Ravens vs Jaguars: Preview, score prediction for Week 3
By Nick Sparrow
Baltimore Ravens vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars play “host” to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in what should be a defensive matchup while the NFL takes over London for the first time in the 2017 season.
Baltimore has not lost this season as they have shown their defense is one of the best in the league against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns. The Jaguars disappointed coming off of a great 29-7 win over the Houston Texans, they lost 37-16 against the Tennessee Titans.
This will be the first matchup for both of these teams not against division opponents.
Keys to Victory
The most important thing for the Jaguars to focus is avoiding turnovers. This Baltimore defense has forced 10 turnovers in their two games alone, coming off of back-to-back four-interception games. Jacksonville turned the ball over three times in Week 2 to a Titans defense that is nowhere near as good as Baltimore’s. If the Jaguars can’t avoid limiting their turnovers this game will not even be close.
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It is also important for Jacksonville to establish an effective run game. In Week 1, rookie running back Leonard Fournette rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown while quarterback Blake Bortles only dropped back to pass 21 times. The Titans held Fournette to only 40 yards rushing in Week 2, forcing Bortles to throw more often. Bortles dropped back 34 times last Sunday, throwing two interceptions and one touchdown.
Bortles is most effective when not being asked to carry the offense. The Jaguars need Fournette to find success on the ground to not only set up Bortles to have more success but also to simply take the ball out of his hands.
The Ravens simply need to keep on their gameplan to win this game. Baltimore’s strategy is to rely upon an elite defense to limit what they require from their offense. Through the first two games of the season, quarterback Joe Flacco is only 34-of-51 for 338 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Ravens running backs have been the brightest spots on offense.
In Week 2, three different running backs had at least 20 rushing yards. Out of the four players that led the team in receiving yards in that game, two were running backs. If Baltimore’s defense limits the Jaguars, their running backs should be able to be good enough on offense to cruise to another easy win.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Baltimore -3.5
Moneyline: Baltimore -185, Jacksonville +160
Over/ Under: 40
All betting odds provided by BookMaker via Sportsbook Review
Next: NFL 2017: Picks against the spread for Week 3
Prediction
Neither team will have home-field advantage in this game as it takes place in London. Offenses seem to struggle more than defenses as teams travel overseas for these games. The loss of one the league’s best right guards in Marshal Yanda will definitely hurt the Ravens as the season goes on. However, this Baltimore defense should be all that is needed to win this game.
Final Score: Baltimore Ravens: 24, Jacksonville Jaguars: 16