No Lamar Jackson. No Tyler “Snoop” Huntley.
We didn’t know what to expect from the Ravens, but with Baltimore forced to start undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano at quarterback, the outlook looked bleak — and that’s exactly what unfolded. The Jaguars dominated 33-10 at M&T Bank Stadium in a game that never felt competitive. Jacksonville improved to 6-2 with its second straight win by 20-plus points, while the Ravens slipped to 4-5 and their fifth consecutive loss.
Here are the key takeaways:
1) Jaguars’ offense shows a potential flaw
On Thursday night Jacksonville repeatedly let the play clock run down — several snaps were taken with only one second remaining and the broadcast even showed it hitting zero at least a couple of times, though no delay-of-game flags were issued. That tendency isn’t new: entering Week 9 the Jags were snapping with about 7.0 seconds left on the clock on average (second-slowest in the league) and were using no-huddle just 3.4% of the time, per Next Gen Stats. To be clear, Jacksonville’s offense is effective — coming into the week it ranked fifth in scoring and 10th in total yards, with Trevor Lawrence firmly in command — and they aren’t a penalty-prone club overall (55 penalties on the season, 14th-fewest, per NFLpenalties.com). But routinely burning the clock could lead to communication problems and procedural penalties in loud, hostile environments later this season.
2) Ravens will welcome Jacoby Brissett
With Jackson and backup Tyler “Snoop” Huntley sidelined, Fagnano made his first NFL start and looked every bit the inexperienced quarterback he is. Baltimore’s offense was simplified for him — limited reads, more conservative design — and he completed only one attempt beyond six yards in the first half before the rain worsened. Fagnano threw two costly interceptions deep in Ravens territory in the second half, and the offense looked constrained. A pending acquisition of Jacoby Brissett from Arizona won’t transform Baltimore, but it would supply steadiness, veteran know-how and a QB who can push the ball downfield — qualities that could at least stabilize a shorthanded offense and keep Baltimore competitive.
3) Jaguars may be the AFC’s biggest threat
This isn’t just about beating a Jackson-less Baltimore; Jacksonville is 6-2 and faces a relatively favorable slate down the stretch — six of its nine games so far have been against teams under .500, including its final four contests. Sitting as the No. 4 seed in the AFC, the Jags are in good position to chase a top seed and the only first-round bye. Beyond schedule advantages, they’re one of the league’s most complete teams: second in points allowed, first against the run, seventh in pressure rate, a Pro Bowl-caliber QB in Trevor Lawrence and a top-five scoring offense. They may not draw the same attention as some franchises, but they belong on the short list of legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
What’s next?
Jacksonville stays on the road for two more games — at Tennessee and at New York (Giants) — before returning home to face Tennessee on Nov. 29. Baltimore, now with Brissett expected to join the roster, has a winnable stretch before its Week 13 bye: a Monday night game vs. the 1-7 Chargers in Week 10, then trips to Carolina (3-4) on Nov. 22 and Houston (2-5) on Nov. 29.
Fan Take: This result matters because it highlights how quickly fortunes can shift when a star quarterback is absent — and reinforces Jacksonville’s emergence as a balanced, well-coached contender. For NFL fans, the rise of the Jags adds intrigue to the AFC race and underscores the importance of depth at QB for teams with playoff aspirations.
Source: www.foxsports.com
