The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Cincinnati Bengals 22-17 on Sunday by taking the ball away twice and never giving it back. Cincinnati threw 2 interceptions while Jacksonville finished with zero turnovers.
The Bengals also got nothing from their ground game. They ran for just 23 yards on 15 carries, which left the offense one-dimensional and asking its passing game to throw 54 times.
Cincinnati moved the ball through the air, with 414 net passing yards, and outgained Jacksonville overall. But the Bengals converted only 2 of 4 red zone trips. Jacksonville survived 13 penalties for 125 yards because it didn't add mistakes with the ball.
How It Happened
Cam Little opened the scoring with a 55-yard field goal at 2:18 of the first quarter, putting Jacksonville up 3-0.
Evan McPherson tied it with a 29-yard field goal at 10:03 of the second quarter. Little answered from 28 yards at 4:16 to make it 6-3. Trevor Lawrence then found Brian Thomas Jr. for a 7-yard touchdown at 1:23, and the Jaguars took a 13-3 lead into halftime.
Cincinnati pulled within 3 in the third quarter when Joe Burrow hit Mike Gesicki for a 15-yard touchdown at 8:44. Little restored the cushion with a 54-yard field goal at 3:00, making it 16-10.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. broke a 25-yard touchdown run at 6:35 of the fourth quarter. The two-point pass failed, leaving Jacksonville ahead 22-10. Burrow scored on a 1-yard run at 3:28 to cut it to 22-17, but the Bengals did not score again.
Key Performers
Kicking: Cam Little – FG 55, 28, 54 YDS; 1 XP
Rushing: Chris Rodriguez Jr. – 25-YD TD run
Receiving: Brian Thomas Jr. – 7-YD TD reception from Trevor Lawrence
Cincinnati: Joe Burrow – 15-YD TD pass, 1-YD TD rush
Little was the difference. Points from his leg kept Jacksonville ahead on a day its offense converted just 1 of 2 red zone trips.
Jacksonville's passing game was efficient rather than busy. The Jaguars completed 18 of 23 attempts for 212 net yards and added 111 on the ground, a balance Cincinnati never matched.
Jacksonville passing: 18-23, 212 YDS (net), 0 INT
Jacksonville rushing: 27 ATT, 111 YDS
Cincinnati passing: 39-54, 414 YDS (net), 2 INT
Cincinnati rushing: 15 ATT, 23 YDS
What It Means
Jacksonville moves to 3-1. The Jaguars had been perfect at home, and this win evens their road record at 1-1. A team that had won only in its own building now has proof it can close out a one-score game away from it.
Cincinnati falls to 2-2 and to 1-1 at home. The Bengals can throw, but an offense that can't run hands the defense a script. Until the run game gives opponents something to respect, Cincinnati will keep piling up passing yards without enough points to show for them.