JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Kyle from Ingalls, IN and the mean streets of Arlington

So, this week really has me nervous. Cincinnati has had our number lately, beating the Jags the last four times they have played each other, three of them in Cincinnati – last year included. What do the Jags need to do to reverse this scary trend?

The Jaguars will play the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday, and it's a game that absolutely should make Jaguars fans nervous. The Jaguars are very good. We know this. They are also playing a good team on the road, a team that has won four consecutive meetings in this series. That includes three games with Trevor Lawrence as the Jaguars' starting quarterback. The Bengals have an elite quarterback in Joe Burrow, elite wide receivers in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and are very improved in a bunch of other areas. They are motivated and healthy. That combination makes a team dangerous no matter its talent level. The Jaguars from this view need to run well, force at least one turnover and get some timely pressure late on Burrow in what I expect to be a close game.

Jeff from Grass Valley, CA

That Week 1 victory is sure looking better and better by the week. Glad we got the Browns in Week 1.

A great man once said, "The NFL is a week-to-week league." That great man sometimes wonders how people can watch the NFL for years and not realize that a few things are always true: That what happens one week has no bearing on the following week, that losing on occasion – or winning close games – doesn't mean you suck and that you really do not have a great idea of what a team is or is not until four-to-six weeks into a season. The Jaguars' 34-10 Week 1 victory over the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium indeed was overlooked, with many observers observating that the Jaguars had beaten a poor team. What was not mentioned often enough was that the Jaguars played very well, very efficiently and forced a lot of what the Browns did wrong. The Browns have won three consecutive games since. I don't know if the Browns are a great team. I do know they are not a bad team. I also am very convinced at this point that the Jaguars are a good team – maybe very, very good – and perhaps the victory over the Browns is a small part of the evidence to support that.

Richard from Lincoln, RI

So, after the beating the Jags put on the Browns in Week 1, nobody up here was mentioning how good the Jags were, but kept saying how bad Cleveland was. Last time I looked, the Browns are currently 3-1! That record makes them seem pretty good, doesn't it?

Yes.

RE from Orange Park, FL

We drafted two tight ends so we could implement the 13-man offense in the scheme. So far, I have yet to see it used in the first three games. With all the talk in preseason about the Los Angeles Rams using it a lot, I would have assumed this would have already showed itself. Is Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen holding back until later on in the year or are we expected to see it any time now – i.e., the Cincinnati Bengals.

There indeed was much talk about "12" and "13" personnel among observers when the Jaguars selected tight ends Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol in the second and fifth rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. It was natural to group these together in this discussion, with "12" personnel being two tight ends and "13" being three. The reality is the Jaguars selected the pair to ensure they had depth at the position – and to ensure they had the ability to run the two formations when needed. Coen really values the 12 personnel package, so upgrading the position was necessary to run that package at a high level. I don't know that there was much concern over "13" inside the organization as there was discussion of the topic outside the building. Either way, if the additions allow the Jaguars to run 12 at a high level, that gives the Jaguars an element offensively they didn't always have last season.

Beavis from the Southside

Oh, Wise King of All Funk. You have pretty consistently written that our biggest line issue is interior defensive line. You also have pretty consistently written that Big Ham is playing at a high level and is among the top of the league at his position. That leaves Arik Armstead. Are you implying that he is the weak link?

I have consistently written that the Jaguars need better pass-rush push from the interior of the defensive line. While nose tackle DaVon Hamilton is elite against the run, it is rare for a nose tackle to be a primary reason for interior pass pressure. Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead had a very good training camp and he – like multiple players on the line – could get better push on the interior moving forward.

Alex from Shawnee

Big O. The one away game the Jaguars had this year, there was a noticeable issue very early in the game regarding pre-snap communication from Trevor to the line and backs. With Trevor doing much more communication pre-snap, and seemingly making all the correct calls so far, what does that preparation to communicate in a loud environment look like for away games vs a home game?

The Jaguars, like pretty much every NFL team, often prepare for road games by practicing with loud noise playing at practice. They also emphasize silent counts and non-verbal communication during practice in the week leading to the game.

Airee from Atlanta, GA

The Jaguars are exciting to watch! The team is headed in the right direction. With the Jaguars having already invested in the HBCU-to-NFL path, how does the scouting staff approach Howard Football in Washington, D.C.? Do they have regular eyes on Howard Football practices or pro days? Five NFL teams have visited the practices there. Their linebackers, running backs, kickers, and punters are top-notch. Millions of people watched their first game this season.

The Jaguars indeed are exciting to watch and headed in the right direction. Part of the reason they are heading in the right direction is a quality scouting department that scouts and analyzes all appropriate college football programs, certainly including Howard University.

Chris from Mandarin

I try to temper my enthusiasm about Parker Washington, but it is pretty difficult. From his first touchdown against the Bengals in 2023 off a tipped ball to his latest string of perhaps elite play, I am having a hard time remembering a Jaguars receiver consistently attacking the football like this since Jimmy Smith played. It is pretty remarkable.

There is no reason Jaguars fans should temper enthusiasm about wide receiver Parker Washington. He is a unique player who has improved dramatically in three-plus seasons and who only seems to be continuing to improve dramatically. He's really good.

JJHOLLISTER from YULEE

Are we going to see Allen toting the rock at all this year? Is he playing special teams or is his injury keeping him on the bench?

I expect running back LeQuint Allen Jr. to get some carries and be otherwise involved offensively moving forward. He missed much of training camp with a hip injury and has played in all three games this season while being listed as practicing limited each week.

Nick from Annapolis, MD

You call this out quite often, but in my relatively short 15 years or so of listening to many offensive coordinator and head coach media availabilities, I have never seen a coach go into as much detail about game day coaching than Liam did during his Friday press conference. Continues to wow me how we were already a lucky fan base as far as access, and the rich got richer with this leadership group.

I do often encourage fans and observers to listen closely to Coen's media availabilities. While I suspect, Coen – like many head coaches – wearies of meeting with the media four times a week throughout the long NFL season, he indeed is uncommonly good and forthcoming during these availabilities. And he indeed was incredibly informative in his Friday media availability discussing some of the details about how coaches put together, execute and adapt a game plan. Coen's passion for football shines through in these situations and once he warms to a subject, he's strikingly informative and articulate. It's cool, educational stuff.

Don from Marshall, NC

I just think the Jaguars are going to knock the snot out of everyone they play and nobody is going to be able to do anything about it. Go Jaguars!

When it comes to believing fervently in the Jaguars, and to perhaps adorably overlooking the week-to-week competitive – and difficult – nature of the NFL, Don remains "all in."