The Ravens faced the Jaguars on Dec. 17, 2023, in Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season. Here are takeaways and highlights from the game.
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Final Score: Ravens 23, Jaguars 7
This was just Jacksonville’s second-ever appearance on Sunday Night Football. What some hoped would be a matchup as close as what these teams shared one year ago on this field was for naught, however, as Baltimore pulled away late for the 23-7 win. Baltimore moves to 11-3 on the season and Jacksonville falls back to 8-6, currently in the throes of a three-game losing streak.
This game started slow with only three points scored between the teams on an early Justin Tucker field goal. The first touchdown of this contest had to wait until the final 70 seconds of the first half. Isaiah Likely caught a perfect spiral from Lamar Jackson for the 16-yard score to put Baltimore up 10-0.
Most of the third quarter proved to be a less-than-productive one for both teams. The only score of that frame was a Trevor Lawrence deep ball to Jamal Agnew. The receiver rang in his return to the active roster after one month of being sidelined, making the only man ahead of him miss for the 65-yard touchdown.
The fourth quarter began with the teams only three points apart at 10-7. Baltimore firmly took control of and ultimately won this game with their performance in the final frame. On the first play of the fourth, Gus Edwards punched it in from one yard out to put the Ravens up 10. A pair of Justin Tucker field goals from there afforded the Ravens insurance to win 23-7. However, this game did not end quietly as Trevor Lawrence entered concussion protocol late in the Jaguars’ final possession. His status is now unclear for next week.
Highlights
He's Likely back in the end zone❗@Lj_era8 ➡️ @DaGorilla4
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/LA4SKk1LLe
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 18, 2023
Welcome back, @jamalagnew!#ProBowlVote | @Trevorlawrencee pic.twitter.com/aFKjvYeP0Y
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 18, 2023
GUS BUS TOUCHDOWN 🚍
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/lQKeJ3snV3
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 18, 2023
Looking Forward
Baltimore got the job done, winning to become the first AFC team to 11 victories on the season. They also clinched a playoff spot and now sit one full game ahead of closest pursuer Miami and still two full games ahead of Kansas City in the race to home-field advantage. Jacksonville now sits in a three-way tie in the AFC South after Houston narrowly avoided a tie against the Titans and the Colts won on Saturday.
Two heavyweight matchups await the Ravens over the next two weekends. On Christmas Night, we may be watching this Ravens team engage in a preview of February as they face the 11-3 49ers in a battle of the league’s two most complete teams. Then, on New Year’s Eve, a rematch of last season’s wild contest with the Dolphins awaits the Ravens as they welcome Miami back to Baltimore in a match that will all but decide AFC home-field advantage.
Is Jacksonville’s season truly on the rocks? Not quite. Regardless of Lawrence’s status, the Jaguars have a mostly favorable ending to their season. After the Jaguars play Tampa Bay next Sunday, their season closes with matchups against the very bad Panthers and the similarly bad Titans, both of whom are having a season to forget.
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