Flags flew everywhere at Paycor Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and it was the Jacksonville Jaguars moving back much of the time.
In the first half alone, the Jaguars racked up 10 penalties for 100 yards, and plenty of those flags cost more than a few steps backward. With two nullified touchdowns and a negated interception by cornerback Travis Hunter at the hands of untimely penalties, the Jaguars struggled to widen the gap through the first two frames.
Still, despite incurring 13 penalties for 125 yards throughout the contest, the Jaguars (3-1) defeated the Bengals (2-2) 22-17 on the road.
Running back Bhayshul Tuten was the victim of the two nullified first-half touchdowns. He watched a 44-yard run into the end zone disappear with a holding call on Ezra Cleveland, and another 3-yard rush meet a similar fate with the same call on Anton Harrison.
Tuten still put together a solid outing, finishing with 17 carries for 73 yards. Chris Rodriguez Jr. added the Jaguars’ only rushing touchdown, a 25-yard run in the fourth quarter that pushed the lead to 22-10.
The Bengals’ run game wasn’t nearly as effective. The Jaguars defense held Cincinnati to just 16 rushing yards in the first half and zero in the first quarter. It finished with just 23 of its 437 total yards coming on the ground.
Cincinnati found its success in the air, even with star receiver Ja’Marr Chase exiting the game in the second quarter with a concussion. Tee Higgins became the primary target for quarterback Joe Burrow with Chase in the locker room, ending with 157 yards on 11 receptions.
Burrow, who came into the contest with just one interception so far this season, ended 39 of 54 passing for 428 yards, two touchdowns (one on the ground) and two interceptions. Cincinnati outgained Jacksonville 437-323 and ran 71 plays to the Jaguars’ 54, but Burrow’s two interceptions, along with a Jaguars offense that did not turn the ball over, decided the game.
Jacksonville’s attack was the more balanced of the two. Seven receivers recorded grabs, and Brian Thomas Jr. found the end zone after a slow start to the season. Tight end Brenton Strange led the pass catchers, posting 95 yards on seven receptions.
Lawrence didn’t have a flashy day himself, but he was efficient and stayed in control, finishing 18-of-23 passing for 227 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.
Cam Little kept the Jaguars on the board when drives stalled, connecting from 55, 28 and 54 yards. His 55-yarder opened the scoring with 2:18 left in the first quarter, and his 54-yarder in the third quarter stretched Jacksonville’s lead to 16-10.
And while the offense managed to do enough to get ahead, the defense continued the first-half and red zone dominance it’s displayed all season. For the fourth time this year, the Jaguars held their opponent to three or fewer points in the first half, taking a 13-3 lead into the break.
Jourdan Lewis had the standout defensive play of the afternoon. With help from some pressure by Josh Hines-Allen, he picked off Burrow and ran it back for 45 yards to Cincinnati’s 18-yard line. Four plays later, Lawrence found Thomas for a 7-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 13-3 with 1:23 left in the half.
But Lewis was not alone in his success reading Burrow.
With the Jaguars up 16-10 — and a Bengals touchdown threatening to erase their lead — Foyesade Oluokun recorded his second interception of the season, picking off Burrow’s pass intended for Mitchell Tinsley at the Jacksonville 10-yard line. He also added seven total tackles (six solo) and a pass defended, tying cornerback Jarrian Jones for second on the team behind safety Rayuan Lane III’s eight.
The Jaguars defensive line managed to get to Burrow as well, sacking him twice and adding 11 quarterback hits. Cincinnati’s pass rush turned its pressure into more sacks, though, bringing down Lawrence four times while recording seven quarterback hits.
The offensive line’s struggles, which included those four sacks and the two holding calls that wiped out Tuten’s touchdowns, will be a focus for Jacksonville as it continues on its near monthlong road stretch.
The Jaguars head to London to take on the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET.
