CINCINNATI – The Jacksonville Jaguars finally exorcised their Cincinnati demons on Sunday, pulling off a gritty 22-17 victory that marked a significant milestone for head coach Liam Coen’s squad. After suffering a heart-wrenching loss to the Bengals at the same venue last year, the Jaguars relied on a resolute defensive stand in the final minute to secure the win.
With 50 seconds remaining and the game hanging in the balance, the Bengals faced a critical fourth-and-10 at the Jacksonville 12-yard line. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow connected with running back Chase Brown, but Jaguars safety Rayuan Lane III delivered a game-saving tackle, stopping Brown one yard shy of the first-down marker to seal the result.
“You look at the last time we were in this locker room, we weren’t able to close out a game,” Coen said following the victory. “I’m proud of the growth and the group for sticking with it and overcoming a lot of bad stuff, a lot of self-inflicted wounds.”
The win served as a personal breakthrough for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. In his fourth professional matchup against Burrow—a rivalry dating back to the 2020 College Football Playoff title game—Lawrence finally came out on top. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown, officially recording at least one victory over every AFC opponent in his six-year career.
“It felt good,” Lawrence said. “You’re going to have to win games like this throughout the season where you maybe don’t play your best and it’s not pretty, but find a way.”
The Jaguars’ offense found the end zone through Brian Thomas Jr. and Chris Rodriguez, with kicker Cam Little adding three field goals. Jacksonville also extended its impressive streak to nine consecutive games with an interception, the longest active run in the NFL. Jourdan Lewis provided the key takeaway in the second quarter, setting up a Lawrence touchdown pass to Thomas that helped build an early cushion.
It was an afternoon of attrition for the Bengals, who saw All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase depart in the second quarter with a concussion. His teammate, Tee Higgins, managed 151 yards on 11 catches before exiting in the fourth quarter with a groin injury. Despite the injuries, Burrow put up massive numbers, passing for 428 yards, but his efforts were marred by two costly interceptions.
The game was also marred by a chaotic officiating display, as referee Alex Moore’s crew whistled 24 penalties for a staggering 244 yards. Both coaches expressed frustration with the disjointed flow, with Coen admitting he had “never quite seen something that much” in a single half of football.
The Jaguars now turn their attention to an international stage, as they head to London to face the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday. The Bengals, meanwhile, look to snap a two-game skid when they travel to Miami.
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