Ravens Get Defensive in 19-3 Win over Jets

The defending Super Bowl champion Ravens had lost four of five before bouncing back to beat New York

The Baltimore Ravens finally ran into a team with more offensive problems than their own, and the result was a refreshing rout.

Joe Flacco threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones, Justin Tucker kicked four field goals and the Ravens shut down the sputtering offense of the Jets in a 19-3 victory Sunday.

The defending Super Bowl champion Ravens (5-6) had lost four of five before bouncing back to beat New York (5-6) and keep their playoff hopes alive. Jones had four catches for 103 yards and returned five punts for 108 yards.

Baltimore won on the strength of its defense, however, as the Jets committed three turnovers and went 1 for 12 on third-down conversions. Rookie Geno Smith completed nine of 22 passes for 127 yards and two interceptions, both by Corey Graham.

New York had alternated wins and losses in its first 10 games, but the pattern ended here with its second straight defeat. Jets coach Rex Ryan, who helped run Baltimore's defense from 1999-2008, fell to 0-3 against his former team.

The Ravens tried several ploys to spice up their stagnant offense, most notably using backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor in a variety of formations. Not only did Taylor receive a direct snap and run, but he also handed off the ball and caught a pass in his most extensive action of the season.

None of it produced a touchdown, though, until Jones got behind former teammate Ed Reed and made a fine catch of Flacco's deep throw before coasting into the end zone for a 19-3 lead with 5 seconds left in the third quarter.

That was more than enough to dispose of the Jets, whose offense was so out of sync that they burned their third timeout of the second half with 14:53 left in the fourth quarter.

Over his last six games, Smith had thrown 10 interceptions and one touchdown pass.

Tucker kicked a 53-yard field goal for a 12-3 lead early in the third quarter after a 20-yard punt return by Jones gave Baltimore the ball at the New York 33.

Graham subsequently ended two New York drives with interceptions in the third and fourth quarters.

Baltimore's previous seven games were decided by six points or fewer, four of which resulted in losses. This was the Ravens' most lopsided win since Sept. 22.

The Jets trailed 9-3 at halftime despite completing only three passes, gaining 73 yards, making three first downs and losing the ball after the snap hit the man in motion.

Using Josh Cribbs in the wildcat formation on several plays, New York went up 3-0 with a drive in which Smith caught an 18-yard pass from Cribbs and completed an 18-yarder to Greg Salas.

The Ravens answered with field goals on their next two possessions. The second kick was set up by a 60-yard completion from Flacco to Torrey Smith, who got behind Antonio Cromartie and made a nice over-the-shoulder grab.

Tucker kicked another field goal just after the two-minute warning after tight end Ed Dickson caught two passes for 40 yards.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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