JACKSONVILLE, FL – Throughout the 2023 season, Jaguars “experts” Frank Frangie, Jeff Lageman, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton, J.P. Shadrick, and Kainani Stevens will analyze the Jaguars’ next game.
This week’s highlights include:
EverBank Stadium hosts the Cincinnati Bengals.
Frank Frangie, Jaguars Radio Commentato
The Jaguars will win if they continue to play the way they have been. They’ve done a good job attacking vertically, Lawrence has found a rhythm, and defensively, they’ve found the pass rush that everyone was worried about. They must also continue to be effective against the run.
- The Bengals will win if: They somehow shut down Lawrence and that emerging passing game – and if they can get Browning going. They obviously aren’t the same team without Burrow and it has been tough sledding since they lost him. They also need a good game from Mixon — and they need long, slow drives to eat clock and keep the ball away from Lawrence. That might be their only chance.
- As Frangie sees it: The Jaguars are the better team, are playing at home at night in front of a Monday Night Football crowd for the first time in 12 years and are playing extremely well. The Jaguars should be able to take care of business here.
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Jeff Lageman, Jaguars Analyst and Former Jaguars Defensive End
- The Jaguars will win if: They continue the offensive momentum they have gained in the last few weeks and protect the football. The Bengals’ defense has been struggling to stop the run; if the Jags can get their ground game going it could be a long day for Cincinnati.
- The Bengals will win if: Their offensive line can protect Browning and allow him time to find one of the most explosive weapons in the NFL in Chase. Browning is an inexperienced passer and will need running back Joe Mixon to take the pressure off to have a successful day.
- As Lageman sees it: There is nothing better than playing in prime time on Monday Night Football. It is the only game on and all of your peers, family and friends are watching. Emotions must be controlled as the environment will be spectacular. If the Jaguars play clean and limit their own mistakes, they will beat the Burrow-less Bengals.
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Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director
- The Jaguars will win if: They score 20 or more points. That’s the formula this year and the Jaguars are unbeaten when they hit that mark. In their eight victories, they are averaging more than 28 points per game. The mission will be to score more than 20, but 20 might be enough against a Bengals team without Burrow.
- The Bengals will win if: They win the turnover margin by two or more. The Jaguars have been tough to beat when they hold onto the football. Cincinnati is a bit limited on offense with Burrow out, so they will have to be opportunistic Monday.
- As Martineau sees it: The Jaguars will win, but I think Cincinnati will put up a good fight early in this one. Let’s go with a final score of 27-16, Jaguars.
- Senior Writer at Jaguars.com, John Oehser
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The Jaguars will win if they: Maintain their defensive performance from earlier in the season. The Jaguars’ defense has consistently shut down opponents in the first half, allowing the offense to either pull away or make the necessary plays in the second half to win. With Burrow out, the Jaguars’ defense should put up a good fight.
The Bengals will win if they can force turnovers and convert them into points. On defense, the Bengals have capable playmakers. They’re an experienced enough team to win on the road in a difficult situation if they put pressure on Lawrence.According to Oehser, the Jaguars are a division-leading team competing for a playoff spot against a team without its starting quarterback. They’re playing at home, so the stakes should be high in their first Monday Night Football appearance in a decade. These elements bode well for the Jaguars on Monday.
Senior Correspondent for Jaguars.com, Brian Sexton -
- The Jaguars will win if: They keep taking shots down the field. Going vertical has been a focus the last two weeks and wide receiver Zay Jones’ presence makes it harder for defenses to take the deep ball away from wide receiver Calvin Ridley. The Bengals’ defense is built to be aggressive and play with the lead, but it has been on its heels since quarterback Joe Burrow was placed on injured reserve a few weeks ago. The Bengals have been susceptible to the big play, which was evident when the Houston Texans put up 544 yards against them three weeks ago. They also allowed the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers both to gain more than 400 yards of offense.
- The Bengals will win if: They give quarterback Jake Browning time to find JaMarr Chase and Co. Browning isn’t Burrow, but the Bengals still have the same weapons. If Browning has time to find wide receivers Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, it will be a problem for a Jaguars secondary that has allowed 255 yards per game passing and 6.76 yards per completion – which both rank in the bottom third of the league. If Browning has time to throw, the Bengals have a chance to pull the upset.
- As Sexton sees it: This was supposed to be a showcase for two of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks, Burrow and Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Instead, it will be a proving ground for a Jaguars team in prime time with its sights set on the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Their focus is sharp after a Week 10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and I don’t think the Bengals can hold up on either side of the ball. This should be the Jaguars’ ninth win of the season.
Senior Reporter for Jaguars.com, J.P. Shadrick
The Jaguars will win if they: On offense, they protect the football. This is a Bengals defense that is giving up yards, and the Jaguars are just getting started on offense. Trevor Lawrence has a 3-4 record with an average of just under 200 yards per game in games following 300-plus yard games, but Lawrence should reverse that trend this week.
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