BALTIMORE – The Baltimore Ravens sacked Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles eight times and the Ravens overcame a lackluster performance by the offense and sloppy penalties to escape with a 20-12 victory over the Jaguars on Sunday.

The win keeps Baltimore (9-5) in the hunt for one of the AFC’s six playoff spots. Jacksonville (2-12) has lost six of its past seven games.

The Jaguars entered the game ranked 28th in stopping the run, but Baltimore could not take advantage. The Ravens’ leading rusher, running back Justin Forsett, limped to the sideline after taking a hard hit in the second quarter and was limited to 48 yards on 16 carries.

This put the onus on Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco to make plays, and he responded with an 82-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Owen Daniels that gave the Ravens a 17-12 lead with 8:34 left in the third quarter. Flacco completed 20 of 30 passes for 221 yards.

Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker, who missed two field-goal attempts from over 50 yards, made a 33-yarder with 1:11 left in the game to provide some cushion.

The Ravens were hampered by committing nine penalties that cost them 70 yards.

Baltimore linebacker Elvis Dumervil tied a career high with his 17th sack. He now has his sights on the NFL’s single-season record of 22.5 set by Michael Strahan in 2001.

Bortles finished 21 for 37 for 210 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

The Ravens’ special teams provided the first touchdown when Darian Stewart blocked a punt and Kamar Aiken picked up the loose ball and ran 11 yards into the end zone. It was the first time Baltimore blocked a punt for a touchdown since Nov. 23, 2003.

A pair of field goals by Josh Scobee, from 53 and 45 yards, pulled Jacksonville to within 10-6 at the end of the first quarter. A fumble by Ravens fullback Kyle Juszczyk on his own 31 led to another 53-yard kick by Scobee, and the Jaguars led 9-7 with 11:33 left in the second quarter.

The teams then traded field goals in the final 3:45 and Jacksonville led 12-10 at the half. Jacksonville caught the Ravens off-guard twice on special teams — recovering an onside kick and gaining 19 yards on a fake punt.

NOTES: Ravens WR Steve Smith caught five passes and now has over 900 receptions for his career. … Jacksonville RB Storm Johnson, a seventh-round draft pick from Central Florida, was active for the first time in seven games. … The Ravens sent three former Jaguars out for the coin toss — Daryl Smith, Justin Forsett and Eugene Monroe.