Three Keys: How Jaguars Can Secure First Road Victory
Sunday marks the Jaguars’ fourth conference matchup in as many games and brings a daunting defensive challenge: maintaining one of the league’s most dynamic passing attacks.
Jacksonville (2-1) is in Cincinnati (2-1) to face quarterback Joe Burrow and Co. in Week 4. The clubs squared off in 2025, and the Bengals got the best of its AFC foe, topping the Jaguars 37-21.
Jacksonville looks to build off its Week 3 victory and defeat Cincinnati for the first time since 2019. Here are three keys to how the Jags can pull off their first road win of the year:
Bend, Don’t Break
Cincinnati’s wide receiver tandem of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins marks the Jaguars’ most daring test to date and will work as a measuring stick for the rest of the season. After surrendering the league’s ninth-most passing yards (235.7), their secondary has to be up to Sunday’s challenge.
The Jaguars defensive front may not be the NFL’s best in yardage, despite the team returning to their winning ways as of late. Last season, Jacksonville ranked second in the NFL in takeaways (31) and have quickly begun their ascent to the mark again with six through three games, which is tied for No. 4.
Despite falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Week 3 shootout, Chase, Higgins and Burrow had their most productive outing as a trio. The wideouts combined for 15 receptions, 188 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Burrow’s 282 yards, three scores and 92.2 quarterback rating were all season-highs.
Jacksonville has squared off against top offensive prowess this season like the Broncos, but none that compares to the explosiveness of the Bengals’ duo. Higgins maintained a Pro Football Focus grade of 89.3 in the 30-27 loss while Chase had a score of 87.6, both marking respective season-bests.
“[Chase’s] burst after the catch is so noticeable when you turn on the tape,” Jacksonville defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said Thursday. “Really every part of his game, to me, is something that you look at like, ‘Man, he’s great at that.’ You look at that, you’re like, ‘Yeah, he’s great at that.’ He’s just a great football player.”
Jacksonville’s four interceptions is tied for the league’s best, and the success has come from a slew of defensive talent. Cornerbacks Jarrian Jones, Jourdan Lewis, Travis Hunter and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun have all reeled in an interception, helping extend the defense’s league-high eight-game streak with a pick.
If it wants to pull out a win among in a rowdy Paycor Stadium environment, Jacksonville will have to keep up its success defending in the red zone. It has held its opponents to just 20% efficiency within the 20-yard line and must stand tall again starting at 1 p.m. Sunday.
“I think it’s more the want-to and we want to stop the offense for our offense and for the team and for each other,” Lewis said Monday. “And I think that’s what’s really helping us on those red-zone stops, just wanting to get those stops for each other and getting another blade of grass so we can defend it.”
Keep Feeding Parker Washington
Jacksonville’s offensive cornerstone opened his quest for stardome in Week 16 of last season, and hasn’t taken his foot off the gas since. Parker Washington leads the Jaguars with 221 receiving yards and 23 targets. Jakobi Meyers is No. 2 on the team with just 11 targets.
Washington has shown he is a major threat at stretching the field, with three plays of 20-plus yards. If he moves the chains twice Sunday, he will have earned two first downs in eight consecutive outings. Washington added 40 receiving yards and his second touchdown of the season against New England in Week 3.
He has added 63 snaps in the slot position, making Sunday a favorable matchup for the young wideout. Cincinnati’s defense ranks No. 30 in yards allowed to slot receivers, while Washington has earned the league’s ninth-most yards from the inside (108).
“I think what’s cool about Parker is the strength at the catch point, being fearless through the catch point and having a mindset, a mentality of, when the ball’s in the air, it’s mine,” Jags coach Liam Coen said Wednesday. “You can’t always teach it. You can’t always coach it. It has to come from within; it has to come from doing it out there in practice as we’ve all seen Parker do pretty consistently.”
Make Joe Burrow Uncomfortable
The majority of Burrow’s 743 passing yards have come when he has a clean pocket — something the Jags will look to disrupt. Jacksonville’s pass rush has reached home each week, but Sunday may pose the most dire hurdle of all.
Burrow has been under pressure on just 29.2% of his dropbacks this season, but has been lackluster when the moment comes. He has completed 46.2% of his passes when under duress.
The former No. 1 overall selection has been blitzed 33.6% of the time, and has produced minimal results. Burrow sports an offensive grade of 50.8 and averages just 4.7 yards per attempt with direct pressure in his face.
Aside from the lackluster production in the aforementioned categories, Burrow is posting a quality seventh season as a pro. His 70.9% completion rate stacks up to No. 6 in the league.
“A ton of respect for Joe, a ton of respect for the way that he’s played throughout the course of his career, the plays that he’s made, the games that he’s won,” Coen said. “Anytime he’s across from you, you know that they have a chance.”
Category: Feature Sports News, Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL
