The Jacksonville Jaguars overcame both the Baltimore Ravens and intermittent heavy rain Thursday night, earning a 33-10 victory at M&T Bank Stadium.
The win moved Jacksonville to 6-2 and marked the third consecutive game in which the Jaguars scored more than 30 points, and the fifth time this season. Kicker Cam Little tied his career high with four field goals, and the defense intercepted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano twice. Jacksonville has now forced three turnovers in a game nine times since the start of last season.
Fagnano was making his first NFL start because of injuries to Tyler Huntley, who has turf toe, and Lamar Jackson, who is dealing with a right thumb injury. The Jaguars, meanwhile, played in the rain for the third straight week, following a Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium in London and a 42-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium last Sunday.
One bright spot for Jacksonville was wideout Parker Washington, whose 50-yard catch and run for a touchdown in the second quarter was the team's 11th offensive touchdown of at least 20 yards this season, the most in the NFL according to ESPN Research. The New England Patriots rank second with nine, and the Jaguars had nine such touchdowns all of last season. Washington has been far less productive as a punt returner, entering the night averaging 3.5 yards on eight returns and failing to catch any of Baltimore's three first-half punts. He finished with one return for 11 yards. Travis Hunter took some return reps on Sunday, though he had none Thursday, as the Jaguars look to spark their special teams. Jacksonville next hosts the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. ET.
For Baltimore, the loss was a fourth straight and the third in a row by 20 or more points, something that had never happened in the franchise's 31-year history. The Ravens have also been held under 14 points in three consecutive games for the first time ever, a brutal stretch for first-year head coach Jesse Minter.
Baltimore tried to get creative with running back Derrick Henry taking Wildcat snaps, but Fagnano and the offense looked overmatched. The undrafted rookie completed 10 of 18 passes for 60 yards with two interceptions, and the Ravens turned the ball over three times.
The situation may not improve soon. Jackson was placed on injured reserve Thursday and will miss at least the next three games. Baltimore, now 4-5, is expected to finalize a trade for veteran journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett this weekend.
Among the most surprising performances was that of receiver Zay Flowers, who managed just six yards on three catches despite being targeted six times, a product of Fagnano's inability to stretch the field. Flowers opened the season with 40 catches for 608 yards over the first seven weeks but was held without a catch in the previous game.
Washington's 50-yard touchdown came against safety Malaki Starks, exposing a recurring weakness. Baltimore entered the night having allowed 1,421 yards to wide receivers, the third most in the league behind only the Philadelphia Eagles and Titans, and played without top cornerback Nate Wiggins, who was inactive with an illness. The Ravens also continue to hurt themselves with penalties, leading the NFL with 24 false starts after committing three in the first half from offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, tight end Mark Andrews and wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane. Baltimore had 19 false starts all of last season. The Ravens next host the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 16 at 8:15 p.m. ET.
