Ravens Ready to Clinch AFC Playoff Spot

NFL 2008 Week 17 Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis. The Ravens are in complete control over their AFC playoff destiny. A win over the Jaguars at home and the Ravens earn an AFC wildcard spot.

After a 2-3 start to the NFL 2008 season, the Ravens have gone 8-2 with first-year head coach John Harbaugh and rookie quarterback Joe Flacco.

The Ravens have been impressive in winning 4 of their last 5.

In that span, the Baltimore Ravens have defeated the Eagles (36-7), Bengals (34-3), Redskins (24-10) and Cowboys (33-24) with relative ease, while only losing to the Steelers (13-9).

"We've got one more game to get!" So sayeth Ravens Pro Bowl Linebacker Terrell Suggs.

If the Ravens (10-5) beat the Jaguars at home this Sunday, the Ravens advance to the AFC Playoffs.

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) at Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

The Ravens can make the postseason even before they take the field if New England loses to Buffalo in their 1:00 PM game.

But that won't stop the Ravens from going full tilt, as they always do.

"The only thing we can think about is a 60-minute game against Jacksonville," says Pro Bowler Ray Lewis. "When we finish that one, then we can think about the playoffs."

The Ravens could join the Falcons as the teams to make the NFL 2008 playoffs with rookie head coaches and rookie quarterbacks at the helm.

Series: Jaguars hold a 9-6 edge over the Ravens

The Jaguars and Ravens have met 15 times with the Jaguars leading the series, 9-6. The series has been broken up into two different winning streaks.

The Jaguars won the first eight games of the series from 1996-1999 and the Ravens won six consecutive games from 2000-03 until the Jaguars stopped the streak with a 30-3 home win in the last meeting between the teams in 2005 (11/13/2005). In that game, Jacksonville RB Greg Jones rushed for a career-high 106 yards & scored 1 TD. Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee added 3 field goals & LB Mike Peterson returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown.

NFL 2008 Week 16: Indianapolis Colts 31, Jacksonville Jaguars 24

The Jaguars built 14-0 and 24-14 leads against the Colts last Thursday before losing a 31-24 decision. In the end, it was too much Peyton Manning, who was near perfect when he completed 29 of 34 passes, including his 1st 17.

The Jacksonville Jaguars drove the ball all the way down to the Colts 7-yard line with 29 seconds left in the game, but could not put the ball in the end zone with its final 2 plays.

The Jaguars totaled 409 yards of offense as David Garrard threw for a career-high 329 yards. RB/KR Maurice Jones-Drew finished with 162 yards from scrimmage (91 rushing, 71 receiving) and WR Dennis Northcutt recorded his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game.

NFL 2008 Week 16: Baltimore Ravens 33, Dallas Cowboys 24

The victory over the Cowboys last Saturday included a pair of long touchdown runs in the final 3:32 of the game by running backs Willis McGahee (77 yards) and Le'ron McClain (82 yards) in the last game played at Texas Stadium.

The Dallas Cowboys grabbed an early lead after converting a QB Joe Flacco fumble at the Ravens 4 when rookie Tashard Choice scored on a two-yard rush.

The Ravens provided the rest of the scoring in the first half behind three Matt Stover field goals (26, 29, 37 yards) while the Baltimore defense shut out the Dallas offense to take a 9-7 lead into halftime.

The Ravens extended their lead to 16-7 in the third quarter when Joe Flacco found Derrick Mason for a 13-yard touchdown pass. The Cowboys and Ravens would then trade field goals to start things off in the fourth quarter to bring the score to 19-10. Dallas then edged closer (19-17) when Tony Romo hit Terrell Owens for a seven-yard touchdown pass.

On the Ravens next possession, Willis McGahee exploded for a 77-yard TD run for a Ravens 26-17 lead. The Cowboys responded with a scoring drive on the ensuing series on Romo's second touchdown of the day to Jason Witten for a 21-yard TD with 1:36 remaining.

