Josh Scobees’s four field goals, 3 of them from over 50 yards, proved to be good enough to propel the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 12-7 upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens, here in Jacksonville on Monday night. The win halted a 5 game losing streak for the Jaguars, in what proved to be their best defensive performance of this season so far. Many have started questioning if the Ravens have what it takes to make he playoffs this year. Currently tied in second place with the Cincinnati Bengals with a record of 5 – 2. Ravens fans certainly do not doubt their teams abilities as next weeks game against the Settle Seahawks has already sold out of Ravens tickets.
The Ravens anemic offense was manhandled by the Jags defense and could only manage to squeeze out 16 total yards in the first half, a franchise record for Jacksonville. “They basically beat us with their defense,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “I don’t think it was any one thing. It was a lack of execution. It’s almost as bad as you can play on offense.” Harabaugh was probably thinking of the fans that purchased Ravens tickets for this game and how embarrassed he is for their poor play.
The Jaguars defense didn’t allow a first down until late in the third quarter, and Ravens QB Joe Flacco who was under constant harassment in the pocket, was held to a grand total of 1 yard passing in the opening half.
For Scobee, the 3 field goals of 51, 54, and 54 yards tied an NFL record for most field goals of 50 yards or more in a game. Scobee has made 14 for 14 field goals this season, and has continued a team record of least one field goal in the last 15 consecutive games. But he wouldn’t even have gotten a chance to attempt three of them today had it not been for some crucial mistakes by the Ravens, and some second thoughts by Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio.
On Scobee’s first 54 yard field goal in the first quarter, Del Rio sent out the punting team before reconsidering his decision and calling them back off the field. Scobee got the nod and didn’t disappoint, as he booted it right through the uprights to put the Jaguars up 3-0.
In the second quarter Scobee got his chance again, when Jacksonville lined up to punt from the Ravens 40 yard line on fourth-and-12. But DE Paul Kruger was called for running into the kicker – a five yard penalty. That moved the ball five yards closer and Del Rio sent out Scobee once more, who nailed it again from 54 yards out. Del Rio said later he wasn’t going to let Scobee try from 59 yards.
Scobee tacked on a 22 yard field goal in the third quarter, when TE Marcedes Lewis dropped a third-down pass at the Ravens 4 yard line. That gave Jacksonville a 9-0 lead.
Baltimore finally got on the score board with a little over two minutes left in the game, when WR Anquan Boldin hauled in a 5 yard touchdown pass from QB Joe Flacco. The extra point was good and the score stood at 9-7 in favor of the Jaguars.
The Ravens had one final chance to try an onside kick, but they blew it when the kick stopped just inches short of the required 10 yards. Jacksonville had the ball and after running three plays, Scobee was called upon once more. He kicked his fourth and final field goal of the game, a 51 yard kick with 1:43 left to make the final score 12-7 Jaguars. This was a mere hiccup for the Ravens, as they will learn from their mistakes from this game. Sitting only one game away from first place, I am sure many fans will purchase Raven tickets for the next game to watch their team top the charts.
