The Jaguars didn’t just beat the Colts in Week 8 - they blew them out, 42-7, and now the calendar has turned fast. Jacksonville heads into a short week with Thursday Night Football against the Ravens, and the matchup looks very different from the one most people expected a few days ago.
At 5-2, the Jaguars sit atop the AFC South. Baltimore is 4-4 and last in the AFC North, and the Ravens are dealing with a quarterback mess that could shape the entire game. Jacksonville is trying to stack wins and keep its playoff push rolling, while Baltimore is simply trying to piece together a viable offense.
The biggest question starts under center for the Ravens. Lamar Jackson had just come back from an injury absence when he got hurt again on the opening play of Week 8.
He has now been confirmed to need surgery and will be placed on IR. Tyler Huntley replaced him, but he also left injured before halftime.
Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano finished the game 10-of-21 for 91 yards with an interception, and he’s on the injury report this week as well.
That leaves the Jaguars preparing for uncertainty. Jackson is out, but Huntley’s status is still unclear.
If Huntley can’t play Thursday, Jacksonville could be looking at Fagnano. On a short week, that means the defense may have to get ready for two different quarterbacks.
Still, this is the kind of game where the Jaguars have to handle their business. The Colts game was supposed to be a mismatch, and it turned out that way.
But the lesson for Jacksonville is that no opponent can be treated casually. The Jaguars know firsthand how mistakes can turn a sure thing into a problem.
That’s the real test here: do they show up and play like a team that knows exactly what’s in front of it, or do they let a battered Baltimore squad hang around? The Ravens should be a favorable matchup, but only if Jacksonville approaches it the right way.
The Jaguars are also carrying their own injury concerns into Thursday. DaVon Hamilton is out for the season, a major hit to the defense.
During the win over Indianapolis, Eric Murray, Ezra Cleveland, and Travon Walker also had to leave the game. More updates are coming, but Jacksonville is not exactly walking into this one fresh.
There is one encouraging note for the Jaguars: the blowout win allowed Trevor Lawrence, Bhayshul Tuten, Parker Washington, Brenton Strange, Foyesade Oluokun, and other key players to spend much of the fourth quarter on the sideline. On a short week, that kind of rest matters.
Lawrence and the offense will still need to deliver. Jacksonville didn’t just win with defense against the Colts; the quarterback played well, and the offense produced explosive moments from several players. Baltimore’s quarterback issues could hand the Jaguars short fields and extra possessions, but they still have to cash in.
And this is also a chance for Jacksonville to prove the Colts game was not just a divisional one-off. A prime-time road stage gives the Jaguars a shot to show that their offense can travel and keep rolling.
There’s also the bigger picture. Jacksonville is 5-2, has the division in strong shape, and is now staring at a 4-4 Ravens team without its franchise quarterback.
The focus is no longer just on winning the AFC South. It’s about seeding, positioning, and the chance to host playoff football.
Right now, the Jaguars are the No. 4 seed. A win in Week 9 would be a step toward improving that spot, especially if teams like the Buffalo Bills or Denver Broncos lose. For Jacksonville, this is the kind of opportunity that can help shape the postseason path.
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Liam Coen came away encouraged by Thomas and by the way the roster held together after season-ending injuries to Davon Hamilton, Eric Murray and Anton Harrison. The bigger question now is whether Jacksonvilles depth can keep producing when the margin for error gets thinner, because the next stretch will test both the teams leadership and its mental toughness. [Read more 🡒]