INSIDER
Soaring Ravens can’t afford letdown against lowly Jaguars
Read full article: Soaring Ravens can’t afford letdown against lowly JaguarsThe Ravens would love to savor the memory of Lamar Jackson coming off the bench to throw a pivotal fourth-down touchdown pass before setting up Justin Tucker for a 55-yard winning field goal. So if the Ravens experience a letdown Sunday against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars (1-12), then Jackson's heroics in that epic 47-42 win over the Browns could turn out to be meaningless. “These are professional players, and they understand that to make the last win matter, you have to win the next one," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “I don’t know if it’s hitting their stride or just really executing on a real high level, both in the run game and in the pass game," coach Doug Marrone said of Baltimore. Rookie Jake Luton started three games while Minshew was out with a thumb injury and Mike Glennon started the following three games.
Henry runs wild, Titans hand Jags 12th straight loss, 31-10
Read full article: Henry runs wild, Titans hand Jags 12th straight loss, 31-10So Vrabel stuck with Henry, who delivered a 20-yard run in the fourth quarter that helped him make NFL history. Henry ran for 215 yards and two touchdowns, his best performance in five trips to his hometown area, and the Titans dominated Jacksonville 31-10 on Sunday and handed the Jaguars a 12th consecutive loss. Enjoying a big performance about 25 miles from his hometown of Yulee was something new for Henry. Henry had 170 yards on 17 carries in the first 30 minutes, including a 36-yard touchdown run. He added a 47-yard scamper early in the third as the AFC South-leading Titans (9-4) started to pull away.
Hometown hurdle? Henry has been quiet in games at Jaguars
Read full article: Hometown hurdle? Henry has been quiet in games at JaguarsJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Some of Derrick Henry’s biggest plays and most productive games have come against the Jaguars. The Jaguars have an impressive streak going against the NFL’s leading rusher this season and last. They haven’t allowed Henry to reach 100 yards rushing in any of his four trips home. We know this guy’s going to get the football and he’s coming downhill,” Jaguars safety Jarrod Wilson said. Only three previous undrafted rookies have surpassed 1,000 yards rushing: Indianapolis’ Dominic Rhodes (1,104 in 2001), Denver’s Phillip Lindsay (1,037 in 2018) and Tampa Bay’s LeGarrette Blount (1,007 in 2010).
Giants, Vikings shed slow starts, move into playoff position
Read full article: Giants, Vikings shed slow starts, move into playoff positionThe New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings are in position to pull off remarkable turnarounds. One of the other teams that started 0-5 this season shares a stadium with the Giants but hasn’t pulled off an in-season turnaround. Jefferson, a first-round pick, had nine catches for 121 yards last week to reach 1,039 yards receiving on the season. With 11 TD runs this season, Newton has reached double-digits in three seasons (14 in 2011 and 10 in 2015). It was the first time since Brady Quinn in 2009 that a quarterback won consecutive starts despite throwing for fewer than 100 yards.
Vikings still committed to core, as Jaguars starting over
Read full article: Vikings still committed to core, as Jaguars starting overThe Jaguars, 9-30 since October 2018, initiated an aggressive teardown before last season and fired general manager Dave Caldwell last week. Even teams with no wins or few wins, it’s still a bunch of pro athletes with a bunch of pride, and they’re going to show up and they’re going to play hard and they’re going to be coached well. Losing to Minnesota would serve to lower the second-round selection the Jaguars obtained for defensive end Yannick Ngakoue in late August. Ngakoue still leads the Vikings with five sacks despite being traded to Baltimore after six games. GLENNON AGAINThe Jaguars are sticking with quarterback Mike Glennon despite Gardner Minshew now being fully healthy from his thumb injury.