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5 things learned after Jaguars victory over Ravens in Week 9
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- 5 things learned after Jaguars victory over Ravens in Week 9
The Jacksonville Jaguars won in another blowout for the second week in a row, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 33-10 in Week 9. The Jaguars now improve to 6-2 and move up to third place in the AFC standings at the moment.
Jacksonville entered the game as a significant favorite against a Ravens team dealing with extensive injuries, including the loss of starting quarterback Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano made his first NFL start in difficult conditions, with steady rain throughout much of the game.
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The Jaguars took advantage, producing explosive plays on offense and forcing multiple turnovers on defense. However, the lopsided score didn't mean everything went perfectly.
Here are five lessons learned from Jacksonville's Week 9 victory.
Jacksonville's passing offense continues to find new ways to succeed
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars' passing attack carried over their momentum from Sunday's dominant victory over the Indianapolis Colts, finding success against Baltimore despite the wet conditions. Jacksonville's opening possession featured a 52-yard completion to rookie tight end Nate Boerkircher.
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Jakobi Meyers made several important catches, while Brenton Strange delivered an impressive contested reception under triple coverage. Parker Washington provided the biggest highlight, catching a pass from Lawrence and turning it into a 50-yard touchdown with less than a minute remaining before halftime. The touchdown extended Jacksonville's lead to 17-3 and helped put the game firmly in the Jaguars' control.
Another encouraging development was the involvement of multiple tight ends, including Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol. Ultimately, Jacksonville continues to demonstrate that Lawrence has numerous reliable options in the passing game.
The defense is still capable of making game-changing plays
Jacksonville's defense entered Thursday facing significant questions after losing defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton and safety Eric Murray to season-ending injuries. However, it still made numerous important plays, and the defense became increasingly disruptive as the game progressed.
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Cornerback Montaric "Buster" Brown intercepted a pass from Fagnano on Baltimore's opening possession of the second half, giving Jacksonville excellent field position and setting up another score. Jourdan Lewis later added an interception of his own after being flagged for pass interference earlier in the game. Jacksonville also capitalized on Baltimore's ball-security mistakes, including a fourth-down fumble by Mark Andrews and a late turnover that required a successful challenge from Coen.
The Ravens' inexperienced quarterback and unusually run-heavy game plan undoubtedly contributed to their offensive struggles. Still, Jacksonville deserves credit for taking advantage of those opportunities and consistently preventing Baltimore from sustaining successful drives. The defense might have looked different without two important starters, but its ability to create turnovers remains a significant strength.
The run defense could have some concerning issues to address
The Jaguars entered Thursday with the NFL's best rushing defense, allowing just 77.4 yards per game, and had gone 24 consecutive games without surrendering 75 rushing yards to an individual player. That streak ended against Baltimore, with Justice Hill being the one to break 75 yards.
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Henry initially appeared capable of challenging Jacksonville's defense, repeatedly finding running lanes as the Ravens relied heavily on their veteran running back. Baltimore also used Henry in unconventional ways, including direct snaps and passing plays, attempting to compensate for its depleted quarterback room.
Jacksonville eventually did a better job containing Henry, but the defense still surrendered a 65-yard touchdown run to Hill in the fourth quarter. The touchdown came with Jacksonville already holding a commanding lead, but it exposed a vulnerability worth monitoring.
Hamilton's absence leaves a significant hole in the defensive interior, and Thursday was the unit's first opportunity to demonstrate how it would respond without him. One game isn't enough to say decisively that the run defense has gotten weaker, particularly given the short week, wet conditions, and unconventional offensive approach Baltimore employed. However, Jacksonville will need to address the missed tackles and running lanes that allowed the Ravens to generate yardage on the ground.
Jacksonville's own rushing attack wasn't nearly as effective
The Jaguars entered Thursday coming off a season-best 183 rushing yards against Indianapolis, including Tuten's first career 100-yard performance. Against Baltimore, however, the running game struggled.
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Tuten, who was questionable entering the game with ankle and foot injuries, scored on Jacksonville's opening possession, but frequently encountered defenders at or behind the line of scrimmage afterward. Chris Rodriguez Jr. also had difficulty finding room, which then placed more responsibility on Lawrence to move the chains through the air.
There were some encouraging late contributions from Ameer Abdullah, who helped move the offense downfield during the fourth quarter. Rodriguez also found the end zone on a two-yard touchdown run. But the Jaguars cannot expect to rely exclusively on explosive passing plays every week.
The rushing attack has been an important part of Jacksonville's offensive identity under Coen, and finding ways to generate more consistent yardage will be necessary against stronger opponents.
Cam Little remains invaluable, but penalties and stalled drives need attention
Jacksonville repeatedly found itself settling for field goals after promising possessions stalled, particularly during the second half. Fortunately, Cam Little was ready to go. Despite the steady rain, Little converted all four of his field goal attempts, including successful kicks from 36, 45, and 47 yards.
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His reliability allowed Jacksonville to continue building its lead even when the offense couldn't finish drives with touchdowns.
But the offense also committed avoidable mistakes, including several penalties and a fumble from Travis Hunter. Those mistakes didn't prove especially costly against a severely depleted Baltimore offense, but they could make a significant difference in a closer matchup.
The Jaguars ultimately did more than enough to secure their sixth victory, but Thursday's performance demonstrated that the team still has areas to improve. Maintaining offensive balance, tightening up the run defense, and eliminating self-inflicted mistakes will be important as Jacksonville continues its pursuit of a second consecutive AFC South title.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 5 things learned after Jaguars victory over Ravens in Week 9
