The Bengals faced the Jaguars on Dec. 4 in Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season. Here are takeaways and highlights from the game.
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Final Score: Bengals 34, Jaguars 31
As key injuries pile up in the heart of the NFL season, unlikely heroes continue to emerge and deliver career performances.
That hero on Monday night was Bengals quarterback Jake Browning. He made his second career start after taking over for star Joe Burrow, who is out for the season. Browning was highly efficient in this contest, finishing 32-for-37 with 354 yards and a touchdown.
To no one’s surprise, Bengals All-Pro wideout Ja’Marr Chase had a monster game, registering 11 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. Chase’s most prolific play came when he won a 1-on-1 matchup against Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell and jogged over 50 yards by himself for a 76-yard touchdown. The score gave the Bengals a 21-14 lead early in the third quarter.
The Jaguars answered with a touchdown drive of their own, capped off by an incredible catch courtesy of Parker Washington. On the next play from scrimmage, Jacksonville linebacker Josh Allen intercepted a pass, putting Jacksonville in a prime position to eventually score and go up 28-21.
Following another Cincinnati touchdown in the form of a Jake Browning one-yard rush, perhaps the most significant event of Monday night’s game occurred. With Jacksonville threatening at the Bengals’ 23-yard line on third and 10, Jaguars tackle Walker Little inadvertently stepped on Lawrence’s right ankle. The former No. 1 pick was unable to return and was later diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain.
Jacksonville had to settle for a field goal attempt on the drive, which sailed wide left with the score tied at 28.
The Bengals and the Jaguars then traded field goals in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to make the score 31-31 and send the game into overtime.
The Jaguars’ only drive in overtime stalled, and the Bengals capitalized by driving down the field and setting up placekicker Evan McPherson for a game-winning 48-yard field goal.
Highlights
JAMARR CHASE 76 YARD TOUCHDOWN
JAKE BROWNING IS DEALINGpic.twitter.com/fJdoTNTLyR
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 5, 2023
Look it in, young blood!@CPW11_ | #CINvsJAX on ESPN pic.twitter.com/Caot1meP3b
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 5, 2023
Evan McPherson wins it in OT! #CINvsJAX pic.twitter.com/QTr5ljCD6d
— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2023
Looking Forward
The Bengals will face the Colts at home in Week 14. The Colts are riding a four-game winning streak after defeating the Titans in overtime, 31-28. The Bengals’ win this week improves them to 6-6 on the season and keeps their playoff hopes alive. However, they trail Baltimore by three games in the AFC North, so they will likely need a great deal of good fortune to secure a playoff spot in a crowded AFC.
The Jaguars will travel to Cleveland next week to face the Browns, who remain in the hunt in the AFC despite dropping their last two contests. Cleveland got pounded by the Rams last week in a 36-19 loss. Jacksonville holds a one-game lead over both the Colts and the Texans in the AFC South. However, the questionable nature of Lawrence’s ankle injury may compromise Jacksonville’s playoff ambitions.
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