For a second straight week, the Cincinnati Bengals' offense had a chance to win the game on their final drive of regulation. And for the second straight week, they fell short, falling 22-17 on Sunday to the visiting Jaguars.
On the final drive of the game, the Bengals quickly moved 62 yards to the Jaguars' 21-yard line. But after three straight incompletions, the Bengals' comeback bid ended when Chase Brown was tackled one yard short of the sticks on fourth-and-10 with 56 seconds remaining.
Cincinnati (2-2) played the majority of the second half without Pro Bowl wideout Ja'Marr Chase, who sustained a concussion after Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller hit him with the crown of his helmet early in the second quarter. Chase also had his facemask yanked on the play by Jarrian Jones prior to Miller's hit.
The Bengals were also without Tee Higgins on the game's final drive. Higgins left the game after catching 11 passes for 157 yards.
Jacksonville (3-1) led by 10 points at halftime and took a 22-10 lead with 6:35 left before hanging on for the win. Trevor Lawrence engineered the Jaguars' victory, throwing for 227 yards and a score on 18-of-23 passing. Jacksonville's defense made an impact as well. It picked off Burrow twice and held Cincinnati to just 23 yards on 15 carries.
The Jaguars won despite committing 13 penalties for 135 yards.
Jacksonville held a precarious 6-3 lead late in the first half. The Bengals had passed Jaguars territory and were in position to tie the score before halftime when Burrow was picked by Jourdan Lewis. Jacksonville scored five plays later to take a 13-3 halftime lead.
Cincinnati's late-game issues with Burrow are incomprehensible. They are now 1-35 with Burrow in games where they are trailing at any point in the final eight minutes. They are 0-2 in those situations this season.
Execution has been the biggest issue. Last week, the Bengals started their final drive by burning a timeout to avoid a delay-of-game penalty. Sunday's final drive included an inaccurate pass from Burrow to Mike Gesicki that, if caught, would have given the Bengals the lead with 1:05 left.
Cincinnati's final offensive play was a head-scratcher as well. Looking at where Burrow threw the ball, Brown would have needed to break several tackles in order to get the first down.
It goes without saying that the injuries to Chase and Higgins contributed to the loss. However, the Bengals did get encouraging performances from fellow wideouts Dohnte Meyers and Mitchell Tinsley, who caught a combined 10 passes for 131 yards.
Running the ball remains an issue for the Bengals. Cincinnati didn't rush for a single yard in the first quarter. Brown finished with 10 yards on 9 carries.
The Jaguars would have had a bigger halftime lead if they weren't flagged 10 times for 100 yards in the first half. One of those penalties wiped out a 44-yard touchdown run by Bhayshul Tuten.
The Jaguars were much cleaner in the second half, though. They were flagged three times for 25 yards in the game's final 30 minutes. Conversely, the Bengals were flagged five times in the second half after being penalized six times in the first half.
Lawrence outplayed Burrow, but he had some help from his backfield mates. The Jaguars rushed for 111 yards on 27 carries that included Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s 25-yard touchdown run that held up as the game-winning score. Tuten had 73 yards on 20 carries, including a 20-yard run.
Lawrence threw often to tight end Brenton Strange, who caught seven of 8 targets for 95 yards. Brian Thomas Jr. was largely quiet, but he did catch a touchdown pass that made it a two-possession game at intermission.
With the win, the Jaguars remain ahead of the pack in the AFC South standings. The Bengals, meanwhile, are now in last place in the AFC North.
Bengals comeback bid ends with Chase Brown getting tackled a yard shy of the first down marker. Bengals offense comes up short for a second straight week.
Jaguars move to 3-1 with today's 22-17 win. The Bengals fall to 2-2.
Burrow moves the Bengals 62 yards on three straight completions. Bengals inside the 20-yard-line with just over a minute left.
It initially looked like Parker Washington had sealed the game on a 39-yard catch-and-run. But instant replay shows that Washington stepped out of bounds about three yards shy of the first down.
Jaguars punt, and Bengals -- for a second straight week -- have a chance to win the game on the final drive. No Tee Higgins on this drive.
Lawrence hits Strange for 15 yards on third-and-8 as the Bengals move the chains. Bengals have to use their second timeout with 2:28 left.
Bengals show fight and make it a 22-17 game after Burrow sneaks it in with a yard out. Bengals still have all three time outs with 3:38 left. Defense needs to step up here.
Tee Higgins is now being tended to by the Bengals' medical staff. Bengals are already without Ja'Marr Chase. Higgins is still in the game and the Bengals are back in scoring range. They need a touchdown, though.
Massive drive for the Jaguars, who make it a 22-10 game on a 25-yard TD run by Chris Rodriquez. It was a seven-play, 76-yard drive that took 3:14 off the clock.
The Jaguars' running game has heated up this half. They've run for 115 yards and a score on 23 carries. Bengals have a scant 21 yards on 13 carries.
Bengals have no margin for error now with 6:35 left.
The Jaguars initially opted to try a 65-yard FG, but despite the Bengals committing a five-yard penalty for too many men on the field, the Jags opt to punt and it backfires when they are unable to down the ball. Bengals will take over at their own 20, still down six.
Bengals defense has held the Jaguars to just 3 of 8 on third downs.
