3 studs and 3 duds from the Jaguars frustrating Sunday Night loss to the Ravens

The Jacksonville Jaguars dropped to 8-6 following their 23-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. While there were flashes of competent plays through the game, the Jags couldn't get out of their own way. Issues that had shown up in previous losses were also present in Week 15, whether it was drops, overthrows, or the inability to block up front.

Had the Jaguars played clean football, the outcome of the game could've been different but their performance left much to be desired, and makes you wonder if they have what it takes to make the playoffs. Granted, they're still No. 1 in the division but they've struggled the past three weeks while the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts have surged.

It will be interesting to see how the Jags respond when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. For the time being, here's a look at three players who had a role in the loss to the Ravens, and three that shined despite the outcome. First, the duds.

3. Brandon McManus

Brandon McManus has done a good job for the most part this season. However, he was a liability against the Ravens, missing two field goals in the first half. Both attempts were of 50+ yards but he's previously nailed such kicks.

You could make the case that it was windy but that doesn't justify McManus, even if making both field goals may not have ultimately changed the outcome of the game. The veteran kicker is now 24-of-30 this season, with all his misses coming behind the 40-yard line.

2. Walker Little

Offensive tackle Walker Little arguably had his worst outing of the season against the Ravens. The former Stanford Cardinal has usually fared well at left tackle but he was underwhelming on Sunday Night Football, giving up eight total pressures. It's true that he was dealing with a hamstring injury but the Jags didn't have any other choices with Ezra Cleveland returning to his more familiar left guard spot.

Little wasn't much better in run blocking, posting a 43.6 Pro Football Focus grade. Trevor Lawrence ended up being sacked just once in the loss but he was constantly pressured, which led to one of his worst performances of the season. The whole offensive line should be under scrutiny, and Little is not exempt.

1. Trevor Lawrence

Trevor Lawrence entered concussion protocol after the game when he reported symptoms to the training staff. He played all game, so it's hard to know with certainty when he suffered the concussion. One thing is certain, this was one of his worst performances of the year, completing just 58.1 percent of his passes for 264 yards with one touchdown and no interception.

Lawrence routinely made mistakes, including missing a wide open Travis Etienne who could've gotten the Jaguars into the Ravens' red zone.

This doesn't mean that Lawrence is suddenly a bust. He's previously shown he can raise his game to an absurd level. However, he's prone to have poor performances every now and then, just like any player would do. And like any other player, Steezy Trev isn't exempt from constructive criticism. Moreover, he had a few nice throws including the one that Jamal Agnew caught for a 65-yard touchdown pass.

3. Daniel Thomas

You won't hear about Daniel Thomas often but that's because he's at the bottom of the depth chart, behind Andre Wingard, Rayshawn Jenkins, and Andre Cisco. The last time Thomas, a fifth-round pick, started a game was in 2021, and he hasn't gotten much playing time on defense the past two years. However, he's carved a niche as a specialist and his gunner skills were on full display against the Ravens.

If that wasn't enough Thomas deserves an award, whichever you want, for wearing the best pregame gear in the whole NFL.

2. Rayshawn Jenkins

Daniel Thomas isn't the only safety who shined against Baltimore. Although the defense gave up 23 points, they did a decent job of limiting Lamar Jackson. Among those players who had a role in containing the 2019 MVP was Rayshan Jenkins, who sacked him and picked him off.

Jenkins has been underwhelming at times this season, but there's no doubt he showed out against the Ravens and gave the Jags a fighting chance.

1. Travon Walker

Josh Allen had a monster pass rush win rate of 40.9 percent and eight total pressures Sunday Night. However, fellow outside linebacker Travon Walker is coming on his own, posting six total pressures and one sack. Moreover, Walker has progressively turned into a force against the run.

One of the reasons the Ravens offense couldn't frequently take off was Walker sealing the edge. While he's yet to reach his ceiling, he's making strides every week. He's now got six sacks for the season with three games to go.

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