Lawrence, Strange and Jaguars defense deliver 22–17 win

Jacksonville stopped Cincinnati a yard short on fourth down in the final minute and held on for a 22–17 road victory Sunday. Joe Burrow’s nine-yard completion to Chase Brown could not move the chains on fourth-and-10 from the Jaguars’ 21, with Rayuan Lane making the tackle that ended the Bengals’ last chance.

The Jaguars improved to 3–1 despite being outgained 437–323. Cincinnati fell to 2–2 after throwing two interceptions and producing only 23 rushing yards. Jacksonville’s takeaways supplied both a short touchdown drive and a stop deep in its own territory.

Lewis turns a close half

Cam Little kicked field goals from 55 and 28 yards, while Evan McPherson connected from 29, leaving Jacksonville ahead 6–3 late in the second quarter. Jourdan Lewis then intercepted Burrow and returned the ball 45 yards to the Cincinnati 18.

Trevor Lawrence converted that opportunity into a seven-yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr. with 1:23 remaining before halftime. The touchdown made it 13–3 and rewarded a defense that had turned a Bengals possession into immediate scoring position.

Cincinnati threatened again at the start of the third quarter, but Foye Oluokun intercepted Burrow at the Jacksonville 10. The Bengals later scored on Burrow’s 15-yard pass to Mike Gesicki, trimming the deficit to three, before Little’s 54-yard field goal restored a 16–10 lead.

Rodriguez gives Jacksonville room

Chris Rodriguez Jr. broke free for a 25-yard rushing touchdown with 6:35 remaining. Jacksonville’s two-point try failed, leaving the margin at 22–10. The run supplied the Jaguars’ final points and forced Cincinnati to score twice to win.

Burrow’s one-yard touchdown run with 3:28 left brought the Bengals within five. After getting the ball back with 1:56 remaining, Cincinnati drove from its own 17 to the Jacksonville 21. Three incomplete passes preceded the fourth-down throw to Brown, and Lane stopped the running back at the 12.

That ending preserved Jacksonville’s lead without another offensive score. The Jaguars had absorbed a Bengals touchdown, returned possession and then needed one final defensive stop to protect the result.

Lawrence, Strange and the rushing split

Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown without an interception. Brenton Strange led Jacksonville with seven catches for 95 yards on eight targets. Bhayshul Tuten carried 17 times for 73 yards; Rodriguez finished with six carries for 35 yards and the fourth-quarter touchdown.

Burrow completed 39 of 54 passes for 428 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, adding the rushing score. Tee Higgins caught 11 passes for 157 yards, and Brown made 11 receptions for 71. Those catches did not solve Cincinnati’s lack of rushing production: Brown gained 10 yards on nine carries.

Jacksonville committed 13 penalties for 125 yards, compared with Cincinnati’s 11 for 108. The two interceptions and the final fourth-down tackle allowed the Jaguars to survive those setbacks. For roster managers, Strange supplied the receiving volume, while Tuten led the rushing workload and Rodriguez scored on six carries. Those are Sunday’s roles; the team has not announced a future split.

Cincinnati also lost Tee Higgins late in the fourth quarter. In the Bengals' official postgame quotes, coach Zac Taylor identified the injury as an adductor issue. Higgins tried to return for one play, but Taylor said he could not continue. Ja'Marr Chase had already left with a concussion. With both receivers unavailable during the closing drive, Mike Gesicki, Mitch Tinsley and Dohnte Meyers helped keep the passing game moving. Taylor did not provide a return timetable for Higgins.