers by 4 1/2 View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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