10 Things Jaguars Must Do to Beat Bengals in Week 4: Be Resilient

Oct 02, 2026 at 02:03 PM

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – Next up: Cincinnati.

That means a little recent history as a Jaguars storyline and a lot of talent – maybe even some Hall of Fame talent – on the other team.

The Jaguars on Sunday will play the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio – and it's not just the next game on the Jaguars' 2026 schedule, it's the next difficult game in a difficult early-season stretch for the AFC South leaders.

It's the first of three consecutive games for the Jaguars away from Jacksonville – and if it's not accurate to say the stretch will define the season, it will very much help shape it.

The Bengals. The Houston Texans. The Philadelphia Eagles.

Sunday's game will be in Cincinnati, with the two after that in London – and with all three teams either playing in the 2025 postseason or looking like serious contenders early in 2026.

The two in London don't matter yet. Sunday in Cincinnati matters a lot, with the Bengals an improved team featuring an elite quarterback in Joe Burrow, an elite receiving tandem in wide receivers Tee Higgins/Ja'Marr Chase and a vastly improved defense.

The Jaguars played exceedingly well in a 35-6 victory over the New England Patriots this past Sunday. They will need to play well again Sunday against a Bengals team that has won its last four meetings with the Jaguars and that beat the Jaguars in Cincinnati in Week 2 last season.

Here are 10 things the Jaguars must do to beat the Bengals Sunday.

Run. This remains No. 1 for Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen's offense. The Jaguars are running increasingly physically and effectively in recent weeks. The better they get here, the better the offense.
Account for Dexter Lawrence. This involves No. 1 because to run against the Bengals, you must game plan for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. It's difficult to block him on the interior, so to run effectively, the Jaguars may have to focus on the edges of the line.
Pressure Joey Ballgame. Burrow when healthy is one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. He's healthy now. The Jaguars haven't pressured passers well enough in recent weeks. That must change Sunday, particularly late.
Be resilient. This is about the entire Jaguars team, perhaps mostly about the secondary. Chase, Burrow and Higgins figure to hit big plays. The Bengals figure to score in the 20s, at least. Resilience and response will be key Sunday.
Turn the ball over. A Jaguars defense that proved adept at forcing turnovers last season is tied for third in the NFL in the category this season. They have registered red-zone takeaways in each of the last two games. That's a hard trend to maintain, but doing so dramatically changes momentum.
Stop. The. Run. The Jaguars have been as good as any NFL team against the run since the beginning of 2025. It's crucial to their identity. Stopping the run will force Burrow into bad down-and-distances and that's critical.
Protect Lawrence. The Jaguars' offensive line played one of its better games under Coen against the Patriots. This was particularly true of left tackle Anton Harrison. That must continue moving into this critical stretch.
Feed P-Dub. Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington seemingly makes a clutch, spectacular reception every week. The Jaguars are deep at receiver, but he's the No. 1 option and the offense leans on him in big moments. He must keep producing in those moments, particularly in big road games.
Make plays late. This could be critical Sunday. The Jaguars have lost to the Bengals in all three meetings with Lawrence at quarterback, with all three games decided in the final :18 or overtime. This game figures to be about who makes the clutch play after the two-minute warning.
Convert in the red zone. Turnovers inside the Bengals' 20-yard line hurt the Jaguars in a 31-27 loss to the Bengals in Cincinnati last season. The Jaguars are among the NFL's best red-zone offenses this season, scoring touchdowns on five-of-five such possessions against New England. When the Jaguars have chances to score, they must take advantage.

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Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 30, 2026.