Jaguars in a Snapshot

Jacksonville dominated the series with the Ravens when both teams were in the AFC Central, winning the 1st 8 games (1996-99) played between the clubs. The Ravens finally won in 2000 when they stopped the visiting Jaguars, 39-36, on 9/10 in one of the most dramatic and memorable games in Baltimore history. That win helped propel the Ravens to a 12-4 season and eventually the Super Bowl XXXV championship following that campaign.

The 2000 victory started a string of 6 straight wins over Jacksonville. The streak was stopped in 2005, the last time these teams battled, when the host Jaguars dumped the Ravens, 30-3. After earning an 11-5 mark a year ago and then winning at Pittsburgh in the Wild Card round, much was expected of Jacksonville in 2008.

However, a devastating set of injuries to the offensive line has hurt the Jaguars all season.

Despite these setbacks, they won 23-21 at Indianapolis, beat the Broncos in Denver (24-17) and stopped Green Bay, 20-16. Best on the Jacksonville offense is QB David Garrard, who comes to Baltimore with a QB rating of 83.2 with 14 TDs and 11 INTs. Garrard’s biggest weapon is RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who has rushed for 746 yards (4.3 yards per) and caught 61 passes for 555 more yards. The Jaguars often run from a 2-TE set, starting both Marcedes Lewis (40 catches) and Richard Angulo. Starting wideouts Dennis Northcutt and Reggie Williams have combined for 74 catches.

Best of the Jacksonville defenders is Pro Bowl DT John Henderson, who lines up next to rookie DE Derrick Harvey. (Harvey is the player the Jaguars selected with the 8th pick in the 2008 draft – the spot originally owned by the Ravens.) Prominent in Jacksonville’s secondary are stalwarts CB Drayton Florence and FS Reggie Nelson. SS Gerald Sensabaugh has 4 INTs. Head coach Jack Del Rio coached the Ravens’ LBs from 1999-2001. Gregg Williams replaced Mike Smith, now Atlanta’s head coach, as defensive coordinator, and also carries the title of assistant head coach, defense. Dirk Koetter is the offensive coordinator, while Joe DeCamillis heads the special teams.


Quick Hits

Baltimore looks for its 9th win in 11 games and 6th victory at home (5-2 record so far). With a win, the Ravens will earn their 5th-ever playoff berth (and 5th since 2000).

The Ravens aim for their 3rd season ever with at least 11 wins (12 in 2000 and 13 in 2006).

The Ravens are 6-9 all time vs. Jacksonville. Baltimore has won 6 of the past 7 games played.
Baltimore has won 6 of its last 8 season finales, including 2 in a row. The Ravens are 7-1 in season finale games played at home, having won 7 consecutive.


Connections

Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio was the Ravens LBs coach from 1999-2001. He coached a talented corps that featured Peter Boulware, Jamie Sharper and Ray Lewis, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV…

Jaguars VP of player personnel James “Shack” Harris was the Ravens’ pro personnel director from 1997-2002. The Jags’ Art Perkins (executive scout) and Terry McDonough (national scout) also spent time with Baltimore’s personnel team...

Three current Ravens have been a part of the Jaguars’ organization: Bob Rogucki, strength and conditioning coach, posted a 1-year stint as the assistant strength coach in 2004. QB Todd Bouman played with the team in 2007, and LB Nick Greisen saw action in all 16 games of the Jaguars’ 2006 season…

Donnie Henderson, Jacksonville’s DBs coach, began his NFL coaching career with the Ravens. He is a Baltimore native and spent 5 years (1999-2003) with the team, starting off as an assistant DBs coach before being promoted to the top DBs coach in 2000…

Jacksonville T Tony Pashos was Baltimore’s 2003 5th-round draft pick and spent 4 seasons as a Raven (2003-06). In 2006, he started all 16 games and was part of an line that allowed a franchise-low 17 sacks. Pashos played college ball at Illinois (1998-2002), where Ravens offensive assistant Craig Ver Steeg was QBs coach and recruiting coordinator from 1997-2000…
Jacksonville rookie CB Isaiah Gardner attended the University of Maryland …

Two Jaguars grew up in the Baltimore area: DE Derrick Harvey’s hometown is Greenbelt, MD, and WR Jerry Porter hails from Washington D.C....

Ravens CB Frank Walker and Jags CB Drayton Florence both played football at Tuskegee. Walker attended the university from 1999-2002, while Florence transferred there for his last 2 years in 2001-02…

Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter was head coach at Arizona State from 2001-06. Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs played for him from 2001-02, and Ravens DBs coach Mark Carrier coached the secondary at ASU from 2004-05. Ted Monachino, Jacksonville’s D-line coach, also spent time with the Sun Devils from 2000-05 (holding the same position)…

Jaguars LBs coach Mark Duffner was head coach at the University of Maryland from 1992-96. While there, he posted a 20-35 overall record...


Numbers to Rave About

7

Dual-INT games S Ed Reed has in his career, including 3 this season. The Ravens are 7-0 when he posts 2 picks in a game. Reed currently ties for the NFL lead with 7 thefts in 2008.

23

Different players to earn Pro Bowl honors for the Ravens during their 13-year history. This season, FB Le’Ron McClain (1), LB Terrell Suggs (3), ST Brendon Ayanbadejo (3), S Ed Reed (5) and LB Ray Lewis (10) are going to Hawaii.

34

Consecutive games Baltimore’s defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher, the NFL’s longest current streak.

265

Rushing yards produced by Baltimore last week at Dallas, a season high and the 3rd most in Ravens franchise history.

10,000

Receiving yards WR Derrick Mason will have for his career if he gains 16 more. Mason will also hit 1,000 this season with 40 more yards.


2008 Milestones in Reach

WR Mark Clayton With 9 catches, Clayton (196) can take over the No. 3 spot on Baltimore’s all-time receptions chart, currently held by Travis Taylor (204).

P Sam KochKoch has 33 punts inside the 20 this season, just 6 short of tying the Ravens’ and the NFL single-season record of 39, which was set by Baltimore’s Kyle Richardson in 1999. Koch’s 45.3 gross average this season is on pace to set a Ravens’ record, breaking the 43.9 mark of Richardson in 1998. Koch’s 40.6 net average is also on pace to break Richardson’s record of 38.3 also set in 1998.

LB Ray Lewis With 2 more INTs, Lewis will have 30 for his career. With 1.5 more sacks, he will own 35. If Lewis hits the combined 30-INT/35-sack milestone, he’ll become the only player in NFL history to achieve the feat.

WR Derrick Mason Needs 16 receiving yards to hit 10,000. Mason is 40 yards shy of hitting the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the 7th time in his career.

RB Willis McGahee With 1,854 rushing yards in his Ravens career, he stands 249 yards short of passing Priest Holmes (2,102) for 2nd on the franchise’s all-time list (Jamal Lewis is 1st with 7,801).

DT Trevor Pryce He has 83.5 sacks for his career, 1.5 short of the 85 milestone.

S Ed Reed With 41 career INTs for 1,100 return yards, he ranks 6th on the NFL’s all-time INT return yards list. Reed is close behind Paul Krause (5th – 1,185).

K Matt StoverHaving made 386 consecutive PATs, Stover holds the NFL record.

LB Terrell SuggsWith 15.5 more sack yards, Suggs (413) can move into 1st for Ravens all-time sack yards, passing LB Peter Boulware (428). Suggs also has 53 sacks for his career, 2nd only to Boulware’s 70 QB drops.