BALTIMORE--The following are notes from the Jaguars' 39-36 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at PSINet Stadium on Sunday.
Baltimore leads the AFC Central Division with a 2-0 record. Cleveland, Jacksonville and Tennessee each have 1-1 records, while Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are each 0-1.
Jimmy Smith's 291 yards receiving is the most in Jaguars history, the most by a Ravens opponent, and the fifth-highest in NFL history. Smith's 15 catches are second to teammate Keenan McCardell in single-game Jaguars history, and Sunday marked Smith's first-ever three-touchdown game. Smith now owns the first, seventh and eighth-ranked games in Ravens history for receiving yards by an opponent.
The Ravens and linebacker Peter Boulware each lost a sack in the first quarter when the Ravens were flagged for having 12 men on the field.
How about this for some creative coaching. On third-and-one, Ravens coach Brian Billick emptied the backfield. Where was the run or pass suspense? Tony Banks threw incomplete.
On several occasions, backup Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer appeared to warm up in earnest behind the bench, yet, Banks was having one of his best days as a pro and there was no other indication Dilfer was going to replace Banks, which he never did.
The Ravens hurt themselves badly with penalties. Cornerback Chris McAlister was twice called for pass interference on third-down plays, cornerback Duane Starks was flagged once, and tight end Shannon Sharpe was called for an offensive pass interference penalty that nullified a two-point conversion catch.
Banks got in wide receiver Jermaine Lewis' face after Lewis dropped a pass that would've sustained a drive in the first half. In the second half, first-round pick Travis Taylor had a pass over the middle bounce out of his hands and into the hands of Jaguars safety Rayna Stewart.
The Jaguars' average starting place following kickoffs was the Jacksonville 31-yard line; the Ravens' average starting place following kickoffs was their 24-yard line.
Jaguars offensive players persuaded coach Tom Coughlin to go for it on fourth-and-inches near midfield late in the first half. During a time out to measure for a first down, Coughlin waived his offense back out onto the field, however, the officials went t>the replay booth for review of the previous play and the correct spot of the ball. Replay moved the ball ahead just enough to get the first down on a re-measure, rendering Coughlin's gamble unnecessary.
Defensive end Tony Brackens suffered what was thought to be a mild knee sprain during Baltimore's game-winning drive. There was no further report on Brackens' condition.
