Ravens Seeking Revenge

The Jacksonville Jaguars managed a franchise-record low 132 yards and nine first downs against the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago.

Was it a credit to the Ravens defense, or was a conservative and unimaginative Jacksonville offense to blame?

“Listening to Tom Coughlin, their perspective seems to be it was simply a matter of them playing poorly,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said of the Jaguars’ 6-3 victory.

“I guess our defense really didn’t play that well,” Billick concluded, shaking his head.

Baltimore allowed 2.2 yards per play, sacked Mark Brunell six times and limited James Stewart to 25 yards rushing on 18 carries. Jacksonville could muster only two field goals, the first set up by a blocked punt.

“That was our worst performance as an offensive unit,” Jaguars receiver Jimmy Smith said. “They shut us down. We want to prove to ourselves that we can come back from that embarrassment.”

Thanks to the folks who make the NFL schedule, Jacksonville (9-1) gets the chance today in a rapid rematch against the Ravens (4-6) at PSINet Stadium. Coughlin made it perfectly clear this week that the Jaguars hold the highest regard for Baltimore’s defense, regardless of Billick’s assertion.

“I said on numerous occasions that I didn’t want to take anything away from the Ravens defense. They can use whatever motivation they want,” Coughlin said. “This football team has nothing but respect for the Baltimore Ravens, and you can’t twist those words around.

“We’ve got to play a little bit more aggressively than we did two weeks ago,” he added. “You’re talking about playing an outstanding defensive football team that certainly put us in our place. We have to play with a little more intensity and a little more focus.”

Strangely enough, both teams were involved in high-scoring games last weekend. Although the Jaguars allowed more points and yards than in any game this season, Coughlin shucked his conservative game plan in favor of a wide-open attack that produced 41 points and 494 yards in a rout of the New Orleans Saints.

“I was excited about our offense,” said Brunell, whose 351 yards passing was 233 more than he could muster against the Ravens.

Baltimore, meanwhile, was scorched for 31 points by Cincinnati, but still escaped with a victory on a 50-yard field goal by Matt Stover as time expired. The Ravens yielded a whopping 348 yards and blew a 31-14 lead before winning.

Billick expects the Baltimore defense to return to form against the Jaguars, whose seven-game winning streak is the longest in the NFL.

“It’s tough facing any opponent again that quickly. The good news is that we get right back at them,” Billick said. “I know our defense will be very motivated to come out and prove that last outing wasn’t a fluke.”

He’s just as certain the Jaguars will be intent upon opening up the offense and building on last week’s performance against the Saints.

“I imagine they’ll be more aggressive down the field. That seemed to be a plan against a very good New Orleans defense,” Billick said.

This is the Ravens’ lone home game in November following a 2-1 road swing. Next week, Baltimore continues a six-game stretch against the AFC Central at home against Tennessee.

“What a great spot we’re in. We come back to play the two best teams in the division, maybe the two best teams in AFC, at home, after losing to both by three points earlier,” Billick said. “It’s time to see what we’re really about. We know we can play with these guys.”