Game Report: Bengals 34, Jaguars 31
Game Report: Bengals 34, Jaguars 31
On Monday, in front of 67,951 fans, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of a 34-31 overtime loss to Cincinnati Bengals at EverBank Stadium. He didn't return after the injury, which came in the Panthers' first Monday Night Football appearance in quite a while.
Following the game, head coach Doug Pederson was questioned about Lawrence's level of concern.
"I don't be aware until I conversed with the specialists, truly," Pederson said.
With 1:45 remaining in overtime, Bengals kicker Evan McPherson made a 48-yard field goal, and Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus made a 40-yard field goal to make it 31-31 with: There are still 28 days in the fourth quarter.
C.J. Beathard, Lawrence's backup quarterback for all three of his Jaguars seasons and a seventh-year veteran, drove the Jaguars 53 yards to set up the game-tying field goal.
Beathard, who completed nine of ten passes for 63 yards on two series, one in the fourth quarter and one in overtime, said, "The first instinct is it just sucks for Trevor." You can see his pain on the ground. That sucks. It sort of blows your mind on the sideline, every one of the folks. You must drive and attempt to tie the game or win it.
"You lack the capacity to deal with the nerves to kick in. You simply have to leave.
The Pumas got the extra time kick. The Jaguars appeared to have first-and-goal at the two after Beathard's 43-yard pass to Calvin Ridley, but rookie right tackle Anton Harrison was penalized for holding. The Pumas drop-kicked two plays later, with the Bengals then, at that point, driving for the triumphant field objective.
The Bengals took a 31-28 lead thanks to McPherson's 54-yard field goal with 2:28 left. That covered a seven-play 26-yard drive on the series after Lawrence's physical issue, which came when he was sacked by cautious end Three pointer Hendrickson.
One play after Lawrence's injury, McManus missed a 48-yard field goal that would have given the Jaguars a three-point lead with just over five minutes left.
In the AFC South, the Jaguars (8-4) currently lead the Houston Texans (7-5) and Indianapolis Colts (7-5) by one game. The Bengals (6-6) won for the first time in three games.
The Jaguars were prevented from ascending to No. 1 seed.
Lawrence completed 22 of 29 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, including a touchdown pass to tight end Evan Engram in the second quarter, a touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Parker Washington in the third quarter, and a touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Bengals quarterback Jake Searing, making his second NFL start instead of harmed starter Joe Tunnel, finished 32 of 37 passes for 354 yards and one score without any captures.
On Monday, outside linebackers Josh Allen and Travon Walker shared one of the Jaguars' two sacks and one of their takeaways. Allen made a crucial play by intercepting a Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd pass late in the third quarter, giving his team the lead.
For the season, the Jaguars have 26 sacks and 21 takeaways.
Cincinnati rushed for 156 yards, leading the Bengals' 491-376 gain advantage over the Jaguars.
According to Pederson, "We didn't stop the run." That is the strength of our protection is halting the run. We didn't do that at all."
Step-by-Step:
- Running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s four-yard run capped a 51-yard, seven-play drive on the Jaguars' first possession for a 7-0 lead with 6:51 remaining in the first quarter; Lawrence keyed the drive with a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Christian Kirk and a two-yard sneak on fourth-and-one from the Cincinnati six-yard line. McPherson's 57-yard field goal attempt hit the cross bar and bounced into the end zone with 2:12 remaining in the quarter, preserving the Jaguars' 7-0 lead.
- Bengals running back Joe Mixon's six-yard run with 12:51 remaining in the second quarter capped an eight-play 92-yard drive that tied the game, 7-7. The Jaguars tied the game immediately, with Lawrence capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass with 6:24 remaining in the second quarter to Engram – Engram's first touchdown of the season. Mixon's two-yard run with 1:04 remaining in the half capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive and tied it 14-14.
- A 76-yard pass from Browning to wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase on the third play of the Bengals' first third-quarter possession gave Cincinnati a 21-14 lead. The Jaguars then tied and retook the lead in a wild sequence near the end of the quarter, with Washington catching a 14-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to tie it 21-21. Allen then intercepted Boyd, a play that led to a one-yard run by Lawrence that capped a nine-yard drive for a 28-21 Jaguars lead with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter.
- Browning's one-yard sneak made it 28-28 with 9:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, with the Jaguars driving into Cincinnati territory and Lawrence sustaining his injury on the ensuing possession.
Notable:
- Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell, who missed four of the previous five games with a hamstring injury, started Monday. Etienne also started Monday after sustaining a ribs injury in a victory over the Houston Texans the previous week and tight end Luke Farrell played after sustaining a toe injury against the Texans. The Jaguars' six gameday inactives Monday: Rookie tight end Brenton Strange, cornerback Montaric Brown, outside linebacker Yasir Abdullah, wide receiver Elijah Cooks, offensive lineman Chandler Brewer and defensive tackle Angelo Blackmon. Tight end Josh Pederson was elevated from the practice squad via standard elevation Monday.
Injury Report:
- Kirk sustained a groin injury on the opening drive and did not return. Cornerback Tre Herndon was evaluated for a concussion in the first quarter and did not return. Safety Andre Cisco sustained a shoulder injury in the second quarter and returned before halftime. Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi sustained an ankle injury in the fourth quarter. Left tackle Walker Little sustained a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter.