jaguars.com Senior Editor Vic Ketchman followed the action live as the Jaguars took on the Ravens in Baltimore. Here's what he wrote.
Pregame - 1:05PM
Hi and welcome to the press box at M&T Bank Stadium. It's a warm and windy day in Baltimore. I expect this to be a battle of running games. The Ravens, of course, have the league's number two rushing attack. For the final time this season, welcome aboard.
Here's the Jaguars' 2009 schedule: At home, Houston, Indy, Tennessee, Buffalo, Miami, Arizona, St. Louis and Kansas City. On the road, Houston, Indy, Tennessee, New England, Jets, San Francisco, Seattle and Cincinnati or Cleveland (whichever finishes last in the AFC North). A Cincinnati win and a Cleveland loss today would send the Jaguars to Cleveland next season.
Pregame - 1:35PM
David Garrard will become the first Jaguars quarterback since the 2000 season to have started all 16 regular-season games.
Pregame - 2:03PM
This will be the Jaguars' second consecutive game against a 10-win team. Seven games have been against teams in the playoff hunt heading into today's action.
Pregame - 2:10PM
It's Dec. 28, I'm in Baltimore and I'm looking at people in shorts and short-sleeve shirts. The current temperature is 69 degrees. I'm watching games on a bank of TV monitors and the Browns and Steelers look like they're playing in Miami, not Pittsburgh. Somewhere in Greenland a glacier is melting.
Pregame - 2:59PM
Jaguars inactives: Nate Hughes, Calvin Lowry, Thomas Williams, Cameron Stephenson, Mkristo Bruce, Atiyyhah Ellison, Jordan Black and Paul Smith (third QB). I'm serious, those are the inactives.
Pregame - 3:06PM
The Patriots appear to be pulling away from the Bills, which means the Ravens have to beat the Jaguars to make it into the playoffs. That means this one will be for real; no slinking into the offseason for the Jaguars.
Pregame - 3:30PM
I'm heading over to the radio booth for the "Jaguars This Week Extra" segment of the pregame show. I'll be back for the coin toss.
Pregame - 4:13PM
The Ravens defense is being introduced. The place is full of smoke. Ray Lewis put on a dance that was befitting "Dance Fever." I love this kind of stuff.
Pregame - 4:14PM
The Jaguars won the coin toss and elected to defer their choice to the second half. Good choice.
15:00 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 0
If you're watching on TV, keep your eyes on Le'Ron McClain, 33.
14:55 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 0
Yeah, that's him. He's the most powerful back I've seen this year. Reggie Nelson is going to have a face full of McClain if the Jags line doesn't stop him.
13:24 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 0
Joe Flacco goes deep to Mark Clayton for 48 yards. He beat Nelson.
12:47 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 0
This is too easy. Yuk!
11:31 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 0
Troy Smith runs the wildcat for nothing. What is the fascination with that thing?
09:25 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
Flacco throws incomplete. It's fourth down. Flacco held it for four seconds and could've held the ball for four more seconds. Matt Stover is on for a chip-shot field goal attempt. It's good.
09:25 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
This stadium is packed. I don't see an empty seat anywhere. This is just beautiful.
09:25 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
Cincinnati won, Cleveland lost, which means the Jaguars will play in Cleveland in 2009; looking forward to it.
09:11 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
David Garrard throws to Dennis Northcutt on a slant. He fumbles and the Ravens recover.
07:09 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
Incomplete for Todd Heap on third down. Gerald Sensabaugh defended. Stover is going to attempt a 48-yard field goal. It's short.
06:59 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
I like Flacco and I think he has a great future, but I've watched him the last few weeks and it appears to me that he may be hitting the rookie "wall." He looks tired. The throw for Heap, who was running a short crossing route, was high.
05:11 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
In and out of the hands of Reggie Williams. The Jags have to punt. Hey, where's the punter? Was that a fake? I guess it was. Too bad it was a false start. I'll find out later what it was supposed to be.
04:56 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
It was a fourth-and-12 play. It had to be a fake-punt play because there were 11 players on the field. Fourth and 10? Oh, I wish I could've seen that play.
04:21 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
It was to be the same play on which Montell Owens scored against Houston. In that game, however, the punter shifted up to the line. On this play, the punter lined up on the line of scrimmage.
03:13 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
The Jags get it back at midfield. Flacco looks out of sorts. He's struggling.
03:02 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
Garrard throws to Mike Peterson. Seriously, he did. Mike was on the sideline, of course, when he caught it.
02:51 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
Maurice Jones-Drew is running well. He just ripped off a 20-yard run. That's heady stuff against the Ravens.
01:28 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, BAL: 3
Garrard slips one out to Owens for seven yards. Garrard looks good.
00:48 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 3
Touchdown! The Ravens were in an all-out blitz, Alvin Pearman slipped out of the backfield unnoticed and Garrard lofted an easy touchdown strike. The Ravens blew a coverage.
00:48 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 3
That drive showed me something. Garrard looks very comfortable against a fearsome defense.
15:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 3
The Ravens have loosened up on offense. Flacco throws two completions. They've been trying to play around him all season but that won't get it done in the playoffs. They might as well turn him loose and accepts whatever happens.
15:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 3
That's Flacco's best play. He ducked the rush and threw for a first down.
13:39 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 3
Flacco to Clayton for a big gain. He beat Nelson again.
