The Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback crisis was impossible to ignore Thursday night, but their 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars exposed a broader problem.
Baltimore has now lost four consecutive games after opening the season 4-1. The last three defeats have come by at least 20 points, the first such three-game stretch in franchise history.
The Ravens have also scored fewer than 14 points in four straight games, another franchise first, according to the team’s official game recap.
Those numbers cannot be attributed entirely to the absence of Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore’s defense has surrendered at least 30 points in three consecutive games, while an offense built around an inexperienced quarterback produced only 227 yards, 10 first downs and three turnovers against Jacksonville.
The result left the Ravens at 4-5 and below .500 for the first time this season. Jacksonville improved to 6-2, strengthened its position atop the AFC South and scored more than 30 points for the third consecutive game.
Jacksonville Takes Control Before Halftime
Baltimore initially kept the game close despite steady rain at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Jaguars scored on their opening possession when Bhayshul Tuten finished a 77-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Jake Moody answered with a 53-yard field goal for Baltimore, and Jacksonville kicker Cam Little added a 36-yarder to make it 10-3.
The game turned late in the second quarter. With Jacksonville facing a one-score margin, Trevor Lawrence connected with Parker Washington for a 50-yard touchdown with 58 seconds remaining. The play sent the Jaguars into halftime with a 17-3 advantage and gave Baltimore a deficit its depleted offense was not equipped to overcome.
Lawrence completed 16 of 26 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown. Jacksonville generated seven scoring drives, while Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. added rushing touchdowns. Little made all four of his field-goal attempts, matching his career high, according to the kicker’s official Jaguars game log.
Jacksonville’s defense contributed just as much to the separation. Montaric Brown and Jourdan Lewis intercepted Joe Fagnano, and Jalen McLeod recovered a Baltimore fumble on a kickoff. The Jaguars converted those three takeaways into 13 points.
The balance was significant. Jacksonville did not need Lawrence to carry the entire offense because its defense repeatedly shortened the field and Little converted stalled drives into points.
Fagnano Faces an Impossible Assignment
Fagnano, an undrafted rookie, made his first NFL start only four days after being pressed into action against the Buffalo Bills. He was also playing through an ankle injury.
Against Jacksonville, Fagnano completed 10 of 18 passes for 60 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He took one sack and rarely had an opportunity to attack downfield.
His performance must be viewed in context. Baltimore officially placed both Jackson and Tyler Huntley on injured reserve hours before kickoff. Jackson injured his right thumb against Buffalo, while Huntley suffered a toe injury.
Both quarterbacks must miss at least four games under their injured-reserve designations, not three, as the original draft stated.
The Ravens added Austin Reed and Kedon Slovis to a quarterback group that entered Thursday with almost no NFL passing experience. That left Fagnano to start on a short week against one of the AFC’s strongest teams.
Baltimore attempted to reduce his workload by using Derrick Henry in direct-snap formations and leaning on misdirection. Jacksonville limited Henry to 57 yards on 17 carries, however, and the Ravens converted only four of 14 third downs.
Justice Hill’s 65-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter accounted for Baltimore’s only trip to the end zone. It also represented nearly 29% of the team’s total offense. Remove that one play and the Ravens generated 162 yards across the remainder of the game.
That comparison illustrates why a change at quarterback alone will not solve the offense. Baltimore needs more consistent early-down production, better third-down execution and a passing game capable of punishing defenses for concentrating on the run.
Baltimore’s Defense Cannot Escape Responsibility
The quarterback injuries provide important context, but they do not explain why Baltimore has allowed 104 points over its past three games.
Jacksonville produced explosive gains early and then benefited from Baltimore’s turnovers after halftime. Lawrence’s 52-yard completion to Nate Boerkircher on the Jaguars’ second offensive play set up Tuten’s touchdown. Washington’s 50-yard score then broke open what had been a competitive first half.
The defense was placed in difficult situations by the offense and special teams, particularly after the three turnovers. Even so, allowing at least 30 points for a third straight game indicates that Baltimore’s problems extend beyond field position.
The Ravens must limit explosive plays and create more possessions for an offense operating without its two most experienced quarterbacks. They accomplished neither goal consistently Thursday.
A Reported Trade Offers Experience, Not a Complete Solution
Baltimore is reportedly finalizing a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett. As of Friday, the deal had not been formally announced, and its terms remained undisclosed. NFL.com reported that the transaction was expected to be completed over the weekend.
Brissett has made 73 career starts and began Arizona’s first eight games this season before falling to third on the Cardinals’ depth chart. His experience should give Baltimore a more developed passing operation if the trade is completed, but expectations should remain measured.
The Ravens’ recent decline involves more than quarterback play. A veteran passer cannot independently correct a defense allowing repeated explosive gains, an offense struggling on third down or a team that has committed costly turnovers.
Baltimore has additional preparation time before hosting the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, Nov. 16, according to the official NFL schedule. That break should help the Ravens integrate Brissett if the reported trade becomes official.
Jacksonville’s Rise Continues
The Jaguars are moving in the opposite direction.
Jacksonville went 4-13 in 2024 before hiring Liam Coen in January 2025. The team improved to 13-4 in his first season, winning the AFC South. According to Coen’s official team biography, he became the first rookie NFL head coach to win at least 13 games after inheriting a team that had won four or fewer the previous season.
The Jaguars have carried that progress into 2026. Their offense has reached 30 points in three straight games, while the defense has allowed a combined 17 points in two games since the team’s Week 7 bye.
Jacksonville next visits the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Nov. 15. Baltimore, meanwhile, enters its extended break needing more than an injury recovery or one personnel move. The Ravens must improve on both sides of the ball if they are to prevent a historic four-game decline from defining their season.
