Jaguars

What was an opportunity to show a national television audience that they are one of the league's elite teams, and to match their best start since their 2000 Super Bowl season, turned into a nightmare for the Ravens on Monday. Instead of a statement performance, they were haunted by untimely penalties and a failure to protect the football in one of the worst offensive performances in team history. In a 12-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in front of an announced 62,976 at EverBank Field, the Ravens gained a franchise-worst 16 net yards in the first half and didn't get a first down until nearly 40 minutes had elapsed.

It took an abysmal 60 minutes of offense, and a performance that Ravens coach John Harbaugh admitted was about as "bad as you can play" for the familiar questions to return, and the doubt to seep in after what had been an encouraging start to the 2011 season. Is quarterback Joe Flacco good enough to take the Ravens where they want to go? Can the offensive line provide him enough time and the wide receivers give him enough separation? Why isn't offensive coordinator Cam Cameron getting running back Ray Rice the ball more?

Injuries continue to dog the Ravens secondary, but the unit will welcome back one prominent player for Monday night's contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith (high left ankle sprain) is active after fully practicing Friday and Saturday. Smith probably won't overtake starters Cary Williams and Lardarius Webb on the depth chart, but the club's first-round pick in April will likely be the fifth defensive back in the team's nickel package. The defense will play without cornerback Chris Carr and starting strong safety Tom Zbikowski.

Jaguars 12, Ravens 7 Fourth quarter: 1:43 Jacksonville Field Goal - 51-yarder by Josh Scobee. Jaguars 9, Ravens 7 Fourth quarter: 2:02 Baltimore Touchdown - 5-yard pass from Joe Flacco to Anquan Boldin. (Billy Cundiff extra point is good). Jaguars 9, Ravens 0 Third quarter: 6:30 Jacksonville Field Goal - 22-yarder by Josh Scobee. Jaguars 6, Ravens 0 Second quarter: 5:58 Jacksonville Field Goal - 54-yarder by Josh Scobee.

We have had to wait an extra day for our Ravens fix, but knowing that they would be playing on "Monday Night Football" made Monday a little more tolerable. The national TV audience probably won't be as fired up for this lopsided matchup, but the 4-1 Ravens say the 1-5 Jacksonville Jaguars shouldn't be taken lightly. The Jaguars have Maurice Jones-Drew, one of the NFL's best backs, and Blaine Gabbert, a 2011 first-round pick. But given how the Ravens love to show off their swagger in these showcase games, a letdown is unlikely.    Here are five storylines to watch as the Ravens look to handle their business again on Monday night: 1. Who will write a legacy ?

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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.

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.

Monday night's contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars is a road game for the Ravens, but EverBank Field will feel a little bit like home for rookie defensive end Pernell McPhee. The club's second of two fifth-round picks in April, McPhee will have about 25 family members in attendance. McPhee's mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are expected to be part of a contingent making the 289-mile trip by car (according to Mapquest.com) from Pahokee, Fla. “I know they're going to be real excited,” McPhee said after the team's practice Saturday.

The Ravens confirmed what Tom Zbikowski suggested Saturday by listing the starting strong safety as doubtful for Monday night's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach John Harbaugh said Zbikowski - who has been dogged by symptoms stemming from the concussion he sustained in the Ravens' 17-point win against the New York Jets on Oct. 2 - still has not been cleared for contact. Zbikowski practiced on a limited basis for the second time this week, but he was kept out of all contact drills.