JACKSONVILLE - For the past three years, Jack Del Rio's promises of having a top-10 defense went unfulfilled because the Jaguars had no pass rush, a suspect secondary and were torched by even average NFL quarterbacks.
But thanks to the free-agent acquisitions of LB Paul Posluszny, LB Clint Session, S Dawan Landry and CB Drew Coleman, the Jaguars are morphing into a stout defense again. That was evident by the way they stonewalled the Baltimore Ravens 12-7 Monday night, limiting a team that scored 100 points in its last three games to 146 yards total offense, the lowest by a Jaguars' opponent since 2004. Baltimore didn't have a first down until the third quarter.
"The pieces that [general manager] Gene Smith helped us acquire fit needs that we had and are playing well for us," said coach Jack Del Rio. The Jaguars (2-5) snapped a five-game losing streak because its defense played like a unit possessed, getting its first fumble recovery of the season and sealing the win on a Coleman interception. "Hopefully, this was our coming-out party," said CB Rashean Mathis. "If a flicker can't turn into a flame from this, it can't turn into a flame."
If the Jaguars can win Sunday against the Houston Texans on the road, they would enter their bye week within one game of the first place Texans in the AFC South.
Notes: RB Maurice Jones-Drew contributed to the Jaguars winning the physical battle by rushing for 105 yards, but he had plenty of reason to be concerned about "ball-security issues" after he fumbled three times. Only one fumble was lost, but it happened at the Baltimore 1-yard line when the Jaguars were still in a scoreless game. Jones-Drew had 30 carries for only the third time in his career, but that kind of ball control is clearly a necessity because the team's No. 32-ranked offense is still stuck on 12.0 points per game. It marked the first time this season Baltimore allowed a 100-yard rusher.
Jaguars' PK Josh Scobee, who remained a perfect 14-for-14 on field goals this season, might be the team's most indispensable player behind Jones-Drew. He hit all four field goals against the Ravens, including three from beyond 50 yards, a career first. "I'm trying to be my own sports psychologist this year, I'm taking a real simple approach," Scobee said. "I'm trying to take it one kick at a time. Mentally, it makes it a whole lot easier. Just concentrate on making the field goal instead of worrying about hitting a good kickoff next."
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