SCOUTING REPORT
Ravens run offense vs. Jaguars run defense -- RAVENS
It is a battle of strength against strength. Fueling the league's top rushing attack, the Ravens' Jamal Lewis is averaging 5.9 yards a carry. Bolstered by beefy tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, the Jaguars' defense is giving up 3.2 yards a carry, which is second best in NFL. But Jacksonville was exposed last Sunday in the fourth quarter, when the Titans ran 16 times in a 17-play drive. Lewis accounts for 45 percent of the Ravens' total offense. It'll be interesting to see whether the Jaguars will stay with seven players in the box when most teams have trouble stopping Lewis with eight and nine players stacking the line.
Ravens pass offense vs. Jaguars pass defense -- EVEN
The Jaguars play a deep zone (keeping their safeties far back), so patience will be key for Kyle Boller. The rookie quarterback has made strides each week and hasn't thrown an interception in 44 passes. Tight end Todd Heap has five catches of 20 or more yards the past two weeks and will be a matchup problem downfield for Jacksonville. Jaguars cornerbacks Fernando Bryant and Jason Craft are average. Quarterbacks have had plenty of time to complete 62.6 percent of their passes against Jacksonville, which has recorded only six sacks in its past six games.
Jaguars run offense vs. Ravens run defense -- RAVENS
Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor gouged the Ravens for 150 yards last season when Ray Lewis was out with a shoulder injury. With Lewis back in the middle, the Ravens have limited teams to 94.6 rushing yards a game. Over the past two games, the Ravens have given up just 2.9 yards a carry. Taylor is still an elusive back, but the six-year veteran has gained more than 87 yards just once this season because of a ragged offensive line. Before last year, Taylor hadn't cracked 54 yards against the Ravens since 1999.
Jaguars pass offense vs. Ravens pass defense -- RAVENS
The Ravens catch a break with rookie Byron Leftwich starting at quarterback instead of Mark Brunell, who has had seven 300-yard passing games in 12 meetings. Leftwich, the seventh pick in the NFL draft, has thrown three interceptions in three of his four starts. Receiver Jimmy Smith has 17 catches for 262 yards in three games this season and likely will be shadowed by Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister, who has negated the 11-year veteran the past two meetings. Ranked 12th in pass defense, the Ravens will be without cornerback Corey Fuller (groin and hamstring). But they won't lose much in the secondary, where free safety Gary Baxter shifts to cornerback and Will Demps moves into the starting lineup.
