:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47664091/usa-today-8917100.0.jpg)
The Jaguars and the Ravens are two teams that have had similar seasons. Both have a measly two wins, and both have lost some really close games that they really should've won. Despite this, one team is on the upswing, while the other is having a remarkably unusually bad season.
The former team would be the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that has really looked nothing like its former self. With a dynamic and young offense, a future franchise quarterback, and a dedicated owner, this team's prospects are really looking up. For more insight on this budding dynasty, I turned to Ryan Day, a pretty cool columnist for Big Cat Country.
1. The Jaguars seem to have an emerging franchise quarterback, a really dazzling offense, and a dedicated owner. Despite the 2-6 record, things really seem to be pointing up. Yet when I look at Jags' messaging boards, I still see the same negativity that I'm used to. What's gone wrong this season and what needs to change?
It's because the AFC South is a garbage fire and because we've faced more backup quarterbacks and rookie quarterbacks in the first half of our season than healthy starters. Every single game, except for Week 3 of the New England Patriots, was against a team clearly underperforming or a team that trotted out a backup. To be 2-6 after the planets align for your benefit is extremely disappointing.
I mean, five of our six losses have come against an admittedly lackluster Carolina Panthers team, an Indianapolis Colts team starting Matt Hasselbeck, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team starting a turnover machine in rookie Jameis Winston, a Houston Texans team starting backup Brian Hoyer on the road, and a New York Jets team with Ryan Fitzpatrick. We couldn't sneak out one or two of those? That's what's disappointing.
2. As an armchair coordinator, what's your gameplan for the Jaguars in this battle?
Blitz often on defense and let Blake Bortles dictate the game on offense.
On defense, your wide receiving group is subpar without Steve Smith. I want additional pressure on 40% of the game's snaps because our front four is definitely not getting the job done.
On offense, I want the pass to set up the run. We can score points. You give them up. Let's make it work.
3. Blake Bortles seems to make pretty bad decisions when pressured. Would the Ravens be right in attacking this fault to his game?
Oh yeah. Bortles is a guy with a high ceiling and a low floor, which means he can make amazing plays, but he can also make boneheaded plays. And those boneheaded plays come not when he's been pressured, but when he's been pressured repeatedly throughout the game. The majority of his turnovers have come in the second half because the opposition made sure the first half was full of coverages he wasn't used to and blitzes he didn't see coming.
4. The Jaguars have one of the nastiest receiving corps the Ravens will see all year. The Ravens' secondary is also likely one of the worst the Jaguars will see all year. So is there any way Baltimore can shut down Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.
I'd like to say yes to be polite, but no... there's not. Your best bet is to force Bortles to turn the ball over, score touchdowns instead of field goals, and bend but not break against Hurns and Robinson.
5. Obligatory score prediction.
I think we win. I really do. I think I've said that three times, including this week, but I think it's a game we come away a winner. I'll say 31-21 in favor of the Jaguars.
Once again, special thanks to Ryan for his great answers, and to Big Cat County for being the best Jaguars blog around. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryaneatscake, and you can follow BCC @BigCatCountry.