100 Hours: How the Jaguars Are Handling the Short Turn to Thursday Night at Baltimore

One hundred hours. By the time Jacksonville Jaguars players heard the postgame speech from coach Liam Coen and began to peel off their rain-soaked equipment on Nov. 1, their focus had shifted, the Florida Times-Union reported in a column opened and read directly by the desk this run. The Jaguars' 42-7 win over Indianapolis moved their record to 5-2 and extended their division lead to an NFL-best 2 1/2 games - but instead of the normal 165 hours between a Sunday afternoon game and the next Sunday, Jacksonville has 100 hours (4:15 p.m. Sunday to 8:15 p.m. Thursday) before its game at the Baltimore Ravens, with three days between games instead of six. It is the Jaguars' first Thursday night game since they won at New Orleans in October 2023, and only four starters from that game remain on the roster.

Recovery started in the stadium. 'It seemed like the whole defense was just in the cold tubs,' defensive tackle Matt Dickerson said, in words quoted by the Times-Union. 'Recovery starts now.' The Jaguars were scheduled to bring the players in later in the day on Nov. 2 and hold walk-through practices on Nov. 3-4 before flying to Baltimore. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is 2-1 in Thursday night games, described the compressed week in the same file: 'We'll start first thing in the morning (on Nov. 2). Usually on Mondays, you watch the film of the game you just played and then get Tuesday off (from being on the field) and really start Wednesday. (This week) is just getting the plan underway as soon as possible.' Coach Liam Coen's framing for the week, per the column: 'Mission Two Wins in Five Days.'

The rout bought rest. Because the Colts game was decided early, play time was managed across the roster: Lawrence played 44 snaps, and only left tackle Walker Little and left guard Emmanuel Pregnon played all 54 offensive snaps; on defense, only safety Rayuan Lane played all 61 snaps, and that was out of necessity because starter Eric Murray (elbow) was injured covering the opening kickoff. Forty-two Jaguars played at least 10 offensive or defensive snaps. Baltimore, meanwhile, lost quarterback Lamar Jackson to a broken right thumb and backup Tyler Huntley to a turf toe injury in its loss to Buffalo, with rookie Joe Fagnano finishing the game - the desk's Ravens quarterback file is SQ-20261102-011.