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Can Ravens Win Across the Pond?

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RSR staff make our predictions for Ravens-Jaguars in London.

Tony Lombardi

— There will be 125 offensive snaps between the two teams. Seventy of those plays will be runs and consequently the game will be over before 12:30 PM EST.

— The combined completion percentage of both starting quarterbacks will fall below 50%. Joe Flacco will complete just 12 passes while Blake Bortles connects 15 times – his most successful throws coming late in the game as the Ravens protect their lead.

— The game’s highest scorer will be Justin Tucker who finishes with 13 points.

— Just two touchdowns will be scored, one by Alex Collins and the other by Leonard Fournette.

— The Ravens advance to (3-0) winning a nail biter by the score of 19-16.

Todd Karpovich

There is talk about how the soft grass field at Wembley Stadium could slow this game down and make it a low-scoring affair. However, the majority of games in London have been wide open in the past. This game will be low scoring because of the defense of both teams, not the field.

— The Ravens have intercepted opposing quarterback four times in each of their opening two games. Blake Bortles will become the latest victim with three picks. Bortles is 1-2 with four touchdowns, five interceptions and a 62.9 passer rating in three career games against the Ravens.

— Javorius “Buck” Allen will continue his resurgence and finish with 140 total yards and a touchdown.

— Statistically, quarterback Joe Flacco faced a tougher pass defense against the Bengals. However, he only attempted 17 passes. The Jaguars, who are ranked fourth in the NFL against the pass, pose a bigger challenge, especially with cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Flacco will throw a couple of interceptions, which will keep this game close.

— In five career games against Jacksonville, Flacco is 3-2 with five touchdowns, five interceptions and an 85.1 passer rating, so any struggles shouldn’t surprise anyone.

— The Ravens will also miss defensive tackle Brandon Williams’ prowess against the run, and the Jaguars will amass more than 100 yards on the ground.

— In the end, Baltimore makes just enough plays and improves to 3-0.

Final score: Ravens 17, Jaguars 13

Ken McKusick

The Ravens win another defensive struggle 13-9 as both teams trade punts for much of the day.

Individual predictions:

–Blake Bortles will throw a 4th quarter interception.

Ben Watson will continue to be the receiver Flacco hits to beat the Jaguars pressure and collects 5 catches for 50+ yards.

–the Ravens rush for barely 3.0 YPC, but get 6 first downs rushing the ball.

–Jermaine Eluemunor will see his first action with the Ravens.

–The Ravens accumulate “only” 2 more turnovers as both teams play to shorten the game.

–The Ravens make a big play on special teams that leads to the game’s only touchdown.

Derek Arnold

I’m going full-on homer in this one.

Ravens 24 Jaguars 6

Flacco hits Ben Watson for two scores, and Alex Collins scores from 20+ yards out. Justin Tucker booms one from 53, and English soccer teams scramble to try to woo him to defect.

Those 6 for Jax? They come when they’re already down 24-0 in the last 5 minutes. They go for two, and fail.

What can I say? I’ve been blinded by 2-0 against some scrub teams. Looking forward to my earliest victory bourbon ever.

Brian McFarland

This game has the feel of a trap game for several reasons, most notably (1) Ravens first trip abroad, (2) Yanda’s absence weakens an already vulnerable OL against a very good Jags DL and (3) Brandon Williams‘ absence when you know the Jags want to establish the run and limit the need for Bortles to have to throw.

So, this game has defensive struggle written all over it.

I don’t have a great feeling about this game (which is usually a good sign!!), as I expect the Ravens O to struggle all day. But, the Ravens D should do a good job limiting the Jags’ O, so I’ll stay positive and say Ravens 16-10.

Ryan Jones

So this game is being pegged as two stellar defenses against two lethargic offenses. There’s no doubt that the Ravens defense is one of the best in the league. The Jaguars D is talented as well, particularly along the defensive line, but the Titans did just hang 37 on them last week.

Bortles is a turnover-prone quarterback who seems to be regressing. If the Ravens can be as opportunistic as they’ve been the first two weeks this game could resemble Week 1. Flacco might not have to do much but he will have to continue to make strides through the air. The Ravens probably won’t be able to grind out 150 yards on the ground like they did against the Bengals.

Flacco plays an efficient game throwing the ball fewer than 25 times but completing 75 percent of his passes throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another. Ben Watson builds off his strong Week 2 and scores his first TD as a Raven.

The Ravens D has four turnovers including one interception that gets returned for a touchdown by Tony Jefferson.

Ravens 20
Jaguars 13

Joe Polek

Brandon Williams not making the trip to London is significant but I think the Ravens can still overcome it. It is the Ravens run game that will make the difference.

When you look at the stats, this game looks pretty even. Baltimore is 20th in the league in offensive yards, and Jacksonville is 21st. The Ravens are 13th in defensive yardage allowed, while the Jaguars are 11th. The difference will be on the ground. The Jags are giving up 136 yards per game rushing. The Ravens are rushing an average of 146 yards per game.

The Ravens will need to continue to pound the ball, but will the loss of Yanda allow them to do that? I think they find a way to run effectively and go over 115 yards on the ground.

Flacco continues his interception streak by throwing one in the 3rd quarter. In the end, the Ravens defense wins the game for them again, 24-17.

Adam Bonaccorsi

I’m calling a blowout.

Say what you will about the Jags stats through 2 games, but they are heavily skewed from a Week One blanking of the Texans who lost half their offense to concussion and abysmal QB play. I believe last weeks 37-16 loss to the Titans is more indicative of this Jags team, and it’s a team the Ravens will feast on.

Bortles is bound for a bench this game after throwing a trio of picks. Fret not- Henne will throw one as well. The defense will find a way to bottle up the entire Jags offense, sans Fournette who will total 100+ yards of offense, although it comes mostly in the first half as the Jags try to play catch up through the air after that.

On offense, Flacco continues to improve, going for 250 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT and completes 70% of his passes on the day working between the numbers. Touchdowns go to Allen, Maclin & Boyle because I’m hell bent on him scoring. Alex Collins carries the load in the 4th and finds pay dirt after Bortles 3rd pick back inside his own 20.

BAL 34
JAC 10

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