After suffering their first setback of the 2026 season, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to get back into the win column on Sunday when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Both teams enter this crucial matchup as two of the top teams in the AFC and prime playoff contenders. The Jaguars are coming off a 35-6 beatdown of the New England Patriots, the very team that won the AFC a season ago.
If the Bengals are going to get back on track, here are three keys to getting a win Sunday vs. Jacksonville.
Limit Explosive Plays
Cincinnati
struggled all game long to limit the Pittsburgh Steelers from making explosive plays. The Steelers were able to gash the Bengals on the ground and through the air for several big plays this past Sunday.
The Steelers finished the game with seven explosive plays against the Bengals.
Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars moved to 2-1 on the season after defeating the reigning AFC Champion Patriots by 29(!) points. In the passing game, the Jaguars have a trio of talented receivers in Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and Brian Thomas Jr. who can hit big plays downfield.
Bhayshul Tuten has been the leading rusher in Jacksonville. He is averaging 4.7 yards per carry so far this season.
Avoud self-imploding
The Bengals had 12 penalties in Week 2 at Houston but still won 20-6. They cut that number to just six penalties in Week 3 at Pittsburgh, but some were costly and came at inopportune times.
Amarius Mims was flagged for lining up too far in the backfield on the Bengals’ second possession of the game. That penalty wiped out what would have been a Tee Higgins first down reception. Ultimately, it led to the Bengals having to settle for a field goal.
Penalties were not even the worst part of the game against the Steelers. Multiple special teams miscues led directly to 10 points by the Steelers. Darrin Simmons called for a punt block with the Bengals up three points in the second half. Cedric Johnson roughed the punter, and the Steelers kept possession of the football. They went on to score a touchdown just a couple of plays later.
After the Bengals regained the lead, returner Ke’Shawn Williams muffed the punt. PJ Jules inexplicably tried to bend down and pick the ball up instead of diving on it. The Steelers were able to recover the ball and went on to add another three points.
Even after those miscues, the Bengals offense was back on the field with a little over two minutes remaining and a chance to tie or take the lead. They were able to get down in field goal range, but Dalton Risner was blown up by Derrick Harmon, leading to a Joe Burrow sack fumble. The Steelers recovered, and the Bengals dropped to 2-1 on the season.
On the other side this week, the Jaguars come in riding high after crushing New England in one of the best performances any team has had so far this season. They were able to force two Drake Maye interceptions, along with two more Maye fumbles on the day.
You can say this every week, but the Bengals cannot afford to turn the ball over against the Jaguars. That Liam Coen-led offense is too explosive to give extra possessions to. Take care of the football, and you will give yourself a chance to win this game.
Run The Ball Effectively From Shotgun
I don’t see the Bengals running the ball a ton against Jacksonville this week, but when they do run it, they need to be effective. Jacksonville comes into this game with the eighth-best rushing defense in the NFL this season. They are allowing just 91 total rushing yards per game.
The Bengals have been too predictable that they are running the ball from under center. Joe Burrow doesn’t look comfortable when using play action from under center either.
Meanwhile, they have had some effective runs from out of shotgun. This feels like a game that the Bengals might decide to stick with what has worked in the past. Let Joe Burrow see what is in front of him from shotgun, and pick your spots to hit some big rushing plays out of that formation.
