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Ravens vs. Jaguars: 5 takeaways from Baltimore's brutal first half
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- Ravens vs. Jaguars: 5 takeaways from Baltimore's brutal first half
The Baltimore Ravens entered Thursday Night Football desperate for a win to end their three-game losing streak, but another disastrous defensive performance and an offense struggling to move the ball have left them trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-3 at halftime.
Trevor Lawrence completed 9 of 15 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, exploiting a Baltimore secondary that allowed two completions of at least 50 yards. The Ravens managed just 101 total yards, with rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano completing 7 of 11 passes for 30 yards in his first NFL start.
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Baltimore controlled possession for 17:31 but had little to show for it beyond Jake Moody's 53-yard field goal. Here are five takeaways from an opening half that reminded everyone of the Ravens' growing problems.
1. Ravens' secondary continues to surrender explosive plays
Baltimore's defensive struggles began almost immediately when Lawrence connected with tight end Nate Boerkircher for 52 yards on Jacksonville's second offensive play. Marlon Humphrey was beaten in coverage, and the Jaguars finished the possession with Bhayshul Tuten's 1-yard touchdown run. The problems continued late in the second quarter when Parker Washington beat safety Malaki Starks for a 50-yard touchdown, extending Jacksonville's lead to 17-3.
Lawrence averaged 13.1 yards per pass attempt in the first half, and the Ravens failed to record a sack or quarterback hit. With Nate Wiggins inactive, Baltimore's secondary struggled to prevent Jacksonville from creating explosive plays downfield.
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2. Joe Fagnano has almost no passing production
Baltimore attempted to protect Fagnano by leaning heavily on Derrick Henry and an unconventional rushing attack that featured multiple direct snaps. The approach produced some positive rushing plays, but it failed to generate consistent passing opportunities. Fagnano completed 7 of 11 passes for 30 yards, averaging just 2.7 yards per attempt. Baltimore's longest completion gained only seven yards, while the offense repeatedly relied on short throws and designed rushing plays.
The rookie did not commit a turnover, but the Ravens need more production through the air to erase a two-touchdown deficit.
3. Derrick Henry makes history despite offensive struggles
Henry provided Baltimore's biggest positive development, passing Jerome Bettis and LaDainian Tomlinson to move into seventh place on the NFL's all-time rushing list. The veteran finished the opening half with 51 yards on 12 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt. Henry also became the centerpiece of Baltimore's unconventional offense, taking seven direct snaps as the Ravens attempted to reduce the pressure on Fagnano.
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His production helped Baltimore control possession, but the inability to finish drives prevented the Ravens from turning that advantage into touchdowns.
4. Penalties continue to hurt Baltimore
The Ravens committed five penalties for 31 yards, including several that disrupted potential scoring opportunities.
Nnamdi Madubuike jumped offsides on fourth-and-4 during Jacksonville's second possession, extending a drive that ended with Cam Little's 36-yard field goal. Offensively, consecutive false starts by Ronnie Stanley and Mark Andrews derailed another Baltimore possession. The Ravens also needed Henry to convert a fourth-and-1 after an unsuccessful third-down sneak involving Andrews.
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Those mistakes are especially costly for an offense operating without Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley.
5. Kyle Hamilton remains Baltimore's defensive bright spot
Hamilton continued to produce impact plays despite the secondary's struggles, recording a tackle for loss that set a Ravens franchise record. According to Baltimore's communications staff, Hamilton became the first defensive back in team history with a tackle for loss in four consecutive games. He reached nine tackles for loss this season, approaching his franchise record of 10 by a defensive back in 2023.
Hamilton's ability to disrupt plays near the line of scrimmage remains valuable, but Baltimore needs more production from the rest of its defense.
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The Ravens enter the second half down 14 against one of the AFC's better teams. Unless Baltimore can limit explosive passes, eliminate penalties, and create more opportunities for Fagnano, its losing streak appears increasingly likely to continue.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens vs. Jaguars: 5 takeaways from Baltimore's brutal first half
