Mike Preston grades the Ravens’ 20-12 win over the Jaguars
Joe Flacco was easily the Ravens’ most consistent performer on offense. The Ravens had very little running game and Flacco made several passes while rolling out of the pocket, both to his right and left. He completed 20 of 30 passes for 221 yards, but played bigger than those results. (Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun)
Baltimore Sun
Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston delivers his grades on the Ravens’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15 of the 2014 NFL season.
The Jaguars played seven or eight players near the line of scrimmage. Justin Forsett has a banged-up knee and he looked slow. Backup Bernard Pierce also had no acceleration, especially to the outside. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk had a fumble. This was this unit’s worst game of the season. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)
Marlon Brown had five receptions for 66 yards and Steve Smith had five for 37 yards. The Ravens, though, dropped a lot of passes. Some were a little off the mark, but definitely catchable. Tight end Owen Daniels had four catches for 62 yards and came up big several times. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)
The Ravens got very little movement at the point of attack and had trouble with defensive linemen Red Bryant and Roy Miller III. The Ravens didn’t allow a sack. Left guard Kelechi Osemele and left tackle Eugene Monroe each had a holding penalty. (Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun)
In the past three weeks, end Chris Canty might be the Ravens’ best lineman. He had four tackles and moved extremely well. Rookie tackle Timmy Jernigan is slowly becoming a force in the middle and had two sacks. Tackle Brandon Williams had five tackles to lead all linemen. (Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun)
Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs had 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hits. Inside linebackers Daryl Smith and C.J. Mosley had seven tackles each, but both have to get deeper drops on third down so passes aren’t dropped between them and safeties. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)
Sometimes, the secondary is in total disarray. There were times when the Jaguars had players running free and the only thing that saved the Ravens was pressure from the front seven or dropped passes. Rashaan Melvin saw his first action and he at least was in the same zip code of some receivers. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)
The Ravens scored a touchdown off a blocked punt, but for the second straight week this group was a disappointment. They were hurt by penalties and Justin Tucker missed one field goal because of a bad snap and hit the upright on another. The Ravens also got faked out on an onside kick and punt. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)
The Ravens weren’t physical and they weren’t ready to play, and that falls on coach John Harbaugh. There is no excuse for the Ravens’ unreadiness for trick plays. Good thing the Ravens were playing Jacksonville, because the staff didn’t bring its “A” game. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)
