Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow dropped back to pass 58 times on unpenalized plays in Sunday’s 22-17 loss to the Jaguars, but he isn’t looking for more offensive balance in the coming weeks.
Burrow was asked about the imbalance on a day when the Bengals only had 13 designed runs for 18 yards, including Burrow’s one-yard touchdown run in the second half. He said that his “response to that would be, ‘Let’s throw it more’” and then explained why he feels that way.
“Because I know we’re great at it,” Burrow said, via a transcript from the team. “Because I know that’s what I do best, and we’re really pass-protecting really well right now. Obviously, we’d like to get more out of the run game, but, you know, I know we’ll make it work.”
Burrow finished the day 39-of-54 for 428 yards despite missing Ja’Marr Chase for most of the game due to a concussion, but he also threw two interceptions in the loss. One came in the red zone to kill a scoring chance that the Bengals needed to convert to avoid a second straight loss and the Bengals will need to be sharper with whatever approach they come up with in Week 5.
Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins had the second-most receiving yards he’s ever had in a single game on Sunday, but he wasn’t able to help the Bengals try to win the game at the end of the fourth quarter.
Higgins went to the medical tent after being injured on the previous Bengals possession and he was left to stand and watch the offense’s unsuccessful effort to avoid a 22-17 home loss. After the game, head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that an adductor injury was the reason why Higgins had to leave the contest.
Higgins had 11 catches for 157 yards before his injury and the team needed all of those plays because Ja’Marr Chase was lost to a concussion in the second quarter.
Joe Burrow was still able to put up 428 passing yards, but they didn’t translate to enough points and the Bengals will hope to be healthier at wideout the next time they hit the field.
Joe Burrow didn’t have Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins on the field at the end of Sunday’s game, but he almost brought the Bengals back against the Jaguars.
Burrow hit Mitchell Tinsley, Mike Gesicki, and Dohnte Meyers with passes that covered 62 yards and moved the Bengals to the 21-yard-line in the final minute with the Jaguars up by five, but three straight incompletions left Cincinnati with a fourth-and-10 to keep the game alive. Burrow hit running back Chase Brown with a short pass and he was brought down by defensive back Rayuan Lane one yard short of the sticks.
That made the Jaguars 22-17 winners a short time after it looked like they were in position to run the clock out on their own. Wide receiver Parker Washington broke loose for a 39-yard gain up the sideline on a third down after the two-minute warning, but replays showed he stepped out short of the first down and the Jaguars had to punt the ball away.
The defense was able to hold at the end and that was fitting because they were strong all day. Burrow threw a pair of interceptions and had a third wiped out due to a roughing the passer penalty on defensive lineman Arik Armstead. The Bengals quarterback finished the day with 428 passing yards, but the second pick was particularly painful as it came in the red zone with the Bengals in position to take their first lead of the afternoon.
Chase was ruled out after going for a concussion evaluation in the second quarter and Higgins went to the medical tent late in the fourth quarter. Higgins had 11 catches for 157 yards and Brown also had 11 catches as the Bengals found a way to get their offense moving despite Chase’s absence, but they had no success running the football and the Jaguars were able to give themselves breathing room with a 76-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
That drive was aided by a facemask penalty that was one of 11 Bengals penalties on the day. The Jaguars had 13 penalties of their own and the sloppiness is something that head coach Liam Coen will likely focus on despite the result.
Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence was 18-of-23 for 227 yards and was sacked four times over the course of the afternoon. Bhayshul Tuten ran 17 times for 73 yards and Chris Rodriguez capped that fourth quarter drive with a 25-yard touchdown run.
Jacksonville is now 3-1 with a visit from the reeling Eagles on tap next Sunday. The Bengals have lost two in a row, but should have a chance to get right against the Dolphins in Week 5.
The Bengals will have to try for a comeback win without the help of wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Chase left the game in the second quarter to have a concussion evaluation and he was officially ruled out just after halftime. Chase left after being tackled for a short gain and drawing a facemask penalty on Jaguars defensive back Jarrian Jones.
Chase had three catches for 27 yards before departing.
Tee Higgins and Dohnte Meyers are the top wideouts for the Bengals and running back Chase Brown has six catches on the day. They’ll be Joe Burrow’s targets as the Bengals try to climb out of a 13-3 hole.
Penalties wiped out a couple of would-be touchdowns for the Jaguars in the first half of Sunday’s game in Cincinnati, but they finally got one to stick before halftime.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence found wide receiver Brian Thomas in the end zone with 1:23 left to play in the half and the score extended the Jaguars’ lead to 13-3 over the Bengals. The score came after the defense forced its first turnover of the day.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow tried a pass under pressure from Josh Hines-Allen and cornerback Jourdan Lewis picked it off to set the Jags up in the red zone. After running back Bhayshul Tuten had his second touchdown taken off the board due to a holding penalty, the Jags were able to rebound on the pass to Thomas.
The Bengals got the ball back, but had no timeouts left and time ran out after an illegal hands to the face penalty by Dylan Fairchild. The two teams have combined for 16 penalties for 149 yards, but the bigger issue for the Bengals is the absence of wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Chase has not returned since going for a concussion evaluation in the second quarter. The team has only called him questionable, but it feels like they’re going to have to figure out a way to come back without him.
