Jacksonville (5-10) @ Baltimore (10-5)

It's safe to say John Harbaugh's first year as an NFL head coach has gone extremely well. In fact, he has the Baltimore Ravens a win away from a playoff berth with the Jacksonville Jaguars headed to M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday for the regular-season finale.

Baltimore can extend its season into the new year with a win and is coming off an emotional victory over the Dallas Cowboys in what could have been the final regular-season game played at Texas Stadium. Dallas rolled out the red carpet for several former players, but it was the Ravens who stole the show under the open roof and moved closer to securing the final AFC playoff spot.

The Ravens kept their postseason aspirations alive with a 33-24 triumph in Week 16, winning for the fourth time in five weeks and improving to 10-5 on the season. Since dropping three in a row earlier in the year, Harbaugh's bunch has won eight of its last 10 games and recorded the fifth 10-win season in franchise history by beating the Cowboys.

Running backs Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain both ran for more than 100 yards and each recorded long touchdown runs against a heralded Dallas defense last week, while rookie quarterback Joe Flacco was his usual calm self in the face of fury. He passed for 149 yards with a touchdown strike to Derrick Mason, helping the Ravens bounce back from a controversial last-minute loss versus rival Pittsburgh.

Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed is playing out of this world and recorded a pair of interceptions for the third time in 2008 against the Cowboys, giving him seven on the season. Baltimore will need Reed in top form again this Sunday with a chance for the team's third 11-plus win campaign in history.

Meanwhile, Jacksonville is still trying to recover from last week's 31-24 setback versus the Indianapolis Colts, in which the club allowed 17 points in the fourth quarter.

It seems the Jaguars figured they could just show up and win this season after such a successful 2007 campaign, but the tables were turned on head coach Jack Del Rio, quarterback David Garrard and a once-stout defense.

The Jaguars, who will finish last in the AFC South, showed flashes of their run from a year ago against the Colts, getting great play from Garrard, who had a touchdown pass and a rushing score for an early 14-0 advantage. Then the defense imploded and Garrard allowed a tie-breaking 35-yard interception return for a touchdown by Indianapolis defensive back Keiwan Ratliff in the loss, which dropped the Jags to 5-10.

In order to prevent the team's fewest wins in a season since 2003, the Jaguars will have to stop the run on Sunday, which has been a tough task lately.

Jacksonville, which has lost five of its last six games, already informed strength and conditioning coach Mark Asanovich and his assistant Les Ebert they won't be back next season. Del Rio is safe for now, since he inked a four-year, $21 million contract extension in the spring that will keep him with the team through the 2012 season. Del Rio is only 24-23 in regular-season play over the last three years and has just one playoff win since taking over in 2003.

WHEN THE JAGUARS HAVE THE BALL

Garrard (3,493 passing yards, 14 TD, 11 INT) probably can't wait to get the season over in order to rid himself of a subpar campaign. After an efficient 2007 season led to a contract extension, Garrard is starting to make it seem as if his numbers from a year ago were a fluke. He threw a costly interception that was returned for a touchdown against the Colts and owns six touchdown passes with five picks over the past five weeks. Garrard was 28-of-41 for 329 yards with a touchdown and an interception against Indianapolis, recording just his second 300-yard passing game of the season. Wide receiver Dennis Northcutt seems to have taken over the role as go-to guy now that Matt Jones (65 receptions, 2 TD) is suspended for the rest of the season. Northcutt (39 receptions, 2 TD) emerged in a Week 15 win over Green Bay with 127 yards and a touchdown on five catches, then posted 101 yards and a score on eight receptions versus Indy. It was the first time in Northcutt's career that he had two 100-yard receiving games in one season. Running back Maurice Jones- Drew is a threat out of the backfield as well as a mismatch against opposing linebackers. He has 61 catches for 555 yards and two touchdowns this season for the Jags' 13th-rated pass attack. Tight end Marcedes Lewis (40 receptions, 2 TD) and wideout Reggie Williams (35 receptions, 3 TD) have a combined five touchdown catches in 2008.

Reed (38 tackles, 7 INT, 1 sack) is arguably the best safety in the game with his quickness, tenacity and excellent hands. He jumped in front of a couple Tony Romo passes for two picks last weekend, and is among the league leaders in interceptions for Baltimore's third-ranked pass defense. The Ravens are allowing 183.2 passing yards per week. Safety Jim Leonhard (64 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) had five tackles against Dallas and will team up with Reed to prevent Northcutt, Williams or Mike Walker from beating them. The Ravens are 7-0 all-time when Reed has two picks in a game. Cornerbacks Fabian Washington (31 tackles, 1 INT) and Corey Ivy (49 tackles, 1.5 sacks) were roughed up a bit while trying to contain enigmatic superstar wideout Terrell Owens and tight end Jason Witten last week. The two Dallas deep threats combined for 150 yards, 10 catches and two touchdowns. Reed, though, will have the secondary under control with a playoff berth on the line. He did it less than a week ago against a tougher and more talented Dallas team.

Jones-Drew (746 rushing yards, 12 TD) should be at full strength despite going down with a knee injury in the Indianapolis game. According to Del Rio, the running back will be fine. The UCLA product, who is listed as probable, has only two 100-yard rushing games this season, with the last one coming on October 12 in a win at Denver. Jones-Drew enjoyed a solid two-way effort against the Colts, running for 91 yards on 20 carries and hauling in seven passes for an additional 71 yards. He will find it very difficult running against a stingy Baltimore run defense on Sunday, but Jones-Drew is a tough back who can handle the challenge. He is expected to take over the full-time role at running back from injured veteran Fred Taylor next season.

