Lamar Jackson lasted just one play against Buffalo before being sidelined again. The Baltimore Ravens quarterback needs surgery on his thumb, while his replacement, Tyler Huntley, also suffered an injury. Four days before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars, the hosts were left without their starting quarterback and with doubts over his backup. The timing could hardly be worse for a meeting with one of the league's most reliable defences.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens' problems began even before this setback. They have lost three consecutive games, scoring just 33 points across them, with their last two defeats coming by margins of 22 and 26 points. Against Buffalo, rookie Joe Fagnano completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and threw an interception. Derrick Henry remains a serious threat on the ground, but the opposition can focus their defence on stopping him. Without a threatening passing game, the offence will struggle to score. The defence has also declined, conceding 71 points over the last two games.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars have the tools to take advantage. They have won five of their seven games, averaging 28 points scored and just 15.9 conceded per game. After their bye week, they thrashed Indianapolis (42:7). Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes, while Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 104 yards. That matters for the upcoming game: the visitors can move the ball both through the air and on the ground, making it difficult for the Baltimore Ravens defence to anticipate their next move. Three of the Jacksonville Jaguars' five wins have already come by margins of at least 24 points.
Baltimore Ravens vs Jacksonville Jaguars Prediction
The Jacksonville Jaguars need to win by at least eight points to cover the spread, and there are reasons on both sides of the ball to expect that margin. The Baltimore Ravens will struggle to sustain long scoring drives without Lamar Jackson, while their defence has regularly conceded heavily in recent games. If the hosts have to give the ball back more often after short possessions, Trevor Lawrence will have additional opportunities to extend the lead. Our pick is the Jacksonville Jaguars to win with a -7.5-point handicap.
