The Cincinnati Bengals welcomed a tough test at Paycor Stadium, hosting a Jacksonville Jaguars squad that has looked like the AFC South's class through the early part of the season. Coming off their first loss, Cincinnati needed a response. Fans checking Ohio online sports betting lines saw a tight spread heading into kickoff, and the game lived up to that billing from the opening whistle, with both defenses setting the tone early.
The Bengals Struggle Throughout
The scoring started slow before Cam Little connected from 55 yards out to give Jacksonville a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Evan McPherson answered in the second with a 29-yard field goal to tie it, but Little responded again, pushing the Jaguars ahead 6-3 from 28 yards. Jacksonville closed out the half with authority when Trevor Lawrence found Brian Thomas for a 7-yard touchdown. Cincinnati cut into the deficit when Joe Burrow hit Mike Gesicki over the middle for a 15-yard score, but Little struck once more late in the third quarter, splitting the uprights from 54 yards. Burrow then drove the offense into the red zone in the fourth, but instead of taking a favorable one-on-one look on the right side, he forced a throw into double coverage trying to reach Mitch Tinsley. It was intercepted, his second pick of the day. Jacksonville didn't cash in immediately, but Chris Rodriguez Jr. broke off a 25-yard touchdown run later to make it 22-10 after a failed two-point try. Burrow added a rushing score to make it 22-17, but the Bengals defense couldn't get off the field, and Lawrence sealed the win with a clutch first-down completion.
Bengals Lose Chase to Concussion
Beyond the scoreboard, the Bengals offense looked out of sync, especially after Ja'Marr Chase exited with a concussion. Burrow finished 39 of 54 for 428 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, piling up yardage without much to show for it. The run game was nonexistent: Chase Brown carried nine times for just 10 yards, though he added 11 catches for 71 yards out of the backfield, while Samaje Perine managed only seven yards on three attempts. Tee Higgins carried the receiving load with 11 catches on 16 targets for 157 yards, and Chase had three grabs for 27 yards before leaving the game. The two interceptions loomed largest, killing drives at moments when Cincinnati needed momentum most.
Bengals Hope to Bounce Back
The loss drops the Bengals to back-to-back defeats in a game many viewed as a measuring stick. It's tough to swallow against a quality opponent, and now attention turns to Miami, where the Bengals are currently favored by 8.5 points against the Dolphins. It has the makings of a potential get-well spot, but Cincinnati needs to find its ground game and clarify Chase's status. For anyone tracking Ohio sports betting apps, that line could shift as the week unfolds, depending on injury news.
