Jaguars Hold Off Bengals 22-17 as Jacksonville Avoids Another Late Collapse

Jacksonville Jaguars Finally Got Their Revenge In Cincinnati

Jacksonville’s defense made two crucial red zone stops, including stopping Bengals running back Chase Brown one yard short of a first down with 50 seconds remaining, and Trevor Lawrence threw for 227 yards and a touchdown as the Jaguars held off Cincinnati 22-17 on Sunday.

The victory was particularly significant for Jaguars coach Liam Coen’s team after Jacksonville suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Bengals in Cincinnati last season. The Jaguars fell 31-27 in Week 2 a year ago when Jake Browning scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 18 seconds remaining.

Jacksonville experienced another difficult Week 2 this season, losing to the Denver Broncos after Denver rallied with two fourth quarter touchdowns. This time, however, the Jaguars made the plays necessary to finish the game.

Trevor Lawrence Earns First Win Over Joe Burrow

Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes and finally defeated the Bengals for the first time in four career meetings. The sixth year quarterback, selected No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, now has at least one victory over every AFC opponent.

It was also Lawrence’s first victory against Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow in four matchups, dating back to the 2020 College Football Playoff championship game between Clemson and LSU. Brian Thomas Jr. and Chris Rodriguez scored touchdowns for Jacksonville, while Cam Little added three field goals.

Bengals Rally, But Jaguars Defense Makes Final Stand

Jacksonville appeared to take control when Rodriguez broke a 25-yard run off left guard to give the Jaguars a 22-10 lead with 6:25 remaining. The Jaguars failed on the ensuing 2-point conversion, leaving Cincinnati within striking distance.

The Bengals responded with a nine play touchdown drive that ended with Burrow scoring on a 1-yard sneak three minutes later. Jacksonville then appeared to deliver the knockout blow when Parker Washington caught a screen pass from Lawrence and raced 39 yards to the Bengals 16 on third-and-10. However, replay showed Washington had stepped out of bounds at the Bengals 48, wiping out the big gain.

After Jacksonville punted, Cincinnati took possession at its own 17 with 1:44 remaining. Burrow completed three consecutive passes to move the Bengals to the Jacksonville 21, but the Bengals quarterback then missed on three straight attempts. On fourth-and-10, Burrow found Brown in the flat. Brown beat linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, but safety Rayuan Lane III made the game-saving tackle, stopping Brown one yard short of the first down at the Jaguars 12. The Jaguars took over on downs and ran out the clock.

Burrow Throws for 428 Yards in Bengals Loss

Burrow put up enormous numbers despite the loss, completing 39 of 54 passes for 428 yards. It was the eighth 400 yard passing performance of his career. Burrow threw a touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki and also scored on his quarterback sneak in the second half, but two interceptions proved costly.

The first interception was particularly damaging because Jacksonville turned it into a touchdown. Burrow’s second interception came in the red zone and ended another promising Bengals possession.

Cincinnati also lost two key offensive weapons to injuries. All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase suffered a concussion in the second quarter, while Tee Higgins caught 11 passes for 151 yards before leaving the game with a groin injury in the fourth quarter.

Bengals Drop Second Straight Game

The Bengals have now lost two consecutive games after opening the season with two victories, marking the second straight year Cincinnati has followed a 2-0 start with back-to-back losses. The defeat clearly frustrated coach Zac Taylor. The eighth-year coach could be heard from the adjoining interview room ripping into his team in the locker room following the game.

For Jacksonville, the mood was considerably different. The Jaguars finally closed out a tight game in Cincinnati, something they failed to do one year ago. The Jaguars will now turn their attention to London, where they will face the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday. The Bengals return home to prepare for a matchup against the Miami Dolphins next Sunday.