How the Ravens Defense Won on 3rd Down vs. the Jaguars

The Ravens defense didn’t necessarily keep the Jaguars from moving the ball altogether on Sunday night. However, they did win when it counted most and keep Jacksonville from finishing drives. The Jags would end the game 0-for-3 in the red zone and 3-for-13 on 3rd down.

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As has been the case all season, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald pulled out all the stops on 3rd down. He showed pressure and then bailed. He showed pressure and then attacked. He used tons of post-snap movement. All of which kept the Jaguars offense from having a clean picture of what was going on.

With Jacksonville trailing 20-7 midway through the 4th quarter, the Ravens snuffed out any chances they had at a comeback.

This was a 3rd-and-10. Baltimore aligned with 6 potential pass rushers near the line of scrimmage. Linebacker Roquan Smith stood over the center, creating a 5-man surface:

The Jaguars matched up with their 5 offensive linemen accounting for Baltimore’s 5 defenders on the line of scrimmage. Running back D’Ernest Johnson would be responsible for linebacker Patrick Queen if he blitzed: