JACKSONVILLE – Each week during the 2022 season, Jaguars "experts" – Tony Boselli, Frank Frangie, Jeff Lageman, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton and J.P. Shadrick – will analyze the following day's Jaguars matchup.
Up this week:
The Baltimore Ravens at TIAA Bank Field.
Tony Boselli, Jaguars analyst and former Jaguars left tackle
- The Jaguars will win if:They can keep Jackson in the pocket and limit off-schedule scramble plays. Jackson is one of the most dynamic athletes in the NFL, and if he's allowed to extend plays he's impossible to stop. Offensively, Lawrence is going to need a big day. The Ravens have a great run defense and the Jaguars are going to have to throw to win on Sunday.
- The Ravens will win if: They control the game offensively on the ground, setting up the play-action pass. When the Ravens stay on schedule, staying out of long down and distances, they are one of the best offenses in the NFL.
- As Boselli sees it:This is big challenge for the Jags defense to contain Jackson, both in the run and the pass. I think they will keep it close into the fourth quarter, and find a way to get a turnover late. Jags 27, Ravens 24.
Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars
- The Jaguars will win if: They can contain Jackson, somehow taking away his dynamic scrambles. And they have to start fast; the Ravens have won four in a row and are playing with great confidence. They have to protect Lawrence; he is playing his best football as a pro, but he will need time. The soft spot in the Ravens' defense — and there aren't many — is long balls over the top. The Jags need to hit a few of those.
- The Ravens will win if: They continue to play good defense. They have not allowed more than 22 points in any game during the four-game winning streak. And they need to continue to involve Andrews, quietly becoming one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the league and by far their leading receiver.
- As Frangie sees it: This will be a tough assignment for Jacksonville. The Ravens have been one of the most consistent teams in the league year in and year out, rarely beating themselves. But they don't score in bunches. The Jaguars have to play error-free and try to get to 24 points. That gives them a chance.
Jeff Lageman, Jaguars analyst and former Jaguars defensive end
- The Jaguars will win if: They can control the tempo of the game with their offense. The Jaguars' offense has to be efficient and effective with their passing game against a Ravens defense that can be very stingy against the run. Etienne must still be a factor in keeping Baltimore from allowing their veteran pass rushers to pin their ears back and Lawrence must protect the football.
- The Ravens will win if: Jackson's legs and arm keep the Jaguars indecisive on defense. The Ravens offense is a tough challenge with the read options and RPO's. If the Jaguars defense is not disciplined, assignment clean and sure tackling it could be difficult to stop a Ravens offense that can also throw the ball effectively to one of the best tight ends in the league in Mark Andrews.
- As Lageman sees it: This is a great challenge to start the final stretch of seven games after the bye week. The Jaguars should be rested and ready to face a team that has been on a hot streak. The Ravens' defense is one of the best in the NFL over the last seven weeks and Head Coach John Harbaugh always has his Baltimore teams playing really well on special teams. The Ravens play a physical brand of football, and the Jaguars will have to match that level and be efficient as a team to get a victory.
Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director
- The Jaguars will win if: Etienne has 120 or more all-purpose yards. The Ravens haven't allowed much in the running game this season, and the Jaguars didn't run the ball effectively against the Chiefs. Etienne might be their most dangerous player, so they have to get him involved running or in the receiving game.
- The Ravens will win if: They create two turnovers. The Jaguars finally forced some turnovers against Kansas City, but overall, they have really been down in that department. Two turnovers might win that part of the game. If Baltimore wins the turnover margin, the Ravens will go home with the victory.
- As Martineau sees it: Hey, it feels like a fresh start for the final seven games, and I love where the Jaguars' minds are right now. Every team that is 3-7 says they think they can win, but I think this team and staff really mean it. This last stretch run of season is very important to the Jags. I think they will find a way to get it done over Baltimore with a 27-23 win.
John Oehser, jaguars.com senior writer
- The Jaguars will win if: They play clean in the red zone. Yes, this is simplistic. Yes, it's a theme we've repeated often in recent weeks. But no matter the quality of opponent, the Jaguars' success or failure this season typically depends on how they finish drives in the red zone. If they convert long drives into touchdowns, they can compete with – and win against – any team.
- The Ravens will win if: Jackson gets loose consistently. The Jaguars have struggled against running quarterbacks this season. No NFL quarterback currently runs better than Jackson. It will take a complete team effort from the Jaguars' defense to win Sunday.
- As Oehser sees it: This may be the Jaguars' toughest test the rest of the season. The Ravens have led by double digits in every game they have played this season and easily could be 10-0. Containing Jackson for 60 minutes will be tough. Maybe too tough.
Brian Sexton, jaguars.com senior correspondent
- The Jaguars will win if: They can get wide receiver Zay Jones and tight end Evan Engram going. The Ravens will have cornerback Marlon Humphrey running everywhere Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk is going and might have safety Marcus Williams shaded in his direction as well. You can be sure stud linebacker Patrick Queen is going to be dialed in on Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. as well as recently0acquired linebacker Roquan Smith. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence needs Jones and Engram to get open and make big plays. Jones and Engram have 83 combined receptions but have combined for half as many yards as Kirk with two touchdowns to his seven. More players must make plays and these two guys have the talent to make it happen.
- The Ravens will win if: Quarterback Lamar Jackson does what Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones did to the Jaguars. Hurts and Jones bedeviled Jaguars rookie linebackers Travon Walker and Devin Lloyd and ran wild through the Jaguars' defense. No disrespect to Hurts or Jones, but Jackson is on a different level. Hopefully, Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell made good use of the bye week to simplify things for his rookies.
- As Sexton sees it: The Jaguars face an uphill battle against Jackson. Lawrence is playing good football and the Jaguars can move the ball. If the Jaguars can convert yards to points, they can pull off the upset – but only if the defense finds a way to stop the NFL's most explosive athlete. I don't have a lot of confidence in the Jaguars' defense after the Kansas City game two weeks ago. I think it's close, but Baltimore leaves with the win.
J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com senior reporter
- The Jaguars will win if: They can control the ball, not turn it over and finish in the end zone. The Jags have moved the ball well this year, but they have fallen short in red-zone and goal-to-go situations far too often.
- The Ravens will win if: Jackson breaks off a couple long runs to flip field position, or their defense forces a couple of takeaways. What's more difficult to defend than a Lamar Jackson-led offense? Extra possessions against a Lamar Jackson-led offense.
- As Shadrick sees it: The Ravens are a veteran playoff team with a former MVP quarterback and a strong defense, and they are playing good football at the right time. The Jaguars are 3-7 and are coming off the bye looking to correct some of the mistakes that have plagued them all season. The Jags are close, but the Ravens are one of the most powerful teams in the AFC. This will be a physical game but get it in the fourth quarter and see what happens. If you take the lead late, don't leave any time, because Jackson can lead a late drive and the kicker is one of the best in league history and can hit from St. Augustine.