Jaguars, Trevor Lawrence face last AFC team he hasn't beaten: Bengals

Trevor Lawrence has taken down every team in the AFC — except one.

On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Cincinnati Bengals, a team Lawrence has faced three times but failed to defeat.

But this Lawrence is different, and, in some important ways, these Jaguars are different.

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Jacksonville enters its latest shot at the Bengals with a confident quarterback, an offense still sorting out how its pieces fit, and a team that has cut down on the self-inflicted mistakes that plagued it a year ago.

In his first meeting with the Bengals in 2021, Jacksonville fell 24-21 on Thursday Night Football after taking a 14-point lead into halftime. Two years later, Lawrence and the Jaguars

lost 34-31 in overtime, with the quarterback sustaining a high-ankle sprain late in the fourth quarter.

Then came last season.

Jacksonville led for much of the day in Cincinnati before the Bengals drove 92 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 18 seconds remaining, handing the Jaguars a 31-27 loss.

Three meetings. Three losses.

Lawrence, though, seemed surprised when told about the distinction. He said it won't change how he approaches Sunday.

“You don't really think about that. I know we haven't beaten them here. I didn't know it was the only team in the AFC we hadn’t [beaten]. It doesn't really change your preparation process. Obviously, it's a game we want to win. It's because it's the next one," Lawrence said.

"It's really, honestly, that's what it is. But definitely want to beat these guys and got to put together a good plan.”

Through three games this season, Lawrence has thrown seven touchdown passes (an NFL high through Week 3) and two interceptions, with a passer rating of 107.8. This time last season, Lawrence threw just four touchdowns and four interceptions, with a 70.3 passer rating.

Lawrence may be playing some of his best ball, but not every part of Jacksonville's passing game has settled into place.

Brian Thomas Jr.'s opportunities have changed. His confidence hasn't

Brian Thomas Jr.'s opportunities haven't been the same lately. His confidence, he says, has.

Thomas' production has fallen sharply since his standout rookie season in 2024, but he hasn't sounded like a player searching for a fit in Jacksonville's offense. Instead, he's remained consistent: stay ready, stay patient and trust that opportunities will come.

“Not everything's gonna go through one person,” Thomas said in the locker room this week. “This is a team sport. ... You gotta stay locked in. Know that your opportunity gonna come, and when your opportunity do come, you just gotta go out there and make the best out of it.”

Through three games this year, Thomas has been targeted 13 times, catching seven passes for 88 yards. More telling, though, has been his usage.

Thomas played 64.4% of Jacksonville's offensive snaps last season. Through three games this year, that number has fallen to 42.1%.

In a Week 1 blowout, Thomas totaled 20 snaps (35.1%) before playing 32 snaps (54.2%) in Week 2. In Week 3, however, Thomas totaled just 23 snaps (37.1%), matching rookie sixth-round WR Josh Cameron.

“I just continue to stay confident as always … it's gonna come. Just keep having faith and just knowing that it's gonna come," Thomas said.

Jaguars head coach Liam Coen stressed this week that Thomas' snap count Sunday didn't reflect how the team feels about him as a player. Rather, it was part of the flow of the game and what they felt was best for attacking the personnel in front of them.

"We are 100% going to need BT to make plays down the field and continue to ascend and make contested catches and do the things that he does really well," Coen said early this week. "And that's on us as a staff to continue to put him in those positions, and he's going to make a ton of plays for us this year, I have no doubt in my mind.”

Jaguars have stopped beating themselves with penalties

Jacksonville's operation has been steady this season. While there were dips during the team's Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos, they've stayed disciplined when it matters.

A season ago, the Jaguars struggled early with penalties. Coen was new in town, and the team was still figuring out what they wanted to do.

Through three weeks last season, the Jaguars had already racked up 218 yards (26 accepted) through three games, tied for the fourth most.

Through three weeks this season, Jacksonville has had 15 penalties accepted against them, tied for the third fewest of any team in the league.

Coen said this week that the team's players made it a point of emphasis, from a leadership standpoint, heading into training camp to lessen self-inflicted wounds.

"Some of those things that ultimately we have a hard enough time lining up and beating an opponent that if we consistently put ourselves at a disadvantage, we're obviously not giving ourselves the best chance to be successful on Sunday," said Coen.

"Yeah, happy with it through three games. Obviously, know that it's a long season, and we have to remain disciplined, remain consistent with our communication and doing those things."

Jacksonville has a chance to continue their disciplined nature against the Bengals this Sunday.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Demetrius82 or on BlueskyatDemetrius.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars, Trevor Lawrence face last AFC team he hasn't beaten: Bengals