Lamar Jackson is officially on IR after thumb surgery, and backup Tyler Huntley is out for the rest of the season with turf toe. That leaves third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano under center for the Baltimore Ravens tonight against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and believe me, it’s not looking pretty for the home team.
Ravens in a Full-Blown Crisis Mode
This isn’t just a tough spot for the Ravens, this is a full-blown emergency. Fagnano is stepping in after completing just 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and an interception in relief during last week’s brutal 36-10 loss to the Bills. That Buffalo game was their third straight loss, with Huntley starting the previous three as Jackson was already dealing with an ankle injury. With the quarterback situation an absolute mess, opposing teams have been able to key in on star running back Derrick Henry, who has been limited to just 156 rushing yards over the past three games combined. Add in the fact they’re playing on a short week, and Baltimore’s offense has scored only 33 total points over their past three contests. Their defense is giving up 25.4 points per game. This team is in serious trouble.
Jaguars Ready to Pounce
On the flip side, the Jacksonville Jaguars are coming into this Thursday Night Football matchup absolutely rolling. They’re 5-2 on the season, with their only losses coming against the Broncos and Texans. Fresh off their bye week, they just put on a show with a 42-7 demolition of the Colts. Trevor Lawrence has been incredibly efficient, throwing for 1,690 yards with 17 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. This Jaguars offense is fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 28 points per game, which is a stark contrast to the struggling Ravens. While both defenses allow similar yardage, Jacksonville’s D gives up significantly fewer points, at just 15.9 points per game. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, has the Jaguars winning by more than 10 points in 51% of its simulations. Everything about this game points to Jacksonville coming in and taking care of business.
This TNF showdown is going to be a real test for the Ravens’ resilience, or lack thereof. The Jaguars are on a high, playing confident football, and they’re facing a Baltimore team that’s down to its third-string quarterback and reeling from three straight losses. Can Fagnano somehow shock the world, or will Lawrence and the Jags extend Baltimore’s nightmare season? We’ll find out when kickoff hits at 8:15 p.m. ET.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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