Week 9 begins with an unusual Thursday night matchup. Baltimore, once considered an AFC contender, is set to start an undrafted rookie at quarterback, while Jacksonville arrives as a heavy road favorite. That makes the game less straightforward than the teams’ records might suggest.
The Ravens are dealing with a depleted quarterback group. Lamar Jackson went on injured reserve after hurting his throwing thumb on the first play in Buffalo. Tyler Huntley is reportedly out for the season with turf toe, and Skylar Thompson is also on injured reserve. That leaves Joe Fagnano, an undrafted rookie dealing with an ankle injury, to start on short rest.
Jacksonville, by contrast, comes in at 5-2 and atop the AFC South. The Jaguars have outscored opponents by 85 points, the league’s best differential, and are coming off a 42-7 win over Indianapolis. Trevor Lawrence has thrown 17 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Lawrence’s passing yards could be worth watching, particularly if Jacksonville builds an early lead. The Jaguars may lean on the run and try to protect their quarterback during a short week. Lawrence could have a productive first half and then see fewer chances to throw late in the game.
Fagnano’s rushing total is another possible angle. If Jacksonville’s pass rush puts him under pressure, he may have to leave the pocket and run. His inexperience and ankle issue could keep expectations low, though the same ankle problem makes this a less certain proposition.
There’s also reason to expect Fagnano to face a difficult night through the air. In his only extended appearance, he threw an interception and lost a fumble in roughly a half of play. Against a Jacksonville defense that has been among the league’s strongest, another interception would not be surprising.
Baltimore is 7-13 in games without Jackson and has lost three straight. The Ravens have won three of their last five meetings with Jacksonville, however, and Thursday games can be unpredictable. The matchup may come down less to star power than to how the game unfolds if the Jaguars take control early.
