Jesse Minter’s first season as the Ravens’ head coach has reached its most difficult point.

Baltimore has fallen from 4-1 to 4-4, lost Lamar Jackson to thumb surgery, and could be without Tyler Huntley because of a toe injury. The Ravens have two days to prepare for a Jacksonville team coming off a 42-7 victory. The short week will test more than Minter’s game-planning ability. It will test whether the structure and leadership he has established can keep a talented roster from allowing adversity to dictate its season.

Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle must determine how much of the offense quarterback Joe Fagnano can reasonably execute. The answer should influence everything from the opening script to fourth-down decisions. Baltimore also needs a protection plan for an offensive line that allowed Buffalo to produce four sacks and 12 quarterback hits. The defense cannot be expected to compensate indefinitely. Buffalo ran 76 offensive plays and controlled possession for more than 37 minutes, wearing down a unit that initially kept the game competitive. Baltimore must create a plan that allows the offense to sustain drives even if explosive plays are limited.

Minter’s handling of the practice schedule also matters. The Ravens need physical recovery, but they cannot afford another game defined by communication mistakes and breakdowns. A win would move Baltimore to 5-4 and give them 10 days to prepare for the Chargers. A loss would produce a four-game skid and intensify questions about the staff’s ability to adjust.

Minter does not need to solve the entire season Thursday. He needs to show that his team can stop its decline before it becomes irreversible.