Offense

1) Backs out of the backfield: When the Ravens faced the Steelers and the Cowboys, the backs and the tight ends were relegated to blocking roles, to help the offensive line contend with ferocious pass-rushing units. Against Jacksonville, the backs and the tight ends should have more freedom to release on pass routes, as the Jacksonville rush can be better contained with just one extra blocker helping the line on third-and-long.

In particular, the tailbacks should be active as pass catchers in this passing game. Given injuries and lack of depth at the wide receiver position, the Ravens should run more two-back formations that feature underneath routes for the backs to run. Assuming running back Ray Rice is healthy, this would be an ideal game to feature him in the pass attack. But he may not be ready to return from a calf injury.

On the other hand, runner Willis McGahee finally appears to be completely healthy for the first time all season, and he should get his chances to make plays as a receiver. The Ravens will have to get more out of their intermediate passing game if they are to move on in the playoffs, and that starts with building continuity in the short-passing game against the Jaguars.

 2) Defeat the zone: During the Ravens 8-2 run in which quarterback Joe Flacco has made better decisions with the football and has taken control of the offense, he has rarely been confused by the coverages that defenses have thrown at him. However, when Flacco struggled-- aside from the second Pittsburgh game-- he had a difficult time finding the open receivers running through Washington’s zone shell. Perhaps that performance has more to do with the Washington secondary than the scheme itself.

In any case, he will likely face a zone pass defense on Sunday. The Jaguars will blitz some, but they usually keep their safeties back in deep support to aid the corners in man coverage.

Flacco will need to do a better job with his reads in this game. Against the zone, a quarterback has to be more accurate and he cannot force the ball into tight coverage spots. For Flacco, the challenge will be for him to stay patient and take the routes that the defense gives him.

3) Run to the postseason: Ultimately, this game will still boil down to the Ravens ability to control the line-of-scrimmage. The offense will look to overwhelm a suspect Jacksonville line at the point-of-attack. The rush attack is what helped propel this offense to where it is at this point in the season, and if the Ravens are to earn a playoff berth, it will be its meal-ticket once again.

Defense

1) Containing the ground attack: Simply, the key to this game is whether Maurice Jones-Drew will be healthy enough to play. If he plays, the Jaguars have a legitimate chance to hit on a couple of big plays in the passing game and the running game. If he doesn’t, the Jaguars will be cooked.

Due to nagging injuries, Jones-Drew has not been nearly as explosive as he has been before, but he is still a threat to gain yards in chunks. He is especially tough to tackle in open space.

The Ravens will need to do everything they can to keep the backs from having a big day. Jacksonville thrives on its rush attack, and if it gets rolling, the entire offense has a dimension.

2) Account for single back sets: Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett did not have the brightest day as a play-caller against the Ravens a week ago. That said, in the initial stages of the game, he did a nice job of using the spread to run the ball on the Baltimore front seven. The move worked well, as the linebackers were blocked cleanly when they drove off the edges, but the Cowboys quickly went away from that game plan and started heaving the ball downfield.

In this game, expect the Jaguars to take a page of the Dallas game plan. In general, Jacksonville prides itself on being able to run the ball from any type of formation, whether it is a heavy or a single set. Despite losing receiver Matt Jones, the Jaguars still attempt to use multiple receiver sets to open things up for quarterback David Garrard. They will run the ball out of these formations.

The Ravens will need to do a better job of fighting through blocks to stop the run. The linebackers were engulfed by the Dallas blockers. If they have that type of performance against Jacksonville, they’ll watch the playoffs from their couches.

One-on-one Matchup to Watch: Dennis Northcutt versus Fabian Washington: With Jones out of the lineup, Northcutt has picked up the slack. The former Cleveland Brown put together back-to-back 100-yard games against the Packers and the Colts. He is a shifty, quick route-runner, with the ability to gain yards after contact. Meanwhile, Washington has been steady all season. He is a pure cover corner with the speed to run with any receiver.