Jacksonville Jaguars 10 Thoughts: How road win became a loss to Bengals

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Jacksonville Jaguars 10 Thoughts: How road win became a loss to Bengals | Ryan O'Halloran

Ryan O'Halloran, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union · The Florida Times-Union

Mon, Sep 15, 2025 ·

6 min read

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It was right there for the Jacksonville Jaguars .

Linebacker Devin Lloyd's interception with 5:12 remaining gave the Jaguars possession at the Cincinnati Bengals ' 12-yard line and leading by three points. ESPN's probability index gave the Jaguars an 87.6% chance of winning.

Oops.

A turnover on downs was followed by a 92-yard touchdown drive by the Bengals, allowing Cincinnati and back-up quarterback Jake Browning to steal a 31-27 win .

The Jaguars (1-1) had three interceptions … and lost. They gained 400 yards offense … and lost. And they rushed for 139 yards … and lost.

Here are 10 other thoughts from the Jaguars' loss to Cincinnati:

1. Fourth-down mistakes

Leading 27-24, coach Liam Coen said it was "100% go" on fourth-and-5 from the Bengals' 7 . Fair enough, but the routes were iffy. Receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and tight end Brenton Strange appeared to run short of the first down marker. Thomas dropped quarterback Trevor Lawrence 's pass short of the line, but his momentum likely would have allowed him to fall across the marker.

On the ensuing drive, the Bengals converted a fourth-and-3 from their 15 (13-yard catch by running back Chase Brown ) and then faced fourth-and-5 from their 33. Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter was called for a 25-yard pass interference penalty . It was the right call. Hunter didn't look back at the football until he had already fouled Andrei Iosivas .

2. Pressuring the quarterback

Bengals quarterbacks combined for 50 drop-backs and the Jaguars rushed five or more 15 times (30%).

Cincinnati threw three touchdowns against extra pressure, one apiece against five-, six- and seven-man pressures. On Joe Burrow 's 4-yard touchdown to receiver Ja'Marr Chase, the Jaguars rushed seven and Chase scored when he ran a quick slant against cornerback Tyson Campbell . On receiver Tee Higgins ' 42-yard score, the Jaguars rushed six. Higgins juked Campbell with an outside step to gain the advantage, caught pass at the 26 and bounced off safety Andrew Wingard 's tackle attempt at the 11.

The Jaguars dominated the overmatched Bengals offensive line. My pencil had them for three sacks, seven knockdowns and 15 pressures for 25 total disruptions.

Cincinnati took the opposite approach; it rushed five more players on three of Lawrence's 44 drop-backs. The Bengals had one sack, four knockdowns and six pressures for 11 total disruptions.

3. Running backs make impact

The snap counts were 47 out of 71 for Travis Etienne , 18 for Bhayshul Tuten and 11 for LeQuint Allen Jr.

Coen and the offensive staff drew up several good plays for the running backs to get into space.

Tuten gained 24 yards on a screen pass (one missed tackle). Etienne gained 30 on a left toss with help from a downfield block by center Robert Hainsey . Tuten's 8-yard touchdown catch featured a juke move against defensive end Cam Sample. Etienne scored on an 11-yard catch with blocks by Strange, receiver Dyami Brown and tight end Johnny Mundt . And Etienne gained 9 yards on a speed sweep.

4. Dropped passes

I booked the Jaguars for four dropped passes. Hunter didn't turn his head around quickly enough before his drop, Strange should have corralled a throw to the right flat, Brown had the biggest drop of the game (would-be touchdown) and the aforementioned Thomas fourth-down drop.

5. Hines-Allen vs. Chase

We'll have to wait until Thursday for defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's media availability to re-litigate his first-quarter call on a first-and-10 play from the Jaguars' 15.

The Jaguars blitzed nickel Jourdan Lewis and linebacker Foye Oluokun and dropped defensive end Josh Hines-Allen into zone coverage (left flat).

Chase easily got open on that side of the field for a 10-yard gain on a drive that led to the Bengals' first touchdown. Good scheme by the Bengals or a mistake by the Jaguars?

Sep 14, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) blocks a pass by Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

6. Red zone issues

The Jaguars were 3 of 6 in the red zone: Touchdown, interception, touchdown, touchdown, field goal and turnover on downs.

Interception:On third-and-goal from the 8, Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson beat left tackle Walker Little to force Lawrence to underthrow into the end zone.

Field goal:The Jaguars had first-and-goal from the 7. Lawrence passed up a scramble and threw incomplete to Thomas in the back of the end zone (Thomas caught the pass but was pushed out of bounds). Lawrence threw incomplete to Brown (Coen was upset with the ball placement and Lawrence waved him off). And on third down, Lawrence threw incomplete to Thomas in the end zone (a second sub-par effort by Thomas?)

Downs:Two plays before Thomas' fourth-down drop, the drive was derailed when Etienne lost 4 yards on a carry to the right (pushing the Jaguars back to the 16). Cornerback Dax Hill was unblocked but I booked right tackle Anton Harrison for the "bad" run block — it appeared he should have accounted for him on the second level.

7. Chase's day

Chase's 14 catches (for 165 yards) were tied for second-most allowed by the Jaguars in franchise history. The record remains 15 by Indianapolis ' Reggie Wayne in 2010 (Jaguars 31-28 win).

Chase was targeted 16 times. His receptions averaged 5.9 "air" yards and he gained 82 yards post-catch.

8. Lawrence passing chart

Lawrence was 24-of-42 passing for 271 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. A look at his numbers divided by "air" yards:

At or behind line of scrimmage: 9 of 13, 82 yards, two touchdowns. Touchdowns of 8 yards to Tuten and 11 yards to Etienne.

1-5 yards downfield:5 of 7, 32 yards.

6-10 yards downfield:4 of 12, 29 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions. Nine-yard touchdown to Brown.

11-15 yards downfield:2 of 3, 55 yards. Long of 40 yards to receiver Parker Washington .

16 or more yards downfield:4 of 9, 73 yards.

9. Numbers of note

The Jaguars tied a franchise record for most interceptions in a loss (3). … Washington and defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot drew penalties on the Bengals. … Coen has taken the football after winning the coin toss in both games (field goal and touchdown). … Defensive tackle Maason Smith , a healthy scratch in Week 1, impressed the Jaguars' decision makers with his attitude and practice work heading into Cincinnati and was active (18 snaps). … Oluokun, Campbell, Wingard, Lewis and safety Eric Murray played all 69 defensive snaps. Thomas led the offensive skill players with 69 snaps.

10. Ups & Downs

Ups:Washington (five catches-76 yards). … Tuten (eight carries-42 yards and two catches-32 yards). … Wingard (terrific interception and a 39-yard return). … Hainsey and left guard Ezra Cleveland (no penalties or pass protection errors). … Hines-Allen (3 1/2 knockdowns, one pressure and one run "stuff").

Downs:Brown (dropped touchdown pass). … Thomas (one drop and twice didn't finish route). … Hunter (two defensive penalties). … Red zone offense (3 of 6). … Goal-to-go offense (0 for 2). … Special teamer Yasir Abdullah (15-yard post-whistle penalty on kickoff coverage). … Lawrence (second penalty in as many games). … Details on offense (five illegal shift penalties, all of which were declined).

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars missed opportunities: 10 thoughts about latest loss

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