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Mike Preston | October 25, 2011
Even after Monday night's dismal performance, the Ravens are still one of the better teams in the AFC. But it's by default. The NFL has become a league of one great team, Green Bay, and the rest are either average or downright terrible. The Ravens are better than most because of their defense, but after that they are just as mediocre or as bad as everyone else. We've all been waiting for the offensive line to get better, and it hasn't after six games. Left offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie is still slow.
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By Jeff Zrebiec, The Baltimore Sun | October 23, 2011
Whenever Ray Lewis got the opportunity this past week, the Ravens' middle linebacker and vocal leader approached one of his younger teammates and delivered a message he learned long ago. "Whatever opportunity you want to leave, whatever legacy you want to leave, these are the nights you leave it," Lewis told his teammates about the Ravens' coming game. "Not that you don't play hard every other day, but these nights are special. So save the moment, man, and have a great time doing it. " During his 16-year career, Lewis has played on Monday night 13 times.
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By Edward Lee | October 23, 2011
Monday night's meeting between the Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars marks the first time in three years that the teams will clash. But it wasn't always like that. From 1996 to 2001, the Ravens and Jaguars tangled twice a season as members of the AFC Central. Over that span, Jacksonville won the first eight meetings before the Ravens spun off four consecutive victories. The Jaguars captured division titles in 1998 and 1999, but it was the Ravens who won the Super Bowl in 2000.
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By Edward Lee | October 22, 2011
Blaine Gabbert probably already figured that he would face a lot of heat when the rookie quarterback leads the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Ravens Monday night. But Gabbert's evening might be foretold depending on the availability of offensive tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton. Monroe, the left tackle, sat out Jacksonville's 17-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a shoulder injury. Britton, the right tackle, also missed Sunday's contest due to a recurring back ailment.
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By Tania Ganguli and The Florida Times-Union | October 21, 2011
It was like going to a new school for the first time, only Dawan Landry came into Jacksonville with his status already set. He was coming in to start, to be a part of Jacksonville's great defensive rebuild. "I was kind of nervous, not knowing what to expect," Landry said. " ... The whole organization welcomed me with open arms. Have a lot of players willing to learn and coaches that's willing to [listen to players]. " Landry brought leadership and veteran safety experience -- something that was lacking last year -- to the Jaguars' secondary.
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By Edward Lee | October 21, 2011
From 1999 to 2001, inside linebacker Ray Lewis and linebackers coach Jack Del Rio worked in tandem, eventually assisting the Ravens to their first and only Super Bowl title in 2000. On Monday night, the duo will meet again but on opposing sidelines - Lewis playing his 16 th season for the Ravens and Del Rio in his ninth year as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. “Jack was always just a true man's man, a true professional, and I think it truly comes from his experience of playing in the game himself,” Lewis said Wednesday.