Thursday night brings a matchup that looked a lot bigger a few weeks ago than it does now. The Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars were supposed to give Week 9 a prime-time jolt, but Baltimore’s quarterback situation has turned the whole thing sideways.
Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley are both on Injured Reserve after the Ravens’ loss to the Buffalo Bills, and that same game also left emergency quarterback Joe Fagnano hurt in relief. Even so, Fagnano is set for his first official NFL start tonight as Thursday Night Football opens Week 9.
It’s a tough spot for him. Baltimore needs him to steady a team that’s sliding fast, and he’ll be facing a Jaguars squad that looks every bit as balanced as any in the league. Fagnano has had more time to prepare as the starter, which should help, but there’s not much pro film to study, and the little there is points to a quarterback who couldn’t crack Buffalo’s defense in Week 8.
If things go sideways, Baltimore may have to turn to Kevon Slovis. That’s the kind of night this could become, though Thursday games have a way of getting weird.
For the Ravens, the obvious question is whether they lean hard on Derrick Henry and let the ground game carry the load. It’s not a bad idea, but Baltimore doesn’t appear to have the same offensive line and blocking Henry had in earlier seasons. There’s also a case for involving him more in the passing game.
The challenge is made even bigger by the opponent. Jacksonville comes in at 5-2 and has built a huge cushion in the AFC South, where the 2-5 Houston Texans sit second in a division that has been largely flat. The Jaguars are also one of the few teams to beat the Bills at home in the playoffs, which only adds a little extra edge for Buffalo fans watching this one.
So yes, tonight the rooting interests are clear for Rumblers: Ravens fans for the evening. Buffalo benefits from a Jacksonville loss, even with the Bills still holding the top spot in the AFC playoff race.
In Other News...
Bills Add Familiar AFC East Help Ahead Of Tough Week 9
The Bills added some familiar AFC East experience to their secondary this week, signing cornerback Kader Kohou to the practice squad ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Vikings. Kohou arrives with a background that should make the transition easier, having spent three seasons with Miami and also time with Kansas City before his recent release.
For Buffalo, the move is about adding another layer of depth at a position that can get stressed quickly over the course of a season. The Bills are trying to keep momentum rolling with a fourth straight win in sight, and bringing in a player who knows the division gives them a little more insurance as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Offense Gets Its Biggest Test Yet Against Minnesota
Monday night brings a rare kind of measuring stick for Buffalo, one that strips away the weekly noise and puts the Bills offense in a direct collision with the leagues most efficient defense by the numbers. It is the sort of matchup that tends to tell you a lot about where a contender really stands, especially when the conversation centers on EPA per play and the gap between an attack that can score in bunches and a unit built to smother it.
The historical backdrop is part of what makes this one worth watching, because these elite-versus-elite showdowns have not come around often and they have not always gone the same way. The offense has had a slight edge over time, but the results have been close enough to suggest there is no easy script here, which only adds to the intrigue for a Bills team trying to prove its ceiling against Minnesota. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Face A Keon Coleman Decision That Could Split Fans
Keon Coleman has given the Bills a useful early return, with three touchdowns and 287 yards on 20 catches, and his presence has been part of Buffalos effort to keep the offense moving while the roster gets sorted out for the stretch run. Even so, the Bills are still weighing where they need help most as they try to build a team good enough for a real Super Bowl push.
That is where the conversation gets interesting, because ESPNs Dan Graziano floated the idea that Coleman could become part of a deal to bring in defensive help. No trade has been reported, but the mere possibility is enough to spark debate in Buffalo, where fans are already trying to figure out whether a productive young receiver is a core piece or a movable asset. [Read more 🡒]