CINCINNATI, Ohio – Let's get to it …

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Game day, O-Zone!! Can the Jaguars win Sunday? I don't want to hear what you hope, but what do you think? Really.

It indeed is game day, with the Jaguars playing the Cincinnati Bengals in a 2025 Week 2 game at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday. Can the Jaguars win in Cincinnati? Absolutely. They took a step toward establishing a physical, run-oriented, tough identity in a 26-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium in Week 1. The Jaguars will have to play to that identity against the Bengals Sunday – and they must play better in more sustained fashion to beat the Bengals. They also must be ready for a closer game with more adversity than they faced against Carolina, which never really pushed the Jaguars in the second half. The Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow will push the Jaguars into the second half. The Jaguars can outplay the Bengals Sunday and still lose because Burrow is one of the better – and more resilient – quarterbacks in the NFL. He's tough. The Bengals are tough. Are the Jaguars ready to be tougher enough to win? That's Sunday's storyline.

Al from Orange Park, FL

Considering what the Bengals offense is, I'm expecting to see a lot more Travis Hunter on defense this week. What do you think??

I think Jaguars rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter will play more defensively as the season moves forward, and I think he will play significantly more defensively against the Bengals in Week 2 than the six defensive snaps he played against the Panthers in Week 1. I think he would have played more defense in Week 2 than he did in Week 1 no matter the opponent, but I do think it's important that he's playing more defense against a team as good at receiver as the Bengals. The Jaguars need plays from the secondary Sunday. Hunter is a playmaker.

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's gooooooooooooO!

Repetitively speaking, Michael is ready for some football.

Dave from Waunakee

I saw the Trevor/Travis commercial during the game. It was as bad as Liam's first Duuuvalll, I hope they can recover.

You're referencing an Adidas commercial featuring Travis Hunter and quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Bad? I thought it was clever and likeable. To each his own, I suppose.

Hilarious from Funnytown

Imagine frowning on optimism for the sake of frowning on optimism.

It's kind of what I do.

Dan from Birmingham, AL

My wife is a writer and absolutely hates when I point out any errors or typos in her work. Naturally, I do it anyway. Tuten was a fourth-round selection.

I evidently wrote recently that the Jaguars selected running back Bhayshul Tuten in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. You are indeed correct that he was a fourth-round selection. This is on me. I will be available for public flogging and ridicule at a yet-to-be-determined date.

David from Jacksonville

You really bother me. I don't quite know what it is. But you bother me.

I get that lot.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

Thanks for answering the Tuten fantasy football question. Maybe I heard it wrong, too ... but I thought on one of the more recent "Jaguars A.M." segments on YouTube you said something to the effect of (I think it was) Travis Etienne being on your fantasy roster - is what I meant by "you mentioned" it. And that stuck out to me because I couldn't ever remember you referencing you even partook in fantasy football before. I appreciate you answering, too, because I didn't know you if you were necessarily trying to open up the forum for ending up having to screen through and/or dole out endless advice as a result of litanies of submissions about it. I need all the help I can get this week, particularly, in one of my two leagues. Bengals running back Chase Brown and Bengal wide receiver Ja'marr Chase benched in that one and Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins benched in the other. I don't do "blood points" (points accumulated in contests against the Jaguars). If I lose because of that, so be it.

I confess I have one fantasy football team. I play it in relatively obligatory fashion. I do not typically discuss this in this forum because listening to someone talk about their fantasy team is on par for boredom with listening to someone talk about their children and pets – both of which undoubtedly are cute but neither of which is distinguish-uable enough in cuteness from other people's children or pets to warrant discussion with strangers or even friends. Thus ends this season's fantasy football discussion here in the O-Zone. Get off my lawn.

Joe from Jacksonville

John, your last couple O-Zones have had depressing titles. "Downward Spiral." "A Real Downer." Are you doing well? Any positive news on your front?

I'm just a guy getting by.

Bradley from Kansas City, MO

Defensive ends Myles Garrett and Isaiah McGuire put much pressure on Burrow and defensive tackle Mason Graham looked pretty phenomenal in his rookie debut. Can the Jags' talented front four equal the Browns play?

This is a major storyline for Jaguars-Bengals Sunday. The Jaguars must stop the run in this game. That's always the first key in the NFL defensively because if you don't stop the run it makes passing so much easier for the opponent. If they can stop the run, the game likely will be decided on how effectively the Jaguars can pressure Burrow. Jaguars defensive ends Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen must have good games. They must pressure Burrow consistently and the Jaguars' secondary must cover well. As importantly, the Jaguars' interior pass rush – particularly defensive tackle Arik Armstead – must disrupt the middle. Without pressure from all areas, Burrow is good enough in the pocket to extend plays and complete big-moment, big-play passes. With consistent pressure, any quarterback can be pressured and bothered enough to disrupt an offense. I don't know if the Jaguars can do this as effectively as the Browns. That's one reason I'm going to Sunday's game – to find out.

Crash from Glen Saint Mary, FL

OZ! Can't wait to do the Johnny O dance when Travis Hunter gets a Pick Six off of Joey Ballgame.

Now's the time on sprockets when we dance.

Chris from Jacksonville

I'm optimistic, Zone. That makes me scared. I can't trust this feeling. Help.

This is understandable. The Jaguars looked good against the Panthers – good enough to inspire optimism. They also have struggled enough in recent seasons to be skeptical that they can play well in back-to-back games. It's the Jaguars' responsibility Sunday to continue inspiring confidence. Stay tuned.

Kevin from Neptune Beach, FL

Are we ever going to see why they drafted Travis?

My Scooby Sense – not my Scobee or Spidey sense – tells me you're asking if you're ever going to see Hunter excel. While it's true he did not have an elite game in Week 1, it's fair to remember that he was a rookie playing in his first NFL game – and that he missed about 10 days of 2025 Training Camp. We saw about how much the Jaguars want to play Hunter on offense last Sunday when he played 42 snaps. We also saw his quickness and the strain he can place on a defense. He caught six passes for 33 yards and was a couple of near-miss play from a very productive game offensively. He played six snaps defensively, which I expect may be the fewest defensive plays he plays this season. The Jaguars really like Hunter as a corner and I expect he will play more as he gets more comfortable with both the offense and defense. As that comfort level goes up, I expect we increasingly will see why the Jaguars selected him No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Van from St. Augustine, FL

Headed to Cincy for the cat fight. This is a test for the D. TLaw should do well. It's all about the D.

It's about the running game, too. And physicality. If the Jaguars are high end in those two areas, I trust quarterback Trevor Lawrence will have a good enough game for the Jaguars to compete into the fourth quarter Sunday.

Billy from Orange Park, FL

John, please help me to understand why our bookend defensive ends do not have any pass rush moves. They get pressure with bull rushes, but it seems to me they could get to the quarterback with a swim move, twist, spin or SOMETHING. Isn't that on our coaches??

Hines-Allen and Walker are good, effective pass rushers. I'm sorry you don't like how they rush the passer.

Don from Marshall, NC

Let's not forget it was Napoleon's dance moves that got Pedro elected! Go Jaguars!

When it comes to liking dancing and sort of correlating a dance from a move with a segment on Huddle-Up with Bucky Brooks this week, Don remains "all in."