After a promising win over Cleveland two weeks ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars disappointed again in a 27-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 8. They take on AFC North’s top team in the Cincinnati Bengals next. Can the Jaguars fix their offensive lapses and record an upset? Or will the Bengals remind us that, for a time at least, they looked to be the best team in the NFL this season?
Read on for more on this game and for more football action check out our breakdown of Monday Night Football’s shootout between the Indianapolis Colts vs. the New York Giants. You can also scout out the Bengals’ opposition in AFC North as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (preview) for Sunday Night Football.
[sc:Football ]Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals Preview
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
When: Sunday, November 2, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Jacksonville Jaguars (+12.5) at Cincinnati Bengals (-12.5); total 43.5 – view all NFL lines
Betting on the Jacksonville Jaguars
Blake Bortles became the second quarterback since 2013 to throw two pick-sixes in a game last week. The first one to do so was the New York Jets’ Geno Smith against Cincinnati, the Jaguars’ next opponents. The Jags are 0-3 SU/ATS in their last three meetings with the Bengals.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Bortles continued to struggle in his rookie season as he completed 13 of 28 passes for 140 yards before he went 5-for-6 for 81 yards and a touchdown in garbage time against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Turnovers have been a recurring problem for Bortles this season. He has already thrown 12 interceptions in just six games, four of which have been returned for touchdowns. Both marks are the most in the NFL.
With the rookie struggling, running back Denard Robinson picked up the slack in the offense. He became the first Jaguar RB to top 100 yards in back-to-back gamnes since 2011. Robinson has now rushed for 5.9 yards per carry since emerging as the clear No. 1 running back for the Jags two weeks ago. He should be able to have another eye-catching performance against the Bengals’ run defense, which is allowing 140.7 yards per game (29th in the league).
On the other side of the ball, the Jaguars may be able to pressure Andy Dalton into committing some mistakes in the pocket. Jacksonville is for second in the league in team sacks with 25. Defensive ends Ryan Davis and Chris Clemons share the team lead with four sacks each. However, the Jags may find it difficult to establish the pass rush against Cincinnati’s offensive line, which has allowed eight sacks this season (tied for second-least sacks in the league).
The total has gone under in Jacksonville’s last four games.
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Betting on the Cincinnati Bengals
After going winless for the last three weeks, the Cincinnati Bengals finally returned to the win column with their come-from-behind 27-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals improved to 3-0-1 in home games this season.
Quarterback Andy Dalton scored the Bengals’ first and last touchdowns on one-yard sneaks. Despite going 21-for-28 for 266 yards, Dalton wasn’t at his sharpest. He had a fumble and an interception in the fourth quarter, and was sacked two times for a combined loss of 27 yards in the contest. The mistakes may keep happening for Dalton, especially against the pressure the Jags’ pass rush puts on.
Dalton may have his primary playmaker in A.J. Green back in action, according to ESPN. Green, who has missed the last four games with a toe injury, has caught 17 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns in the three games he’s played this season. In Green’s absence, Mohamed Sanu has turned it up a notch with two 120-yard performances and a touchdown in his last three games.
Dalton won’t be short on talented playmakers when he takes on Jacksonville’s pass defense which allows 267.4 yards per game (27th in the league).
On the ground, running back Giovani Bernard has struggled the past two weeks averaging 2.7 yards per carry. He may be able to break out of his slump against the Jags’ defensive line which allowed 6.2 yards per attempt against Miami on Sunday.
Defensively, the Bengals’ secondary will have keen eyes on Jaguars rookie quarterback Blake Bortles who has thrown interceptions in six-straight games. Safeties Reggie Nelson and George Iloka each have two interceptions, as does linebacker Emmanuel Lamur.
The Bengals are 1-3 ATS in their last three games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Bengals win outright, but the Jaguars cover +12.5.
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