The Baltimore Ravens couldn't have scripted a much worse beginning to Thursday Night Football. The Jacksonville Jaguars lost the coin toss, Baltimore deferred, and the visitors wasted little time making themselves comfortable at M&T Bank Stadium.
The haymakers came early. On the second play, Trevor Lawrence connected with Nate Boerkircher for a 52-yard gain to the Ravens' 21-yard line. Five plays later, Jacksonville was in the end zone, holding a 7-0 lead just 3:40 into the contest. Unfortunately for Baltimore, that opening possession previewed the misery ahead. The Jaguars controlled the game from the outset, embarrassing the Ravensin a 33-10 defeat that unfolded before a national television audience.
What should have been a chance to regain
momentum instead became another uncomfortable reminder of how far Baltimore has fallen. A handful of encouraging individual performances were overwhelmed by mistakes, missed opportunities, and stretches of football that were difficult to watch.
The good things we saw during the Ravens' loss to the Jaguars
- Jake Moody delivers in his Ravens debut. Baltimore's new kicker faced an immediate test, attempting a 53-yard field goal in the rain. He handled the conditions and drilled the kick, providing one of the few bright spots on an otherwise miserable evening. It was an encouraging first impression for a team that recently placed Tyler Loop on injured reserve.
- It would take a while before the Ravens offense would offer anything for the home crowd to get loud about. Justice Hill finally gave the hometown faithful something to celebrate. It took a while, but Hill provided Baltimore's biggest offensive highlight with a 65-yard touchdown run. The explosive play also produced the Ravens' first second-half touchdown since Week 5, ending a frustrating drought.
- The Ravens find some success against Jacksonville's run defense. The Jaguars entered Thursday night allowing an NFL-best 77.4 rushing yards per game. Derrick Henry reached half that total by the second quarter after just eight carries. Although he finished with a modest 57 yards on 17 attempts, Baltimore racked up 172 rushing yards, easily the highest total any team has compiled against the Jaguars this season.
- Derrick Henry reaches another career milestone. The legend moved into seventh place on the NFL's all-time rushing list, adding another accomplishment to his remarkable résumé. The milestone deserved recognition, even if the circumstances weren't celebratory.
The bad news from the Ravens' loss to the Jaguars
- Marlon Humphrey continues to struggle in coverage. The veteran cornerback has experienced too many difficult moments this season, and Thursday night offered more evidence that opposing offenses have found success whenever they consistently challenge him. Humphrey's reputation and past accomplishments are undeniable, but the Ravens need production that matches his importance to the defense.
- Penalties continue to destroy opportunities to build momentum. Baltimore's second possession showed some early promise. After six plays, the Ravens faced second-and-5 at their own 49-yard line, with an opportunity to keep moving toward Jacksonville territory. Instead, consecutive false-start penalties turned a manageable situation into a difficult one. Baltimore eventually punted three plays later, wasting a chance to put points on the board.
- The second half begins with another offensive disaster. Baltimore needed a productive possession coming out of halftime, but its opening drive lasted just three plays. A 1-yard run, another false-start penalty, and an incompletion led to an interception that gave Jacksonville excellent field position. The Jaguars capitalized with a 45-yard field goal from Cam Little, extending their advantage to 20-3. It was precisely the kind of mistake Baltimore couldn't afford while trying to mount a comeback.
The downright ugly
Watching Malaki Starks get beaten on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to Parker Washington was difficult enough. The timing made it worse. Jacksonville struck with just 58 seconds remaining in the first half, extending its lead from seven points to 14 and delivering a crushing blow to a Baltimore team that had already struggled to generate offense.
The Ravens briefly appeared to catch a break in the third quarter when Starks forced a fumble with just over five minutes left. Unfortunately, the ensuing possession became another exercise in frustration. Baltimore managed just four plays before turning the ball over on downs, with Mark Andrews fumbling while lined up under center. It was the Ravens' second fumble of the series, and another opportunity disappeared without points.
Kyle Hamilton left with a hip injury. Joe Fagnano's first NFL start was equally difficult to watch. He completed 10 of 18 passes for just 60 yards. He threw two interceptions, took a sack, and finished with a 22.7 passer rating. The quarterback received little help from his defense, while the special teams unit compounded the problems by losing a fourth-quarter fumble.
Perhaps nothing captured Baltimore's evening better than Fagnano inadvertently tripping Henry during a handoff in the rain. It was the kind of play that might have been comical under different circumstances, but nothing about the larger picture was funny. The Ravens looked overwhelmed, disorganized, and unable to find a sustained response once Jacksonville took control.
What's next for the Ravens?
Next on the schedule is an 8:15 p.m. EST kickoff on Monday Night Football in Week 10. The Los Angeles Chargers come to M&T Bank Stadium. Now 4-5, Baltimore'll look to get back in the winner's circle against a team that enters Week 9 winless.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens vs. Jaguars: Good, bad, and ugly from Baltimore's 33-10 loss