Baltimore's No. 3 ranked run defense (78.9 ypg) has not allowed a 100-yard rusher for 34 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the NFL, but Dallas' Tashard Choice came close last week with 90 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. The Ravens have Jones-Drew to worry about, since the Jacksonville back is able to hide behind lineman with his short stature and burst through the holes. He will still have a tough time penetrating a line occupied by tackle Haloti Ngata (52 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT), veteran end Trevor Pryce (27 tackles, 4.5 sacks) and fellow end Justin Bannan (43 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT). Ngata is one of the top interior lineman in the game and had three stops against the Cowboys. He should have an easier time going against a patched-up and injury-plagued Jacksonville offensive line. Besides Pittsburgh, the Ravens have one of the game's best set of linebackers, with future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis (109 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 INT) leading the way. Lewis once again is tops on the team in tackles and will bring his ferocious style of play to the table on Sunday. Team sack leader Terrell Suggs (64 tackles, 8 sacks, 2 INT) had five stops, a half sack and a pass defensed at Dallas. Linebacker Bart Scott (77 tackles, 1.5 sacks) led the Ravens with six tackles. All three will occasionally fill the box to force Garrard to beat them with his arm.

WHEN THE RAVENS HAVE THE BALL

Flacco (2,674 passing yards, 14 TD, 12 INT) will need some protection this weekend if he plans on passing the Ravens into the postseason. Flacco was sacked five times in Dallas and has been taken down 12 times over the last six weeks. He also owns six touchdown passes and three interceptions over that span and finished 17-of-25 for 149 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Cowboys. Flacco didn't get caught up in the all the Dallas hoopla and was able to connect with favorite wideout Mason (74 receptions, 960 yards, 5 TD), who shook off a nagging dislocated left shoulder against the Cowboys to haul in six passes for 66 yards and a score. Mason, who leads the Ravens in receptions, yards and scores, is 40 yards shy of the seventh 1,000-yard receiving campaign of his career and probable for Sunday's game. Mark Clayton (37 receptions, 3 TD) and tight end Todd Heap (32 receptions, 3 TD) will also be called on to make plays for Baltimore's 28th-rated pass attack.

Peyton Manning torched the Jaguars for 364 yards and three touchdowns in Week 16 and had two receivers with more than 100 yards. Jacksonville is 19th against the pass and is allowing 218.8 yards per game through the air. It won't face a fierce aerial attack on Sunday like it did against the Colts, but the Jaguars must not take Flacco lightly. Cornerback and leading tackler Brian Williams (79 tackles, 2 INT) posted six tackles last week, but experienced trouble covering Indy's Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. Cornerback Drayton Florence (35 tackles) and safeties Gerald Sensabaugh (66 tackles, 4 INT) and Reggie Nelson (50 tackles, 2 INT) do match up well against Baltimore's less than stellar wide receivers. The Jaguars will need a push up front by defensive ends Reggie Hayward (23 tackles, 4.5 sacks) and Derrick Harvey (12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT), however, as the team posted no sacks against the Colts. Harvey has played in all 15 games with eight starts this season, the most by a rookie defensive end in franchise history. It's also the most by a Jaguars defensive lineman since John Henderson started 13 games in 2002.

Baltimore's running game has been the bread and butter of the offense this year and is second in the league with 149.9 rushing yards per contest. Pro Bowl running back McClain (832 rushing yards, 8 TD) is coming off his first career 100-yard game, as he recorded 139 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. McClain, who leads the team in carries (207), yards and rushing touchdowns, put the Dallas game away with an 82-yard touchdown run with 1:18 to go. McGahee (647 rushing yards, 6 TD) also eclipsed the century mark against the Cowboys with 108 yards on eight touches, including a 77-yard touchdown sprint. McGahee showed no signs of the injuries that have hampered him this year by posting his third 100-yard rushing game of the season. He broke out against Dallas after a six-carry, 18-yard performance the week before versus Pittsburgh. Sunday's matchup favors Baltimore's ground attack against a depleted Jacksonville run defense. Ravens offensive tackle Willie Anderson is probable for Sunday with an ankle injury. Chad Slaughter and Adam Terry filled in for Anderson when he left for a bit to have an X-ray last week.

Jaguars disgruntled linebacker Mike Peterson was back in the starting lineup last week because of an injury to linebacker Daryl Smith. Peterson (72 tackles, 1 sack) had seven tackles against the Colts and appeared to be comfortable back in a starting role. He lost his starting job last month after being sent home after a confrontation with Del Rio during a team meeting following a loss to Cincinnati. Linebacker Justin Durant (62 tackles) added eight stops in Week 16. Defensive tackle Henderson (41 tackles, 2.5 sacks) had just one tackle, and his play over the recent weeks has declined significantly. Tackle Derek Landri (12 tackles, 2 sacks) has played in back- to-back games and recorded two tackles after not playing the previous two weeks.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The message is simple for the Ravens, win on Sunday and you're in the playoffs. Harbaugh has often referred to his squad as "Mighty Men", and so far the players have responded in a strong way. The Ravens are riding an emotional high from their win over the Cowboys at Texas Stadium and can't afford a huge letdown this week in the friendly confines of M&T Bank Stadium. Flacco has outplayed his rookie status and is getting more than enough support from his teammates, including the tight-fisted defense. Reed, Lewis and Ngata will be more than prepared to lead a Baltimore stop unit past a depleted Jaguars team and back into the postseason after a one-year absence.