Welcome to Big Cat Country’s staff roundtable!
This week, we’re previewing the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first primetime game of the season. They went 1-1 on national television when playing in London, but this is Thursday Night Football, baby.
The Jags are going up I-95 to take on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9. Let’s talk about it.
Question 1: What’s your top question/concern about the Jaguars this week?
Dillon Appleman: Will the run defense remain elite without DaVon Hamilton? Losing D. Ham in the middle
of the defense is hard to overstate. He was playing at an elite level and was the unquestioned anchor of the NFL’s top run defense this season. With him out, Matt Dickerson and potentially Albert Regis will be leaned on to help replicate what Hamilton was providing. I’m curious to see how they perform against Derrick Henry.
Travis Holmes: Can you perform on the road like you do at home? The Jaguars are 3-0 at EverBank Stadium, outscoring opponents 111-23 following their 35-point demolition of the Indianapolis Colts’ future. However, their 2-2 record away from Duval is hard to overlook, with an 85-88 scoring differential and a noticeable difference in accepted penalties. A loss at Denver, a close win over a severely limited Bengals offense, an improbable London win over the Eagles, and a loss to a previously struggling Texans team all paint the picture of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde identity for this 2026 team. Can the Duval version of this team make an appearance elsewhere?
Gus Logue: How quickly can the Jaguars build a lead in this game? The only team scoring more 1st half points than Jacksonville (15.7 per game) and Baltimore (15.6) this season is the Buffalo Bills (17.1). Both of these teams tend to get off on the right foot, but in terms of 2nd half scoring, Jacksonville ranks 14th (12.3), and Baltimore ranks 31st (5.9). Late-game catastrophes have become regular for the Ravens, so Jags fans don’t need to panic if the Thursday Night Football scoreboard is close at halftime. That said, it would be great to see Liam Coen’s team jump to an early lead and win comfortably, rather than sweating out another tight game against a backup quarterback.
Henry Zimmer: My biggest question for this week is how the Jags will do on a short week on the road. Jacksonville got a little dinged up in the rain against the Colts, so not having the full slate of rest or even a home game could be a cause for a little concern.
Question 2: What’s the key to a Jaguars victory this week?
Dillon: Considering the QB situation for Baltimore, the key for a Jacksonville Jaguars victory is to force Joey Fagnano to throw the ball. That means preventing Derrick Henry from getting chunk gains on early downs and forcing more third-and-longs than third-and-shorts.
Travis: Can Jacksonville box in the Ravens’ run game? Baltimore currently ranks sixth in the league in rushing yards per game (133.5) and eighth in yards per carry (4.6). While the Jaguars rank first in both categories in 2026, those rankings may certainly be impacted by the loss of Davon Hamilton. With a former Jacksonville Jaguars nightmare from his Tennessee Titans days, Derrick Henry licking his chops, this will be our first glimpse of what Anthony Campanile’s run-stopping defense looks like sans Hamilton anchoring the middle. Albert Regis, Matt Dickerson, and Ruke Orhorhoro will certainly be tested Thursday night.
Gus: Winning in the trenches. The obvious matchup to watch is Baltimore’s run offense against Jacksonville’s run defense, especially with each unit missing its linchpin player, but the inverse matchup is interesting as well. Can the Jaguars’ offensive line take care of business against Trey Hendrickson, Nnamdi “Justin” Madubuike, Travis Jones, and our old friend Calais Campbell? Given their quarterback situation, the path to a Ravens win on Thursday is narrow, but it would probably involve big games from Derrick Henry and their defensive front. Jacksonville will win by multiple scores if Trevor Lawrence is kept clean.
Henry: The Jags should be able to beat whatever quarterback Baltimore throws at them, so stopping the run would be my key. There’s no way Baltimore should be able to throw. They will have to try and establish Derrick Henry against a DaVon Hamilton-less Jaguars defense. Stop the run like you have, and you stop the Baltimore offense in its tracks.
Question 3: Who will be an X-factor for the Jaguars this week?
Dillon: My X-factor this week is going to be Ventrell Miller. With the middle of the defense without its anchor, I’m looking for Miller to be the one getting downhill to fill those potential gaps in the run game.
Travis: Ladies and gentlemen: Chop wood. Carry water. It’s officially a Parker Washington week. The Baltimore Ravens rank 21st in the league in passing yards allowed per game, having already surrendered 100-plus receiving yards to Drake London, Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, and Carnell Tate. This matchup simply feels like one where the Jaguars could lean heavily into the passing game and worry slightly less about offensive balance, particularly against a Ravens run defense that is surrendering the eighth-fewest yards per carry. With inconsistent cornerback play from Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, I think Parker Washington is in line for a huge performance.
Gus: I’m sorry, but I can’t shut up about Chris Rodriguez Jr., who should not be forgotten even with Bhayshul Tuten stealing the spotlight in the backfield. He’s actually rushed for more yards per carry (4.6 to 4.5) and just as many touchdowns (3 each) so far this season. With Tuten missing three straight practices and carrying a “questionable” injury designation going into Thursday Night Football, this could be the week that Rodriguez’s value to the offense is on full display.
Henry: My X-Factor this week is Cam Little. Why Little, you may ask? If this Jaguars offense sputters for one reason or another, it will be on the leg of Little to keep things together. Maybe short week and the travel throws a wrench in the offense, so Little could be called upon more often than not.
Final score prediction?
Dillon: Jaguars 20, Ravens 10
Travis: Jaguars 32, Ravens 13
Gus: Jaguars 24, Ravens 10
Henry: Jaguars 20, Ravens 10
What are your Week 9 predictions, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments!
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