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Five ways the Ravens can beat the Jaguars with Joe Fagnano starting
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- Five ways the Ravens can beat the Jaguars with Joe Fagnano starting
The Baltimore Ravens will face one of their toughest assignments of the season Thursday night as undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano makes his first NFL start against the Jacksonville Jaguars .
Baltimore enters Week 9 at 4-4 after three consecutive losses, including Sunday's 36-10 defeat against Buffalo. The Ravens will be without Lamar Jackson, who suffered a right thumb injury, and Tyler Huntley, whose season is over because of a turf toe injury. Fagnano completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and an interception against Buffalo, and he'll now face a Jacksonville defense allowing just 15.9 points per game, the second-lowest average in the NFL.
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The Ravens will need a balanced performance to avoid their fourth consecutive loss.
Here are five keys to pulling off the upset.
1. Derrick Henry must establish the running game
Baltimore's offense has been built around Jackson's versatility and Henry's ability to dominate between the tackles. With Jackson unavailable, Henry becomes even more important. The veteran running back enters Week 9 with 632 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, but he'll face a Jacksonville defense allowing an NFL-low 77.4 rushing yards per game. The Jaguars suffered a significant loss when defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton sustained a season-ending injury against Indianapolis.
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Baltimore must determine whether Hamilton's absence creates opportunities for Henry to attack the interior defense. A productive running game would also give Fagnano manageable third-down situations and reduce the pressure on the rookie.
2. Attack Jacksonville's vulnerable pass defense
The Jaguars have one of the NFL's best scoring defenses, but their pass coverage has been less consistent.n Jacksonville allows 253.9 passing yards per game, ranking 29th in the league entering Thursday's matchup. That creates opportunities for offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to incorporate quick throws, crossing routes, and play-action concepts designed to help Fagnano establish a rhythm. Zay Flowers, who leads Baltimore with 608 receiving yards, should remain a focal point of the passing attack.
Fagnano doesn't need to throw for 300 yards, but Baltimore must generate enough production through the air to prevent Jacksonville from loading the box against Henry.
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3. Protect the football against an opportunistic defense
Jacksonville enters Week 9 with nine interceptions and an NFL-best plus-seven turnover differential. Those numbers raise significant concerns for a rookie quarterback making his first start. Fagnano threw an interception and lost a fumble against Buffalo, mistakes that Baltimore cannot afford to repeat against a Jacksonville offense averaging 28 points per game.
Doyle must give Fagnano defined reads and opportunities to get the ball out quickly while limiting obvious passing situations. Even when drives stall, protecting field position and avoiding giveaways would help keep the Ravens competitive.
4. Make Trevor Lawrence uncomfortable
Jacksonville's offense has become one of the league's most productive units under head coach Liam Coen. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence enters Thursday with 1,690 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and four interceptions.
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Baltimore must generate pressure without consistently sacrificing coverage integrity. Trey Hendrickson, Mike Green, and the Ravens' defensive front need to disrupt Lawrence's timing and prevent Jacksonville from establishing a comfortable rhythm.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver must also find ways to eliminate explosive passing plays and force longer drives.
5. Win on special teams and control field position
With an inexperienced quarterback starting, Baltimore cannot afford to give Jacksonville short fields or waste favorable scoring opportunities. The Ravens will have Jake Moody handling kicking duties after rookie Tyler Loop was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury. Baltimore must protect the football in the return game, avoid penalties that create long-yardage situations, and make the most of every scoring opportunity.
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Thursday's game is not necessarily about asking Fagnano to outperform Lawrence. Instead, the Ravens must control the tempo, establish Henry, pressure Jacksonville's quarterback, and limit mistakes.
If Baltimore can execute that formula, Fagnano's first start could provide the spark the Ravens desperately need to end their three-game losing streak.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Five ways the Ravens can beat the Jaguars with Joe Fagnano starting
