The Jaguars are back under the lights Thursday night, and the News4JAX sports staff is leaning hard toward Jacksonville making it look easy against Baltimore.
Kyle Ashley sees a game that has shifted from possible trouble to a very manageable spot for the Jaguars, especially if they keep playing the way they have been. His biggest focus is simple: shut down the run and don’t let Derrick Henry take over. With the Ravens down to their third-string quarterback, Ashley said there is no reason to let Baltimore lean on the ground game and control the pace.
On offense, Ashley isn’t worried even if Bhayshul Tuten is banged up. He expects Trevor Lawrence to steer the Jaguars, with Chris Rodriguez Jr. handling the hard, physical work when Jacksonville needs it most. Ashley also called for a Rodriguez touchdown and picked the Jaguars to keep rolling in prime time, 28-17.
Justin Barney was even more emphatic. He pointed to Jacksonville’s success against weaker opponents and lumped Baltimore into that category, saying the Ravens have been erratic all season and are working through what feels like their 15th different quarterback.
With the Jaguars climbing and chasing the top seed in the AFC, Barney doesn’t expect much drama. He has Jakobi Meyers scoring an anytime touchdown and the Jaguars winning 34-14.
Jamal St. Cyr called it a straightforward Jacksonville win from the start.
He described it as a layup and focused on the matchup with Baltimore’s quarterback making his first NFL start against a turnover-hungry defense. For St.
Cyr, the formula starts and ends with stopping Derrick Henry. He said 17 points for the Ravens would be generous, and he picked Brenton Strange to find the end zone in a 35-17 Jaguars win.
In Other News...
Jaguars Trade Buzz Just Raised One Huge Question About Their 2026 Push
The Jaguars long-term push is already taking shape in the background, and the latest trade chatter only adds to the sense that Jacksonville is thinking bigger than the current season. Reports have linked the team to a possible move for Philadelphia defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Carolinas Derrick Brown, two names that immediately signal how aggressively the front office may be trying to reshape the middle of the defense for the years ahead.
Carters recent four-year extension with the Eagles makes any pursuit feel complicated from the start, while Brown has been active this season and has continued to flash the kind of production that would draw attention from teams looking to fortify their front line. For Jacksonville, the question is less about whether the talent fits and more about how far the club is willing to go to accelerate its 2026 plans, especially with the Eagles dealing with their own struggles and the market for impact defenders never staying quiet for long. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Quarterback Chaos Just Changed Everything For The Jaguars
The Ravens quarterback room has gone from stable to scrambled just days before Thursdays matchup with the Jaguars. Lamar Jackson is dealing with a thumb injury, Tyler Huntleys toe injury is season-ending, and Baltimore has had to scramble for help by adding Kaden Slovis and Austin Reed to the depth chart.
For Jacksonville, the ripple effect is obvious: a game that once looked like a familiar AFC test may now feature an undrafted rookie, Joe Fagnano, in line to start if the Ravens have to go that direction. It changes the feel of the week for the Jaguars, who suddenly have a very different opponent to prepare for and a lot more uncertainty to sort through before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Lawrence Faces A Ravens Test That Could Shift Jacksonvilles Season
Trevor Lawrence heads into a short week with another chance to show how far the Jaguars have come under pressure. Jacksonvilles offense has leaned on his efficiency this season, and the matchup with Baltimore on Thursday night brings a familiar kind of test: a defense that can disrupt timing, force quick decisions and make every clean pocket feel earned. The Ravens also present the kind of front that can turn a solid game plan into a scramble if the protection slips even a little.
There are other pieces in play for Jacksonville beyond Lawrence, starting with how the running back room holds up on a short turnaround and whether Bhayshul Tuten is available. Up front, the Jaguars will also be watching Josh Hines-Allens battle with Ronnie Stanley, a matchup that could help determine whether Lawrence gets the kind of rhythm he has enjoyed so often this year. For a team trying to measure itself against a contender, this is the sort of game that can reveal a lot without necessarily settling everything. [Read more 🡒]