However, for the second consecutive drive, Le'Ron McClain was able to break free for a long touchdown run. McClain's 82-yard touchdown run increased the Ravens lead to 33-24.

The Cowboys last offensive effort fell short with the team turning over the ball on downs to end the game.

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)

  • - The Jaguars are 16-4 (.800) when gaining 150+ rush yards since 2006
  • - QB DAVID GARRARD has career-best 3,493 passing yards in 2008 & needs 148 yards to surpass MARK BRUNELL (3,640 in 2000) for 2nd-most passing yards in Jags franchise history. Garrard completed 49 of 74 passes (66.2 pct.) for 567 yards with 3 touchdowns vs. 1 INT & 97.1 passer rating in past 2 games.
  • - RB MAURICE JONES-DREW has career-highs in receptions (61) & yards (555) in 2008. Jones-Drew (12) needs 3 rushing touchdowns to surpass FRED TAYLOR's mark of 14 set in 1998 for most rush touchdowns in season in Jaguars history. Jones-Drew (14) needs 3 touchdowns to tie Taylor (17 in 1998) for most touchdowns in season in franchise history
  • - Since 2007, WR REGGIE WILLIAMS leads team with 13 TD receptions (10 in 2007, 3 in 2008). In past 2, WR DENNIS NORTHCUTT has totaled 13 rec. for 228 receiving yards (17.5 avg.) with 2 touchdowns & aims for 3rd consecutive game with 100+ yards
  • - LB DARYL SMITH leads team with 130 tackles

Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

  • - With a win, the Ravens clinch a playoff berth
  • - The Ravens are currently one of the hottest teams in the NFL as they have won 8 of their past 10 games.
  • - The Ravens aim for their 5th consecutive home victory against the Jaguars.
  • - Over his past 10 games, rookie QB JOE FLACCO (1st round, No. 18) has completed 150 of 261 passes (57.5 pct.) for 1,830 yards with 13 touchdowns vs. 5 interceptions & 87.8 passer rating
  • - In his last meeting vs. the Jags as a member of the Buffalo Bills (11/26/2006), RB WILLIS MC GAHEE scored 2 rushing touchdowns.
  • - McGahee (108) & Pro Bowl FB LE' RON MC CLAIN (139) combined for 247 rush yards in the Ravens win over the Cowboys last week. McClain leads the Ravens with 9 touchdowns this season (8 rush, 1 receiving)
  • - Since 2003, WR DERRICK MASON ranks 2nd in NFL with 522 receptions behind TORRY HOLT (557). Mason (9,984) needs 16 receiving yards to reach 10,000 for career. Mason (960) needs 40 yards to reach 1,000 for 7th season in career. WR MARK CLAYTON averages career-high 15.3 yards per catch in 2008 (37 rec., 567 yards)
  • - The Ravens lead the NFL with 24 interceptions
  • - Since 2002, Pro Bowl S ED REED leads NFL with 41 interceptions & has 6 interceptions over past 5 games
  • - Ravens have not allowed an opposing running back to gain over 100 rushing yards in 34 games (longest current streak in NFL)
  • - Pro Bowl LB TERRELL SUGGS aims for 5th in row with at least half sack.

PREDICTION: Baltimore Ravens 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 10

The Jaguars 5-10 record is somewhat misleading as they have played the NFL's 3rd most difficult schedule this year. However, it hasn't been a cake walk for the Ravens either as they were handed the NFL's 4th most difficult schedule ( NFL 2008 Strength of Schedule).

Are the Jaguars better than their 5-10 record? Yes. Will the Jaguars defeat the Ravens on Sunday? Probably not.

The Ravens defense has always been the anchor for their team in years past. And, while the reputation of the Ravens defense is as true this season, their offense has become both asset and weapon behind their rookie Quarterback.

Ravens Ready to Clinch AFC Playoff Spot - NFL 2008 Week 17