The Jacksonville Jaguars are riding high, dominating the New England Patriots in Week 3, but let’s be real, the schedule gets nasty. The Cincinnati Bengals are up next in Week 4, and this time, the Jags ain’t got home-field advantage. While that Patriots victory felt good, New England’s been on a historically easy schedule, and Drake Maye’s been struggling all season. Cincinnati? They’re a whole different animal, and Joe Burrow could absolutely exploit some lingering issues the Jags showed earlier.
Joe Burrow’s Arm Is A Problem, And Jacksonville’s Defense Needs Answers
Look, Joe Burrow is one of the league’s best quarterbacks, and the dude has weapons for days. He’s been excellent through three games, piling up 743 yards, six touchdowns, and a 106.6 passer rating, with just one interception. Last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he dropped 282 yards and three touchdowns, going 28-of-37, and his guys Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for 188 yards and two scores. That’s scary stuff. The Jaguars’ pass rush was basically invisible against the Denver Broncos in Week 2, remember that? They bounced back hard against the Patriots, putting Drake Maye under constant pressure, with Josh Hines-Allen having a huge day. But even with that strong performance, the Jags’ defense still struggled to contain explosive plays. Was that Week 3 progress real, or can Burrow light them up deep just like Denver did? This is the test.
Trevor Lawrence’s O-Line Faces A Monster Challenge
Speaking of the Broncos game, they kept Trevor Lawrence under constant pressure, right? While the offensive line looked way better against New England, the Bengals’ defense could bring back those Week 2 nightmares. Cincinnati was tied for the NFL lead with eight sacks heading into Week 3. They hammered Aaron Rodgers eight times and cranked out 20 pressures against Pittsburgh. Dexter Lawrence is an absolute force in the middle, and guys like Boye Mafe and the rest of that front have been making plays. After Week 3, the Bengals still sit tied for fourth in the league with 10 sacks. This isn’t just a tough matchup for the Jags’ O-line, it’s a statement game. After getting overwhelmed in Denver and then recovering against New England, Sunday will tell us if that rebound is legitimate or if Lawrence is going to be running for his life again.
Will The Jags Stick To What Works On Offense?
After all that talk about Week 2 struggles, the Jags’ offense went with a simpler approach in Week 3, and it paid off huge. Lawrence said they’d keep it simple, and bam! Best offensive performance of the season. They put up 35 points, churned out 137 rushing yards, scored five touchdowns on five red-zone trips, and converted an awesome 8-of-12 third downs. Bhayshul Tuten was a straight-up productive RB1, Chris Rodriguez chipped in big time in the run game, and Lawrence spread the ball around. Nobody had to carry the whole load. So the big question for Liam Coen now: does he keep that simpler, balanced approach that worked so well, or does he start trying to ramp up the complexity again? Sometimes, less is more, especially when you’re facing a defense like Cincinnati’s.
Next up, it’s the Bengals in Cincy, away from the loud home crowd. Can the Jaguars prove their Week 3 dominance wasn’t just a fluke against an easier opponent? Can they finally finish the job in Cincinnati after last year’s game? This Week 4 showdown is going to be a massive measuring stick for where this team really stands early in the season.
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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