Both the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars finished 5-11 a year ago. But one of these clubs is off to a great start.
It’s hard to keep a good organization down.
Last season appeared to be a fluke for head coach John Harbaugh and the usually-steady Baltimore Ravens. After reaching the playoffs six times in seven years from 2008-14, winning Super Bowl XLVII and never enduring a losing season, the highly-regarded sideline leader and his team tumbled to 5-11 last season.
A year ago, the Ravens were 0-2 on their way to 0-3 – the worst start in the history of the franchise. This year, the club has squeezed by the Buffalo Bills and rallied from a 20-0 hole to win at Cleveland, 25-20. Now they’re staring at yet another winless club in the Jacksonville Jaguars. Gus Bradley’s club also finished with only five wins in 2015 but one of those victories was a 22-20 win at Baltimore.
It’s the Jaguars who have a pair of young and talented wideouts in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, who have split 18 catches this season but have yet to find the end zone this year. This duo combined for 24 scores last season, with quarterback Blake Bortles pulling the trigger.
Check out these other NFL posts from FanSided:
Top 10 craziest NFL fan bases
Top 15 NFL Draft busts of all-time
Top 15 Heisman winners who flopped in the NFL
Talk about a comeback story? After failed stints with the Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings, wide receiver Mike Wallace has found new life with strong-armed Ravens signal-caller Joe Flacco. He’s currently third on the team with seven receptions but has totaled 132 yards and caught all three of his quarterback’s touchdowns throws in two games. Ageless Steve Smith had some big catches last Sunday against the Browns and right now the veteran tandem (with an assist from tight end Dennis Pitta) has helped the Ravens get off to a fast start.
Odds
Line: Even
Over/Under: 47.5
More fansided.com: NFL Power Rankings Week 3: Vikings Climb
As previously stayed, the Ravens have done just enough to get a pair of narrow victories and a win is a…you know the rest/ But Gus Bradley’s team reeks of desperation and it’s hard to believe that a team that put this much work into the offseason will tumble at home for the second time in three weeks. Bortles and company get on track and hold off a late Baltimore rally in what amounts to a Pick ‘Em game (via Odds Shark).
Pick: Jacksonville 31, Baltimore 27