Three straight losses have turned Thursday night into a crucial crossroads for the Baltimore Ravens. M&T Bank Stadium will be loud when Baltimore, 4-4, meets the 5-2 Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Ravens face an even steeper climb after losing quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley to injuries. Jacksonville arrives fresh from a 42-7 win over Indianapolis, carrying the confident pace of a team that has scored 28 points per game.

Baltimore’s clearest path begins with Derrick Henry, the powerful runner who gives the Ravens a chance to set the tone one hard carry at a time. Henry has rushed for 632 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games. That workload matters now more than ever. With Joe Fagnano recently pressed into action, Baltimore will need Henry to keep the offense moving, shorten the game, and create easier throws.

The Ravens also need Zay Flowers to shake free on quick routes and turn small openings into bigger gains. Flowers has caught 40 passes for 608 yards, showing that he remains Baltimore’s most productive target. Yet Baltimore has scored only 10 points in each of its last three games. The offense must finish drives near the goal line instead of settling for difficult kicks or leaving points behind.

Jacksonville’s defense will try to make that task even tougher. The Jaguars allow only 15.9 points per game, one of the strongest marks in the league. Their defense has been especially good at taking the ball away and quickly turning those moments into chances for Trevor Lawrence. Against Indianapolis, Jacksonville’s defense returned an interception 92 yards for a touchdown, a play that showed its speed, awareness, and ability to flip a game in one rush downfield.

Lawrence brings a different kind of challenge for Baltimore. He has thrown 17 touchdown passes in seven games, and Jacksonville can attack with throws to the outside, passes through the middle, and a running game that keeps defenders guessing. Bhayshul Tuten is questionable with an ankle and foot injury after his huge performance against the Colts, so Jacksonville may need other runners to help carry the load. If Tuten plays, his sharp cuts and receiving skill give the Jaguars another fast-moving piece.

Baltimore’s defense has allowed 25.4 points per game, but it has held opponents to 331 yards per game. That suggests the Ravens can make stops between the goal lines. Their biggest mission is preventing Lawrence from turning those drives into touchdowns. Nate Wiggins is questionable, and Baltimore will need its available defensive backs to stay close to Jacksonville’s receivers.

This matchup is like a race between two teams heading in opposite directions: Jacksonville is protecting a strong start, while Baltimore is trying to stop a slide before it grows. Henry can keep the Ravens close, especially at home, but Jacksonville has been more complete on both sides of the ball. Prediction: The Jaguars win.

Jacksonville Brings Its Fast Start to Baltimore’s Thursday Night Challenge