12:33 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 3
Third and six from the Jaguars 16; big play. Ravens call time out.
12:24 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 3
Flacco's not real accurate. His throws don't make it easy for his receivers to catch the ball. He's got guys open, too, and he's not seeing them.
12:24 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 3
That's a great throw for a first down at the five. Derrick Mason can still play. Flacco was quick into the pocket, set and threw with conviction.
11:40 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 3
The Ravens want to pound with McClain and the Jags have loaded the box, challenging the Ravens to throw.
10:58 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 9
Touchdown! That's raw power. McClain pushed the whole line into the end zone. He's a bulldozer.
10:58 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 10
They're going to have a lot of fun in Baltimore watching this young quarterback grow. To his advantage, he has an outstanding and young offensive line in front of him.
09:12 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 10
The Ravens have the ball back. It's at their 23.
09:12 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 10
Flacco to Mason for another big gain. The Jaguars secondary is getting torched. Drayton Florence was flagged for illegal conduct on the play but it was, of course, declined.
08:15 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 10
Flacco to Mason again. Florence is man to man on him.
07:05 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 10
The Ravens are ultra-conservative on offense, especially with the lead. It's as though they have a split personality.
06:30 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 10
Flacco to Clayton for a first down at the nine on third down. Clayton reached the ball out.
05:53 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 10
I might've challenged that spot on the reach.
04:52 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 16
Touchdown! Willis McGahee roars up the middle for 13 yards. The right guard pulled left and cleaned out the hole. That's ballet.
04:52 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 17
Terrell Suggs got Garrard; roughing the passer. Garrard was slow in getting up but he appears to be OK now.
04:52 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 17
I just saw a TV stat: Garrard has been knocked down 121 times this season, the most of any quarterback in thge league.
Garrard scrambles for a big gain; 22 yards. He looks great today. Just when you think he's going to struggle against a great defense, he surprises you.
02:14 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 17
Intercepted by Ed Reed, then lateraled for a few more yards. That was a terrible pass on third down. Garrard threw it wildly and into a crowd. That stuff has to be eliminated because it cancels out all of the good stuff.
What a throw by Flacco. It was a rainbow to Clayton at the one-yard line. Brian Witherspoon was in coverage. He was defenseless.
00:44 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 23
Touchdown! McClain pounds it in from a yard out.
00:44 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
That's the most points the Jaguars have allowed in the first half all season. The Ravens were averaging 23.9 points per game coming into this game.
Halftime
I'd like to welcome fans in Orlando to the blog. Seriously, it's nice to have you with us.
15:00 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
The Ravens kicked off from their 15-yard line becaue they did a bad thing before they left the field.
14:03 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
Garrard to Williams for six yards and a first down.
10:30 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
If you think the Ravens think you're going to run, you shouldn't run.
10:30 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
What a run by Garrard; first down at the Ravens 26.
09:49 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
Jones-Drew fumbles and Baltimore recovers. This will probably be challenged.
09:49 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
Now they're changing the call and giving it back to the Jags.
09:07 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
Baltimore is challenging the call. This one is real, real close but I don't know if the TV replay available clearly shows the knee down, which means it doesn't offer enough evidence to reverse the call, which has already been reversed once.
09:07 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
Now they're saying the play can't be challenged, so the ball belongs to the Jaguars.
08:08 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
The Jags can't run any more. It's fourth and four; they're going for it.
07:30 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
Garrard put it right into Northcutt's hands but he dropped it. They've got to get this guy some receivers.
07:20 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
Here's an update for the fans in Orlando: The Jets lead the Dolphins, 17-14.
07:20 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
The wildcat is in now.
05:33 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 24
Smith to Flacco to Smith for 36 yards. It's on tape now.
03:30 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
Stover kicks a field goal. I don't think it was out of the wildcat formation.
03:26 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
Miami has just scored and has regained the lead. Sounds like a great game.
03:26 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
It's not going well right now. The Jags have the ball at their two-yard line, first and 16.
02:49 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
Delay of game; it's back to the one. That's three straight penalties.
01:46 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
False start; back to the one. It's second down.
01:46 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
Poor Jones-Drew is being abused.
00:41 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
Pass to Marcedes Lewis for one yard. It was nearly intercepted and returned two yards.
00:04 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
The punt is to the Jaguars 38. That's the end of the third quarter.
14:11 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
The Jags have it back; at their five.
14:01 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
I think it's safe to say I'll be shutting it down early today, so I'll take this opportunity to thank everyone for reading the blog this season. It hasn't been the kind of season we thought it would be but hope springs eternal. Happy New Year, everybody.
12:57 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
Wlliams dropped a pass. It's sad to see. I know the Jaguars have to address their offensive line, but they've got to address the receiving corps too.
12:57 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
I don't know why the Ravens haven't shut it down. They'll have to play on the road and may have to play on a short week.
11:43 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
This is on pace to be the fewest yards passing of Garrard's career.
08:26 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
We're in the final 8:54 now and the outcome is apparent. The Ravens have the muscle to go far in the postseason, if Flacco plays as he has today. The Jaguars will begin meetings that will lay the groundwork for offseason decisions. The media will meet with coach Jack Del Rio on Tuesday to receive his season-ending address. I will, of course, report on it.
06:32 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 7, BAL: 27
The Jaguars have the ball near their 40. I'm heading downstairs. See you next year, folks.
