Jacksonville absolutely annihilated the New England Patriots 35-6 last week, delivering a beatdown that definitely grabbed everyone’s attention. That kind of statement win puts an up-and-coming team on notice, but now the Jaguars are looking at a Week 4 clash with the Cincinnati Bengals that could define their early season. Both squads are sitting at a competitive 2-1, and for Jacksonville, this isn’t about padding stats; it’s about pushing for a second consecutive division title and making back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in over 20 years. This game means everything for that historic run.
Jags’ Ground Game Is Relentless, But Burrow Needs to Feel It
If the Jaguars are serious about keeping this momentum, they need to keep pounding the rock. Their running backs already have a solid 323 rushing yards through just three games, averaging a healthy 4.4 yards per carry. This run game isn’t just about moving the chains; it’s a huge help for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, keeping him out of those obvious passing situations where defenses can tee off. The Bengals front, by the way, generates pressure on 39.7% of dropbacks, and they do it while blitzing less than almost any team in the league. That’s scary! So, staying balanced is key to keeping those guys from wrecking the game plan.
And speaking of their run game, it’s not a one-man show, which is awesome. Bhayshul Tuten is leading the charge, no surprise there, but Chris Rodriguez has stepped up big time as a strong RB2. Plus, LeQuint Allen comes in clutch on passing downs. They don’t have to rely on a single guy to have a career day, which gives them so much flexibility.
On the other side of the ball, the Jags’ defense needs to get after Joe Burrow, but they gotta be smart about it. Jacksonville is getting pressure at a decent 37.8% rate, but their blitzes haven’t been super effective in actually creating pressure. And get this: last season, Burrow had a 115.8 passer rating against the blitz. That’s insane! So, it means Travon Walker, Josh Hines-Allen, and the whole front four have to generate that pressure themselves. Every extra guy they send after Burrow is one less player covering guys like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. You leave those receivers in one-on-one situations, and one missed assignment or lost matchup can turn into a 30 or 40-yard bomb. Can’t happen.
Lock Down Explosive Plays and Keep Lawrence Clean
Here’s the rub for the Jags’ defense: they’re giving up 235.7 passing yards per game, which is the ninth-most in the NFL. Their biggest problem? Explosive completions. Even when the defense is playing well overall, those big plays keep popping up. And guess who is probably the WORST team for that weakness? The Bengals. Ja’Marr Chase went off against Jacksonville last season with 14 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown. You can’t realistically expect to completely shut down guys like Chase and Higgins, but the Jags absolutely cannot let routine short completions turn into huge 30- and 40-yard gains. That’s how you lose games against elite offenses.
Meanwhile, on offense, the Jaguars have to protect Trevor Lawrence. The Bengals’ ability to pressure without blitzing makes third-and-long situations super dangerous. They can just unleash their defensive front on Lawrence while still having plenty of guys in coverage, giving him nowhere to go with the ball quickly. The way to avoid that? Limit sacks, penalties, and any other negative plays on early downs. Keeping themselves in manageable down-and-distance situations will give Lawrence and the offense way more flexibility and keep Cincinnati from dictating how they have to play.
Look, this Week 4 game is a true test. The Bengals are coming off a tough, down-to-the-minute, three-point loss to the Steelers, while Jacksonville just rolled. Both teams are 2-1, but the Jaguars have so much riding on this, chasing that second division title and a truly historic back-to-back playoff run. Every single snap is going to matter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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