Current:Home > BackRavens beat mistake-prone Jaguars 23-7 for 4th consecutive victory and clinch AFC playoff spot-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Ravens beat mistake-prone Jaguars 23-7 for 4th consecutive victory and clinch AFC playoff spot
View Date:2024-12-23 21:19:58
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Lamar Jackson threw a touchdown pass and made the play of night when he avoided a sack and threw to Isaiah Likely near the goal line, and the Baltimore Ravens clinched a postseason berth with a 23-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday night.
Gus Edwards ran for a touchdown for the Ravens (11-3), who won their fourth in a row and moved a step closer to securing the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
The Jaguars (8-6) lost their third straight — all against AFC North teams — and fell into a tie with Houston and Indianapolis atop the AFC South. Self-inflicted mistakes were a common thread in Jacksonville’s skid.
Trevor Lawrence fumbled twice in the latest letdown, including one in the fourth quarter that essentially sealed Baltimore’s eighth victory in its last nine games.
This one may have been costly for the Ravens.
Promising rookie running back Keaton Mitchell injured his left knee early in the fourth quarter and was quickly ruled out. Replays showed his knee bend awkwardly during a run. He flashed a thumbs-up sign as he left the sideline on a cart.
The Ravens also lost starting left tackle Ronnie Staley (concussion) and free safety Marcus Williams (groin).
Jackson, Edwards, Likely and an elite defense did enough to overcome to the injuries.
Jackson threw for 171 yards — 70 of those to Likely — and ran for 97 more. Edwards added 58 on the ground, and Mitchell had 73 before his injury.
Lawrence threw for 264 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown to Jamal Agnew that gave the Jaguars life after a scoreless first half. But the Ravens answered with an unlikely play.
Jackson avoided Dawuane Smoot’s sack, rolled right and threw a pass up for grabs near the goal line. Likely outmaneuvered cornerback Darious Williams and safety Andrew Wingard for the reception. Edwards scored two plays later.
The Jaguars had four scoring chances in the first half but failed to cash in on any of them. They managed 181 yards, which was the most by a team in an opening half this season that did not score.
Brandon McManus missed two field goals from beyond 50 yards, and Lawrence inexplicably fumbled at the Baltimore 18-yard line. Lawrence simply lost the ball while scrambling on a third-and-17 play. He wasn’t going to pick up the first down, but Jacksonville surely was in makeable range for McManus.
Lawrence’s second mistake was even more of a head-scratcher. After connecting with Zay Jones for 36 yards and putting the Jaguars at the 5 with 15 seconds remaining in the half, Lawrence probably should have spiked the ball and stopped the clock. Instead, he threw a short out to rookie Parker Washington, who couldn’t get out of bounds and helplessly watched the clock run out.
Add it all up, and the Jaguars could have been up 16-10 at intermission. Instead, they trailed 10-0.
QUESTIONABLE NO-CALL
McManus’ first of two errant field goals was a 50-yarder that clanged off the right upright in the first quarter. He probably should have gotten a do-over.
Officials failed to throw a flag on Mitchell after he ran into McManus while he was finishing his follow-through. Holder Logan Cooke vehemently argued with officials, who later came to the sideline to explain themselves to Cooke and coach Doug Pederson. Retired NFL referee and current NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay said the Ravens should have been penalized 5 yards on the fourth-and-7 play.
SACK STREAK
Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike tied an NFL record by recording at least a half-sack in 11 consecutive games. Madubuike sacked Lawrence in the fourth to tie the record held by Jared Allen, Chris Jones, Trey Hendrickson and Shaun Ellis.
KEY INJURIES
Jaguars WR Zay Jones, who recently returned from a knee injury, strained a hamstring in the fourth. Ravens S Kyle Hamilton played through a knee injury that had him listed as questionable. He finished with seven tackles.
UP NEXT
Baltimore: Plays at San Francisco on Christmas, another prime-time matchup between division leaders on the opposite coast.
Jacksonville: Plays at Tampa Bay on Dec. 24, also a game featuring division leaders.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
veryGood! (62518)
Related
- Noem’s Cabinet appointment will make a plain-spoken rancher South Dakota’s new governor
- Publishers Clearing House to pay $18.5 million settlement for deceptive sweepstakes practices
- How Al Pacino’s Pregnant Girlfriend Noor Alfallah Is Relaxing During 3rd Trimester
- The Fires May be in California, but the Smoke, and its Health Effects, Travel Across the Country
- Why Dolly Parton Is a Fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Little Love Affair
- Solar Energy Boom Sets New Records, Shattering Expectations
- 2 more Connecticut officers fired after man became paralyzed in police van
- 44 Father’s Day Gift Ideas for the Dad Who “Doesn’t Want Anything”
- Wheel of Fortune Contestant Goes Viral Over His Hilariously Wrong Answer
- After ex-NFL player Ryan Mallett's death at Florida beach, authorities release bodycam video and say no indication of rip current
Ranking
- Surprise bids revive hope for offshore wind in Gulf of Mexico after feds cancel lease sale
- BP’s Incoming Boss Ready to Scale Down Gulf Clean-up Operation
- Can Car-Sharing Culture Help Fuel an Electric Vehicle Revolution?
- Michigan man accused of planning synagogue attack indicted by grand jury
- Voters in Oakland oust Mayor Sheng Thao just 2 years into her term
- Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar Break Silence on Duggar Family Secrets Docuseries
- The Challenge's Amber Borzotra Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby With Chauncey Palmer
- The Challenge's Amber Borzotra Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby With Chauncey Palmer
Recommendation
-
See Chris Evans' Wife Alba Baptista Show Her Sweet Support at Red One Premiere
-
Solar Panel Tariff Threat: 8 Questions Homeowners Are Asking
-
The 9 Best Amazon Air Conditioner Deals to Keep You Cool All Summer Long
-
Payment of Climate Debt, by Rich Polluting Nations to Poorer Victims, a Complex Issue
-
My Chemical Romance returns with ‘The Black Parade’ tour
-
United Nations Chief Warns of a ‘Moment of Truth for People and Planet’
-
Family Feud Contestant Timothy Bliefnick Found Guilty of Murdering Wife Rebecca
-
California man sentenced to more than 6 years in cow manure Ponzi scheme