Ravens Loss to Jaguars: Was Joe Fagnano the Problem in the 33-10 Blowout?
The Ravens loss to Jaguars left Baltimore 4-5 with its fourth straight defeat, and much of the blame has landed on rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano. He threw two interceptions in his first NFL start. But the stats point wider: a Wildcat-heavy plan, a defense that gave up big plays, and a team that keeps committing pre-snap penalties.
Our take: Fagnano’s mistakes were real, but he wasn’t the main problem.
What happened in the Ravens loss to Jaguars
Status: Confirmed unless noted
Jacksonville scored on its opening drive, helped by a 52-yard catch from backup tight end Nate Boerkircher, who beat cornerback Marlon Humphrey, per Yahoo Sports. Jake Moody answered with a 53-yard field goal, the Ravens’ only points until the fourth quarter.
Just before halftime, receiver Parker Washington beat safety Malaki Starks in man coverage for a 50-yard touchdown, per Ravens.com. Jaguars kicker Cam Little added four field goals. After a kick-return fumble by LaJohntay Wester, Chris Rodriguez Jr. scored to make it 33-3. Justice Hill’s 65-yard run came late.
It was the first time in franchise history the Ravens lost three straight games by 20 or more points, per Ravens.com. They’ve also been outscored 84-10 in the second half of their last four games, AP reported.
Was Joe Fagnano the problem?
Fagnano finished 10-of-18 for 60 yards with two interceptions and a sack, a 22.7 rating, and he played all 56 offensive snaps, per Yahoo Sports. He went 7-of-11 for 30 yards in the first half, and his longest completion in the first two quarters was 7 yards.
Most of his first-half passes were screens or short throws, PressBox reported. Both interceptions came in the second half, including one on the first possession after halftime, after Jacksonville led 17-3 and Baltimore had to throw.
The Ravens also went the entire third quarter without a first down, per PressBox. One analyst wrote that Fagnano’s ankle limited his ability to plant and throw, which limited the play-calling (Opinion).
Our take: he deserves some blame for the interceptions. But the plan and the protection made his night harder, and the quarterback was never going to fix that alone.
The Wildcat plan: was it a mistake?
Status: Confirmed and Reported
The first offensive play was a direct snap to Derrick Henry for six yards, per CBS Sports. Henry touched the ball on five of the first seven snaps, according to the Florida Times-Union.
Henry took 10 Wildcat snaps. He had eight all season entering the game, per Pro Football Focus (via Ryan Mink), and he had never taken more than five in a game before this season. He finished with 17 carries for 57 yards and minus-3 yards as a passer.
Jaguars coach Liam Coen said his team practiced the Wildcat “a ton” and adjusted at halftime.
Here’s the counterargument. The Ravens rushed for 172 yards, the most any team has gotten against Jacksonville this season, per Yahoo Sports. Hill added nine carries for 85 yards. Minter said the plan was to create numbers and leverage in the run game.
Our take: with a rookie quarterback on a short week, the idea was defensible, but the volume made it predictable. Some fans call this offensive coordinator Declan Doyle’s worst game. He’s a first-time play-caller, per Baltimore Sports and Life, and the offense has now been held under 14 points in four straight games.
The defense and the Jesse Minter question
Status: Opinion, with facts
Lawrence went 16-of-26 for 242 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Baltimore had no sacks and one quarterback hit, per live game data. Jacksonville scored three touchdowns and settled for four field goals.
The Ravens were also without cornerback Nate Wiggins (illness) and later lost Kyle Hamilton. They lead the NFL with 24 false starts, four of them Thursday, per Baltimore Sports and Life.
Time of possession was nearly even: 30:45 for Baltimore and 29:15 for Jacksonville. So the defense wasn’t on the field all night, even if it felt that way to Minter, who said it was out there the whole half.
An SI Ravens site argued Minter should hand defensive play calling to coordinator Anthony Weaver (Opinion). Baltimore Sports and Life made the opposite case: eight more games is a fair test with a healthier roster, and Minter ranked third in CBS Sports’ preseason poll of defensive play-callers.
Our take: the question is fair, but a switch before the bye-week reset is a stretch. Minter said the team has to make a decision over the break, per AP.
Kyle Hamilton’s injury
Status: Confirmed unless noted
Hamilton was ruled out in the third quarter with a hip injury, per Ravens.com and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Minter had no update and said more would be known soon. Pro Football Talk reported that Hamilton was hurt in the second quarter and briefly returned after halftime (Reported).
If Hamilton misses time, Baltimore will have lost its best offensive player and best defensive player within four days, Ravens.com noted.
Ravens injury report after the Jaguars game
- Kyle Hamilton (hip): ruled out Thursday, status unknown.
- Nate Wiggins (illness): missed Thursday.
- Jaylinn Hawkins (knee): missed Thursday.
- Lamar Jackson (thumb), Tyler Huntley (toe), Tyler Loop (groin): on injured reserve.
Loop went on injured reserve because of a right groin injury, the team and Minter said. Some fans have speculated that it was a punishment, but we found no reporting that said so.
Latest Ravens news: Jacoby Brissett trade is official
Status: Reported
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Baltimore sent Arizona a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 seventh-round pick for Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round pick. ESPN’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Cardinals are paying more than half of Brissett’s remaining salary.
Brissett is 33, has 73 career starts for seven teams, and started Arizona’s first eight games before being demoted to No. 3 behind Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck, per Ravens.com. He’s slated to start Monday, Nov. 16, against the Chargers.
Ravens schedule: what’s next
- Tuesday, Nov. 10: NFL trade deadline.
- Monday, Nov. 16: vs. the Chargers, 8:15 p.m. ET.
- Sunday, Nov. 22: at Carolina.
- Sunday, Nov. 29: at Houston.
Lamar Jackson Ravens playoffs news: what’s left of the season?
Jackson is on injured reserve for at least four games. By our count, that carries him past the Nov. 29 game at Houston, so Dec. 13 against Tampa Bay would be the earliest return.
At 4-5 and on a four-game losing streak, the playoff case is thin. Our take: the Chargers game, with Brissett and 11 days of preparation, is the first real test of whether the offense can function.
Ravens loss to Jaguars FAQ
Why did the Ravens lose to the Jaguars? A rookie quarterback with two interceptions, a Wildcat-heavy plan that Jacksonville had prepared for, big plays allowed on defense, and a kick-return fumble all played a part.
What was Joe Fagnano’s stat line? 10-of-18 for 60 yards with two interceptions and one sack.
Who starts at quarterback against the Chargers? Jacoby Brissett is slated to start on Monday, Nov. 16, per Ravens.com.
Is Kyle Hamilton injured? He left Thursday’s game with a hip injury. The team hasn’t announced a diagnosis or a timeline.
Should Minter give up defensive play calling? No change has been announced. It’s an opinion some outlets are raising, and Minter said the team must make a decision over the break.
Bottom line
The Ravens loss to Jaguars wasn’t only about one rookie. The plan, the defense, the penalties and the injuries all showed up. Should Minter keep calling the defense for the rest of the year, or hand it to Anthony Weaver? Tell us in the comments.
