CINCINNATI, Ohio – This one slipped away, painfully.
As a result, the Jaguars missed a chance to be unbeaten after two games for the first time in seven seasons.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for three touchdowns with two interceptions, and the Jaguars ran strong, but the Cincinnati Bengals rallied late for a 31-27 victory over the Jaguars in front of 65,871at Paycor Stadium on Sunday.
“I thought they played their asses off – competed, played physical,” Head Coach Liam Coen said, “just didn’t make enough plays at the end.”
Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning’s one-yard sneak with :18 remaining capped a 15-play, 92-yard drive and gave Cincinnati its first and only lead of the game.
“For us, it’s just learning how to close out these games and to make the plays down the stretch,” Lawrence said. “The guys played hard. We just didn’t get it done today. We have to learn from it, watch the tape and get better.”
A key play on the Bengals’ final drive: A 25-yard pass interference penalty on rookie cornerback Travis Hunter covering wide receiver Andre Iosavis on fourth-and-5 from the Bengals 33-yard line, a play that gave the Bengals a first down on the Jaguars 42 with 1:49 remaining.
“They call a pass interference on fourth down,” Coen said. “I’d like to see them maybe go earn it, but it is what it is.”
Kicker Cam Little‘s 25-yard field goal gave the Jaguars a three-point lead early in the fourth quarter, and the Jaguars’ defense held the Bengals scoreless on two possessions before Cincinnati’s go-ahead drive.
“Everybody self-analyzing and nobody’s pointing fingers,” Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd said. “Everybody’s looking determinedly at what we could have done better. This locker room is definitely together. Everybody is on the same page. We just have to find a way to win these games.”
Lawrence completed 25 of 43 passes for 294 yards, and the Jaguars featured a balance offense for a second consecutive week.
Running back Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for 71 yards and rookie Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 42 as the Jaguars rushed for 139 yards as a team – their second consecutive strong rushing game to start the season. They rushed for 200 yards in a Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Lawrence threw touchdowns to wide receiver Dyami Brown and Tuten in the first half, and threw another to Etienne in the third quarter. His two first-half interceptions led to 10 Bengals points.