Burrow picked for a second time, this one by Foyesade Oluokun. Bengals are now just 1 of 3 in the red zone.
I put a lot of the Bengals' issues on their ongoing lack of a running game. Just 21 yards on 13 carries so far. The Jaguars aren't running amok, but Tuten is doing enough to complement Lawrence.
Burrow hits Dohnte Meyers for 29 yards on third-and-16 on the Bengals' 20 late in the third. That play seems like a possible turning point.
Bengals, trailing 16-10, in scoring range as we head to the fourth quarter.
The Jaguars don't get in the end zone, but they are able to get a game-tying field goal with three minutes left in the third.
While it's a low scoring game, but quarterbacks are enjoying efficient days. Lawrence has thrown for 176 yards on 13 of 17 passing. Burrow is 22 of 28 for 204 yards with a TD and a pick.
Jags have been flagged once this quarter after having 10 penalties in the first half.
Burrow hits TE Mike Gesicki on a 15-yard strike that makes it a 13-10 game midway through the third. Bengals move 67 yards in 12 plays that takes 6:16 off the clock.
Ja'Marr Chase will not return to the game. The Bengals will undoubtedly lean more on Higgins and Brown the rest of the way.
Score: Jaguars 13-3
First downs: 9-9
Third down: Bengals 1-5, Jaguars 2-5
Total yards: Jaguars 181-146
Penalties: Jaguars 10 for 100, Bengals 6-49
Red zone: Jaguars 1-2, Bengals 0-1
Lawrence: 9-12, 136 yards TD
Burrow: 16-20, 141 yards, INT
Lawrence hits a wide open Brian Thomas. Jr for the game's first TD. The Jaguars are now up 13-3 with 1:23 left until halftime.
The Jaguars are leading despite having TEN first half penalties.
Jourdan Lewis picks off Burrow on what was a horrible pass. The Jaguars have a chance to add to their lead before halftime.
Cincinnati's' red zone defense held the Jaguars to a field goal and face a 6-3 deficit with 4:16 left until halftime. So much for the shootout, lol.
The Jaguars had a 44-yard TD called back. Penalties have killed Jacksonville so far. They already have 90 yards on 9 penalties.
The Bengals are able to tie the score at 3 after a penalty wiped out a touchdown by RB Samaje Perine.
Chase did not return on that drive, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power. He's heading to the locker room.
Ja'Marr Chase is getting tended to by trainers after getting simultaneously hit and having his facemask completely twisted. Jaguars were penalized for the play, but the bigger focus right now is on Chase.
A quick first quarter ends with the Jaguars enjoying a 3-0 lead. The story of that quarter were penalties and a lack of running. Both teams combined to run for 18 yards (Bengals had 0 yards on 3 carries) and had 8 penalties (6 for the Jaguars).
Travis Hunter's second career picks gets wiped out after Arik Armstead hits Burrow in the head after he threw the ball. There was a discussion as to whether or not Armstead was blocked into Burrow.
Either way, Burrow got away with one. That wasn't a good throw and it was an easy pick for Hunter. Bengals really need to establish the run.
The Jaguars strike first after Cam Little drills a 55-yard FG with 2:18 left in the first quarter. The drive's big play was a 22-yard completion from Lawrence to Jakobi Meyers.
Neither team has been able to run the ball so far. The Bengals have -3 yards on 2 carries. The Jaguars have 18 yards on 5 carries.
The Jags' tight end converts a third-and-18 after getting 23 yards. Strange was able to break Jordan Battle's tackle attempt.
Those are killer plays for a defense. The Bengals' defense has played really well so far.
Cincinnati got close to midfield on their opening drive but had to punt after a pre-snap penalty turned a fourth-and-1 into a fourth-and-6. Tee Higgins was tackled a yard short of the first down the previous play.
Bengals defense was fast and furious on the game's first drive. Really nice open field tackle by Jordan Battle on third down to force the punt.
Bengals punt return unit continues to have issues, though. Holding call on Bengals pushes the ball back to the 10.
Jaguars luck out and get a holding call on their first play, which negates a possible strip sack for Boye Mafe. Bhayshull Tuten rips off a 15-yard run on the next play, though.
Bengals win toss and defer, Jaguars will get the ball first.
Big plays have also been missing from the Bengals offense. Joe Burrow's longest completion last Sunday against the Steelers was just 28 yards. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins had a combined 15 catches on 21 targets. I expect both to get more volume moving forward.
Cincinnati's potent offense will have its work cut out for it against Jacksonville's top-ranked scoring defense.
The Jaguars are allowing just 12 points per game and are 1st in TD passes allowed (2), 8th in rushing, 3rd in red zone and 2nd in red zone efficiency. Jacksonville's defense is full of young studs that includes Travis Hunter (who recently recorded his first career INT).
Jacksonville will be facing a Bengals offense that is averaging nearly 27 points per game. Cincinnati's Achilles heel so far has been in the red zone as they are 21st in the league in that department. The Bengals are also just 28th in the NFL in rushing. Chase Brown has 49 carries, but no other Bengals player has more than 10 rushes.
It'll be 75 at kickoff and will reach 78 degrees by 3 p.m. Virtually no wind.
