Ravens’ Rookie Debut Leads Week 9 NFL Questions

Joe Fagnano is set to make his first career start for Baltimore when the Ravens host Jacksonville on Thursday, November 5. The undrafted rookie is stepping in after injuries to Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. In his first NFL appearance, against Buffalo, Fagnano completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and threw an interception. Jacksonville has allowed 253.9 passing yards per game, but ranks highly in overall defensive efficiency and against the run.

Cincinnati meets Atlanta in Madrid on Sunday, November 8, with the Falcons facing a major challenge in containing Joe Burrow. The Bengals quarterback has thrown at least four touchdown passes in each of his past three games. Against Tennessee, he threw for 462 yards and five touchdowns, added a rushing score and had three interceptions.

Other questions center on struggling ground and passing attacks. New Orleans, averaging 86 rushing yards per game, faces a Cleveland defense that recently gave up 200 yards on the ground to Pittsburgh. Kansas City, meanwhile, will try to get its passing game going against the Jets’ fifth-ranked pass defense; Travis Kelce leads the Chiefs with 410 receiving yards.

Carolina must protect Bryce Young against Denver’s pass rush after the quarterback was sacked six times in a loss to Green Bay. The Broncos have 23 sacks, tied for fourth in the league. Dallas will look to rebound from a 33–30 overtime loss to Arizona when it visits Indianapolis, while the Giants will see whether J.J. McCarthy can follow up his strong first start against Philadelphia, which has dropped six consecutive games.

The Giants-Eagles game is scheduled for Sunday, as are the other listed matchups. Each contest presents a key test for a team or player, from quarterback performance to run defense and offensive protection.