2-1 Bengals Host 2-1 Jaguars on Sunday in Cincinnati

Cincinnati looks to rebound from its first loss of the season against a Jacksonville team that beat the reigning AFC champion Patriots 35-6 in Week 3.

The Cincinnati Bengals host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in a matchup of 2-1 teams that both entered the season as prime AFC contenders. Cincinnati is trying to bounce back from its first defeat of 2026, while Jacksonville arrives off one of the strongest showings by any team this season.

The Jaguars routed the New England Patriots 35-6 in Week 3, a 29-point margin over the club that won the AFC a year ago. Trevor Lawrence operates an offense directed by Liam Coen, and Jacksonville's defense took the ball away four times from quarterback Drake Maye with two interceptions and two fumbles.

Cincinnati dropped to 2-1 with last Sunday's loss at Pittsburgh, a game decided largely by avoidable mistakes. On a late drive with a little over two minutes left, the Bengals reached field-goal range with a chance to tie or take the lead, but Dalton Risner was beaten by Derrick Harmon, Joe Burrow was sacked and fumbled, and the Steelers recovered to end it.

One pressing issue for Cincinnati is limiting big plays. Pittsburgh finished with seven explosive plays against the Bengals, hurting the defense both on the ground and through the air. Jacksonville poses a similar threat: Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr. form a receiver trio that can strike deep, and Bhayshul Tuten has led the Jaguars' ground attack at 4.7 yards per carry.

Penalties remain another concern. The Bengals were flagged 12 times in their Week 2 win at Houston, which finished 20-6, and while that number dropped to six in Pittsburgh, several calls were costly. An Amarius Mims penalty for lining up too far back wiped out a Tee Higgins catch that would have gained a first down on Cincinnati's second possession, and the Bengals settled for a field goal.

The kicking game was even more damaging, handing Pittsburgh 10 points. Leading by three in the second half, Cincinnati attempted to block a punt on a call from Darrin Simmons, and Cedric Johnson's roughing-the-punter penalty let the Steelers keep the ball and score a touchdown a few plays later. After the Bengals moved back in front, Ke'Shawn Williams muffed a punt and PJ Jules tried to pick the ball up rather than fall on it, and Pittsburgh recovered and added a field goal.

Protecting the football is a priority for Cincinnati after Jacksonville's defense produced four takeaways against New England. The Bengals' Week 3 defeat turned on turnovers and kicking-game errors, and giving extra possessions to the Jaguars' offense is a risk Cincinnati cannot easily afford.

How the Bengals run the ball may also matter Sunday. Jacksonville enters the game eighth in the NFL against the rush, surrendering 91 yards per game, and Cincinnati has been predictable when running from under center, a formation in which Burrow also has not looked comfortable on play action. The Bengals' most effective runs have come out of the shotgun, an approach they could lean on again this week.

The teams met in Week 2 of the 2025 season, when Cincinnati overcame a halftime deficit to win 31-27 at Paycor Stadium. Sunday's rematch in Cincinnati carries early weight for two clubs with playoff expectations in the AFC.