With the bright lights of Thursday Night Football shining upon the Jaguars, they proved why they sit atop the AFC.
The Jaguars (6-2) trounced the Baltimore Ravens (4-5) at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday Night Football. In a sloppy, rain-filled 33-10 affair, Jacksonville allowed 126 yards through three quarters and notched three takeaways en route to its first victory in Baltimore since 2015.
Jacksonville’s first primetime game of the season began with a bang as the Jaguars rattled off a seven-play, 77-yard touchdown drive to open the scoring. Running back Bhayshul Tuten capped the series with a 1-yard run, his seventh touchdown of the season. It also made him one of just three players in the NFL with at least five scores since Week 6.
“It was great to start fast,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said. “To see them go and execute that way, get a big explosive, go down the field, score a touchdown, that’s just a sign of maturity. It’s a sign that we are maturing, hopefully, and can continue to handle more and more.”
After a 36-yard Cam Little field goal made it 10-3 in the first quarter, sustained drives were hard to come by for Jacksonville’s offense. That was until wideout Parker Washington torched Baltimore’s secondary for his fifth touchdown of the season. Washington initially bobbled the ball but reeled it in for a 50-yard score with 58 seconds left in the first half. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s pass put him at 197 yards at the break, his most this season. He finished 16-of-26 for 242 yards and a touchdown.
“Very pleased with Trevor right now,” Coen said. “He’s playing accurate, he’s playing with great feel, anticipation, timing, his footwork’s really clean right now, so been very pleased with him.”
Washington’s touchdown was Jacksonville’s second-longest play of the night, as tight end Nate Boerkircher continued his recent heroics with a 52-yard reception in the opening quarter.
The Jaguars faced a Ravens squad that was riding a three-game skid and had been battling injuries throughout the season. Third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano led the offense after being thrust into action in Week 8, when starter Lamar Jackson injured his thumb and backup Tyler Huntley suffered a turf toe injury against Buffalo.
Fagnano, a 25-year-old rookie, made his first career start after a 91-yard performance Sunday against the Bills. He took on a dominant Jaguars defense that allowed just 15.9 points per game heading into Thursday. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and the Jags continued to flex their muscles, allowing 55 net passing yards in the win.
Fagnano finished with 60 yards on 10-of-18 passing and two interceptions. He played his first four collegiate seasons at Maine before transferring to UConn. The Ravens’ offense didn’t make it easier on the quarterback, though, as pre-snap penalties riddled its drives throughout the first half.
Ravens running backs Derrick Henry and Justice Hill relieved some pressure off the first-year quarterback’s shoulders. Hill’s 65-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter made him the first rusher in 25 games to total at least 75 yards against Jacksonville. He finished with 85 yards on nine carries, a season high.
After a 17-point first half, the rain began to affect both teams’ execution. Jacksonville and Baltimore traded back-to-back punts before Jags wideout Travis Hunter fumbled with 5:15 to go in the third. Baltimore fumbled four plays later on fourth-and-inches, and Jacksonville took over in Baltimore territory.
The Jaguars tacked on a field goal following the turnover and, on Baltimore’s first play of the fourth quarter, intercepted Fagnano. Jags cornerback Jourdan Lewis cut in front of an out-breaking route on the near sideline for his third pick of the season. Jacksonville kicker Cam Little nailed his fourth field goal of the night, a 33-yarder, to make it 26-3.
Jags running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. scored his fourth touchdown of the season on a 2-yard run with 7:26 to go. Hill’s lengthy touchdown on the ensuing possession closed out the scoring.
The Jaguars will be back in action Sunday, Nov. 15, against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville at 1 p.m. The matchup will mark the first of two against the Titans in Jacksonville’s next three games.
