London, U.K. gets its first look at live NFL Football this season and one of them is actually a decent team. The Baltimore Ravens (2-0) travel across the pond to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) in merry old England. The game will be broadcast here in the states on Yahoo.com at 9:30 a.m. EST.
The Game: Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5)
O/U: 39.5
The History
Believe it or not, the Jaguars lead the all-time series 11-9, with most of those wins coming in an eight game streak from November, 1996 to November, 1999.
Once the Ravens got the upper hand, they reeled off a nice streak of their own. Baltimore won six in a row from September, 2000 to November, 2003.
Because NFL scheduling is odd, the Ravens and Jaguars have played each other for the last three seasons with Jacksonville winning one game, 22-20, in November, 2015.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-0)
The Ravens defense has given up a total of 10 points in two games this season and their pass rush should once again be on display against a lackluster Jaguars offensive front. Terrell Suggs must have gotten into some of Ray Lewis’ leftover deer antler spray, because he’s not playing like a man in his 15th season at all. He has three sacks already this season and, if you do the math, could have three more in this game.
After sitting out all preseason with a back issue, Joe Flacco is still covered in rust like Dorothy just came across him in that forest full of smack talking apple trees. Still, he wasn’t bad last week, going 25-for-34 for 217 yards and two touchdowns. It won’t help Flacco that he’s lost the best guard in football, Marshall Yanda, for the year and Dieugot Joseph also won’t suit up.
On defense, the Ravens will be without Brandon Williams up front, which could make it difficult to slow down Leonard Fournette.
Flacco’s favorite target last week was tight end Benjamin Watson who caught eight passes for 91 yards. Look for another big game from him as Flacco gets more comfortable tossing him the ball. Flacco has always been happy to use up a tight end and has put a couple of guys in the Pro Bowl.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1)
The Jaguars come into the game with a couple of banged up stars of their own. Offensive tackle Cam Robinson is questionable with a shoulder injury and cornerback Jalen Ramsey has an ankle issue. I expect both guys to suit up and play.
Was Jacksonville’s opening week win over the Houston Texans an anomaly? They sure as hell didn’t show up last week, especially on defense, against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans put up 179 rushing yards on the Jaguars and Marcus Mariota had a decent day passing, completing 15 of 27 for 215 yards, one touchdown and one pick.
Jacksonville should have an advantage up front with their defensive line taking on a banged up Baltimore unit. Calais Campbell followed up his four sack performance against Houston with exactly zero last week against Tennessee, but Joe Flacco is a little different kind of target than Marcus Mariota.
If Blake Bortles is going to have success in this game, he’ll need to get the ball out of his hands fast. Last week he spread the ball around to five different receivers, with Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns getting the primary work. Hurns caught six passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.
It all comes down to how good Fournette can be Sunday morning at tea and crumpet time. The Titans bottled him up for 14 carries and 40 yards with one touchdown last week and the Ravens are significantly better on defense, even without Williams up front.
The Pick
If the Jaguars stand any chance in this one, they have to keep Baltimore from striking early. Baltimore, with a lead, is a beast unleashed on defense and Bortles is a statue in the pocket. Flacco on a neutral site is usually deadly and I like the Ravens here by a nice margin. Ravens 27, Jaguars 13
This Week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 11-5
Against the spread: 8-8
Season
Straight up: 22-10
Against the spread: 16-16
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