Cincinnati Bengals (6-6) – Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4): 34-31 ap
Nothing went as planned for the Jaguars. Facing the Bengals deprived of Joe Burrow, this match was to be a formality. Except that Jake Browning (32/37, 354 yards, 1 TD) continues to progress. He played a very solid match. To help him, Zac Taylor even remembered that he can use the ground game. Worse still for Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence (22/29, 258 yards, 2 TDs) came out in the fourth quarter when one of his linemen fell on his ankle. The severity of the injury is not known at this time.
The scenario of the match was breathtaking, since in the absence of Lawrence, it was CJ Beathard (9/10, 63 yards) who led the Jaguars' offense to get an equalizing field goal and an extension.
Except that in the extra period, the Jaguars stalled. Jake Browning then delivered some good passes to Ja'Mar Chase (11 rec, 149 yards, 1 TD) and Tee Higgins (3 rec, 36 yards). Enough to put Evan McPherson in position for a successful 48-yard kick, synonymous with victory.
The Bengals find a ground game
With Joe Burrow, the Bengals had the least productive running back in the NFL. An inefficiency forgotten for an evening. From the first offensives, Zac Taylor seems to want to give the ball to Joe Mixon (19 races, 68 yards, 2 TDs) and the rookie Chase Brown (9 races, 61 yards). It doesn't work right away. The Jaguars are even the first to score, thanks to Travis Etienne (11 races, 45 yards, 1 TD – 4 rec, 34 yards).
But Browning and his runners eventually found rhythm. Joe Mixon scores twice in the second quarter. As Evan Engram (9 rec, 82 yards, 1 TD) replied, that's two passes in the end zone everywhere, and a score of 14-14 at the break.
The Jaguars let an opportunity slip away
The match is still just as enjoyable after the break. Chase scores a 76-yard touchdown! But Parker Washington (6 rec, 61 yards, 1 TD) responds immediately (21-21). Behind, we descend into madness, with a fake action completely missed by the Bengals. Browning for Tyler Boyd for… directly the hands of linebacker Josh Allen!
Josh Allen intercepts the trick play!
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Jacksonville recovers the ball very close to the end zone, and Lawrence scores himself on the ground.
The Bengals are stunned, they are stalling. But their defense is holding up. Browning starts again. He goes for a first down on the ground. He finds Chase on a fourth attempt. The clock is ticking, and the locals equalize thanks to Browning, still on the ground (28-28). After a missed Jaguars kick, McPherson made it 54 yards. Cincinnati leads (31-28) with 2mn28 to play.
But Beathard, who came in place of Lawrence, did not give up. He is impeccable to get the equalizing field goal (31-31). Unfortunately for him, the magic doesn't happen in overtime, and Cincinnati gets away with it. A great winner in a quality match.
Cincinnati maintains a chance in the playoff race, while Jacksonville sees the Texans and Colts come back to within one victory of them for the lead in the AFC South.
