JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- It could be another big day for the defense of the Jacksonville Jaguars when they face the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC Central matchup.

The Jaguars boast the top-ranked defense in the NFL, allowing just 76 points through its first eight games, and are on pace to break the league record for a 16-game season. The 1986 Chicago Bears hold the record with 186 points allowed. Jacksonville's swarming defense under new coordinator Dom Capers this season limited Atlanta to 10 first downs and 182 yards of total offense, including a team-record nine sacks in last week's 30-7 victory over Atlanta. They also held the Falcons to 42 yards rushing and along with Miami, are the only teams in the NFL this season not to allow a rushing touchdown.

After struggling on offense for a good part of the season, the Jaguars have come on of late, scoring 71 points in the last two weeks. Mark Brunell tossed three touchdown passes and Fred Taylor rushed for 124 yards in the win at Atlanta. Taylor has consecutive 100-yard games after returning from a hamstring injury.

The Jaguars have won five straight games, share the best record in the league with Miami and hold a one-game lead over Tennessee in the AFC Central.

Baltimore made its return to Cleveland last week, the city it moved away from following the 1995 season, and played its best game of the season in a 41-9 pounding of the Browns.

Errict Rhett had another strong game with 117 yards and Tony Banks was also solid, completing 14-of-25 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. Rhett has recored four straight 100-yard games and is fourth in the AFC in rushing with 658 yards.

The Ravens have the second-worst pass offense in the AFC, while the Jaguars rank first in the league against the pass.

Jacksonville won six straight meetings against the Ravens, with the last two coming by a combined 40 points. The previous four wins came by a total of nine points.

These teams will meet again in two weeks in Baltimore.

BALTIMORE Season schedule and results

JACKSONVILLE Season schedule and results

September 12 @St. Louis L 10-27 September 19 Pittsburgh L 20-23 September 26 Cleveland W 17-10 October 3 @Atlanta W 19-13 October 10 @Tennessee L 11-14 October 21 Kansas City L 8-35 October 31 Buffalo L 10-13 November 7 @Cleveland W 41-9 November 14 @Jacksonville 4:05pm ET November 21 @Cincinnati 4:05pm ET November 28 Jacksonville 1:00pm ET December 5 Tennessee 1:00pm ET December 12 @Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET December 19 New Orleans 1:00pm ET December 26 Cincinnati 1:00pm ET January 2 @New England 1:00pm ET

September 12 San Francisco W 41-3 September 19 @Carolina W 22-20 September 26 Tennessee L 19-20 October 3 @Pittsburgh W 17-3 October 11 @NY Jets W 16-6 October 17 Cleveland W 24-7 October 31 @Cincinnati W 41-10 November 7 @Atlanta W 30-7 November 14 Baltimore 4:05pm ET November 21 New Orleans 8:20pm ET November 28 @Baltimore 1:00pm ET December 2 Pittsburgh 8:20pm ET December 13 Denver 9:00pm ET December 19 @Cleveland 1:00pm ET December 26 @Tennessee 1:00pm ET January 2 Cincinnati 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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