The Ravens clinched a spot in the AFC playoffs with a 23-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15.
Here’s the Report Card
Offense
Quarterback — Lamar Jackson was 14 of 24 for 171 yards with a touchdown and interception. He also ran for 97 yards and did a solid job eluding the Jaguars’ pass rush to keep his name atop the race for NFL MVP. Jackson was the main cog of the Ravens’ offense again and had an impressive performance on national TV.
Grade: A-
Running backs — The Ravens amassed 251 yards on the ground and became the seventh team in NFL history with 30 consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing. Keaton Mitchell had 73 yards on nine carries but left the game with a season-ending knee injury early in the fourth quarter. Gus Edwards had 58 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown.
Grade: A-
Wide receivers — Rashod Bateman had a solid game with three receptions for 39 yards. Tight end Isaiah Likely caught five passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Likely also had a vital leaping grab over two defenders in the fourth quarter that helped the Ravens pull away. Rookie receiver Zay Flowers was targeted twice and had one catch for 7 yards.
Grade: B
Offensive Line — For the second straight week, the Ravens rotated their starting tackles Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses with Pat Mekari and Daniel Faalele. Stanley left the game in the fourth quarter with a possible concussion. Baltimore’s offensive line struggled against the Jaguars’ front seven, and Jackson was sacked three times. The run-blocking was solid.
Grade: C
Defense
Linebackers — Inside linebacker Roquan Smith had six tackles, including a couple of bone-jarring hits that set the tone for the defense. Fellow inside linebacker Patrick Queen had four tackles. Outside linebackers Odafe Oweh (three tackles), Kyle Van Noy (two tackles), and Jadeveon Clowney (three tackles) were able to apply more pressure in the second half.
Grade: B-
Defensive Line — Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike had a strip sack on quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Ravens took over on the Jacksonville 25, setting up another short field goal by Justin Tucker. Madubuike tied an NFL record with at least a half-sack in 11 straight games. The Ravens allowed 75 yards on 17 carries.
Grade: B-
Secondary — Safety Kyle Hamilton was in the lineup after dealing with a knee injury he suffered last week against the Rams. Hamilton finished with seven tackles and one pass defensed. Cornerback Brandon Stephens was called for pass interference but was otherwise solid in coverage. Fellow cornerback Marlon Humphrey continues to get healthier. Arthur Maulet picked up a fumble by Lawrence, who lost his grip on the ball while running. Lawrence was 25 of 43 for 264 yards with a touchdown.
Grade: B-
Special Teams — Tucker had another solid game, converting field goal attempts of 43, 26, and 34 yards. Punter Jordan Stout averaged 43 yards on three punts. Jacksonville’s Jamal Agnew had one punt return of 17 yards and averaged 30.3 yards on three kickoff returns. Ravens returner Tylan Wallace had a quiet game.
Grade: B
Coaching — The Ravens were 3-10 all-time at Jacksonville, but they played dominant football. Coach John Harbaugh has guided his team into the playoffs with three regular-season games remaining and can earn the No. 1 seed. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken wisely committed to running the ball more in the second half. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald made the adjustments to put more pressure on Lawrence.
Grade: A-
