Thursday’s 33-10 Jacksonville Jaguars win over the Baltimore Ravens had an unusual, almost high-school-football feel as Week 9 got underway.
Jacksonville entered as a heavy favorite. Joe Fagnano, the team’s third-string quarterback, made his first career start after moving into the emergency role last week when Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley were injured.
The Ravens had acquired Jacoby Brissett from Arizona earlier in the week, after the Cardinals had moved him down the depth chart. But with little time to learn the offense, he wasn’t ready to take over on a short week.
Brissett will need to settle in quickly if Baltimore hopes to stay in the playoff picture. That was perhaps the clearest message from the game: Jacksonville didn’t have to do much after scoring on its opening possession, while the Ravens struggled to find answers.
Fagnano made for an intriguing story, but he wasn’t the solution Baltimore needed after losing both Jackson and Huntley. At 4-4, the Ravens are still in the mix, though their season suddenly looks precarious. Brissett may be their best chance to turn things around.
Fagnano completed 10 of 18 passes for 80 yards. Heavy rain made conditions difficult, and the Jaguars repeatedly disrupted Baltimore’s offense. Fumbles followed, and pressure on passing downs contributed to two interceptions.
The Ravens’ sideline appeared to recognize early that the night was slipping away.
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars, by contrast, looked composed after their bye week. Bhayshul Tuten, who had been listed as questionable with an injury, played and scored the game’s first touchdown. Before halftime, Lawrence connected with Parker Washington for a 50-yard catch-and-run score that gave Jacksonville a 17-3 lead.
Early in the second half, Fagnano threw an interception. Baltimore then punted twice, turned the ball over on downs, threw another interception and fumbled the ensuing kickoff.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. scored in the fourth quarter to make it 33-3. Justice Hill followed with a 65-yard run on Baltimore’s next possession, helping the Ravens reach the end zone. Otherwise, it was a game the team will likely want to put behind it.
Baltimore faces the Los Angeles Chargers on “Monday Night Football,” giving Brissett some time to get comfortable with the offense. For Ravens fans, his ability to make an impact is one of the few reasons for optimism after four straight losses.
