Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 22-17 on Sunday, as the defense made two key red-zone stops late in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. Trevor Lawrence threw for 227 yards and a touchdown, while Joe Burrow passed for 428 yards in the losing effort.
Trevor Lawrence and Jacksonville Defense Hold Off Cincinnati
The Jacksonville Jaguars secured a 22-17 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, avoiding a repeat of last year’s late-game collapse in Cincinnati. Jacksonville’s defense sealed the win with two critical red-zone stops in the final minute. Safety Rayuan Lane III tackled Bengals running back Chase Brown 1 yard short of a first down at the 12-yard line with 50 seconds remaining on the clock. The win is a major achievement for Liam Coen's squad. Last season in Week 2, Jacksonville fell 31-27 to the Bengals after a late quarterback sneak. “You look at the last time we were in this locker room, we weren’t able to close out a game where we weren’t able to get it done offensively and the defense had to hold strong and we end up (in) a game of inches,” Coen said. “Proud of the growth and the group for sticking with it and overcoming a lot of bad stuff, a lot of self-inflicted wounds.” Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes, earning his first victory against Cincinnati in four attempts. With the win, the sixth-year quarterback has now recorded at least one victory against every AFC opponent.
Joe Burrow and Bengals Offense Fall Short Despite Big Yardage
Joe Burrow completed 39 of 54 passes for 428 yards, marking his eighth career 400-yard passing game. Cincinnati lost All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to a concussion in the second quarter. Later in the fourth quarter, Tee Higgins exited the game with a groin injury after catching 11 passes for 151 yards. Burrow threw two interceptions during the contest. The first turnover led directly to a Jacksonville touchdown, while the second occurred in the red zone. “We know we had some chances. We’ve got to find a way to not turn the ball over there, specifically the one in the red zone. That’s the one I’m the most upset about. I got pressured and was trying to get rid of it and didn’t see (the defender),” Burrow said. Despite the miscues, Burrow connected with Mike Gesicki for a touchdown and added a 1-yard touchdown run on a quarterback sneak in the second half. Cincinnati has now dropped two consecutive games after winning their first two contests of the season.
Penalty Flags and Injury Impact Define the Matchup
Referee Alex Moore’s crew penalized both teams heavily throughout the afternoon. Officials called 24 total penalties for 244 yards, with 16 of those infractions occurring in the first half alone. “I’ve just never quite seen something that much the first half of the football game,” Coen said. The physical contest also took a toll on both rosters. Beyond the injuries to Cincinnati’s receiving corps, the Jaguars lost safety Caleb Ransaw to a knee injury in the first quarter. Safety Eric Murray was subsequently ruled out in the second half due to a concussion. Jacksonville maintained defensive momentum by extending a franchise record. Jourdan Lewis intercepted a second-quarter pass intended for Dohnte Meyers and returned it 45 yards, marking the ninth game in which the Jaguars have recorded an interception—the longest active streak in the NFL. Four plays after the turnover, Lawrence found Brian Thomas Jr. wide open in the back of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown. Chris Rodriguez added a 25-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, and kicker Cam Little contributed three field goals to round out the scoring for Jacksonville.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Jaguars-Bengals Game
How did the Jaguars stop the Bengals’ final drive?
With 50 seconds remaining and the Bengals driving inside the red zone, quarterback Joe Burrow connected with running back Chase Brown in the flat on a fourth-and-10 play. Safety Rayuan Lane III tackled Brown 1 yard short of the first down marker at the 12-yard line to turn the ball over on downs.
What milestones did Trevor Lawrence reach in this game?
Lawrence earned his first victory against the Cincinnati Bengals in four career matchups, a span that dates back to the 2020 College Football Playoff title game between Clemson and LSU. With this win, the 2021 NFL draft’s top overall pick now holds at least one victory against every franchise in the American Football Conference.
What injuries impacted the Cincinnati Bengals’ offense?
The Bengals lost wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to a concussion during the second quarter. Later in the fourth quarter, fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins exited the game with a groin injury after recording 11 receptions for 151 yards.
Who do the Jacksonville Jaguars play next?
The Jacksonville Jaguars travel to London to face the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.
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