The Cincinnati Bengals had their wake-up call with a loss in Pittsburgh last week. Now it’s time to see if Joe Burrow and Co. can steady themselves back into contention with the Jacksonville Jaguars visiting in Week 4.
This isn’t the Jaguars of old, either. Burrow might be undefeated against Trevor Lawrence between college and pro play. But Jacksonville's superstar has started hot this year, completing 66.7 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns against two interceptions.
Lawrence has big help from a good defense, too. The Jaguars hold the NFL’s top mark with an interception in eight straight games. Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker each have 1.5 sacks already. They’ve let one of three opponents score more than 10 points.
For the Bengals,
it’s not just that they came back to Earth after a hot start. Tackling issues and an overall 2025 vibe plagued the defense in Pittsburgh. Burrow had a late turnover and special teams coughed up a 10-point swing, literally resulting in lost jobs.
Injuries are a big deal, too. Cornerback Jalen Davis went to injured reserve this week, so Dax Hill will kick inside to the slot. That leaves DJ Ivey and rookie Tacario Davis to get reps on the boundary. Safety Bryan Cook is questionable to play and backup safety Kyle Dugger is out.
More than ever, the Bengals’ chances on the defensive side will ride on the play of the front seven. It’s safe to presume that the Dexter Lawrence-led front will create some solid pressure for most of the afternoon. It’s also critical that the coaches adjust after the Steelers targeted some key areas, like the linebackers in coverage.
Despite some of the negatives, Burrow wins the head-to-head with Lawrence and is headed for that time of year where he really starts to heat up. A message was sent to the locker room last week after a game-altering mistake resulted in a player getting cut.
In what could resemble a playoff game, look for Burrow to remain steady while the lagging units from the roadtrip get back to looking like the units from the first two weeks.
Prediction: Bengals 27, Jaguars 23
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Final score predictions for Jaguars vs. Bengals in Week 4
