Jaguars host Bengals in Jacksonville's first "Monday Night Football" game in a dozen years
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) celebrates as he jogs off the field after the teams NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. Credit: AP/Eric Gay
CINCINNATI (5-6) at JACKSONVILLE (8-3)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. EST, ESPN
OPENING LINE: Jaguars by 8½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Cincinnati 4-6-1; Jacksonville 8-3.
SERIES RECORD: Jaguars lead 13-11.
LAST MEETING: Bengals beat Jaguars 24-21 on Sept. 30, 2021, in Cincinnati.
LAST WEEK: Bengals lost to Steelers 16-10; Jaguars won at Texans 24-21.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) catches a pass from quarterback Jake Browning for a first down with Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) defending during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. Credit: AP/Carolyn Kaster
BENGALS OFFENSE: OVERALL (27), RUSH (32), PASS (19), SCORING (23).
BENGALS DEFENSE: OVERALL (31), RUSH (29), PASS (26), SCORING (19).
JAGUARS OFFENSE: OVERALL (13), RUSH (18), PASS (12), SCORING (12).
JAGUARS DEFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (4), PASS (28), SCORING (12).
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jeremiah Ledbetter (99) and Adam Gotsis (96) celebrate a missed long field goal attempt by the Houston Texans in the final seconds of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. Credit: AP/Eric Christian Smith
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Bengals plus-10; Jaguars plus-2.
BENGALS PLAYER TO WATCH: Two-time Pro Bowler Ja’Marr Chase has six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown over the past two games, a fairly quiet stretch for one of the best receivers in the league. But his TD reception did come from backup QB Jake Browning, who will make his second career start Monday night.
JAGUARS PLAYER TO WATCH: Pass rusher Josh Allen is coming off one of his best games, a 2½-sack performance at Houston that raised his total to 12 this season and 39½ for his career. He now ranks second in franchise history after passing Yannick Ngakoue.
KEY MATCHUP: Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson versus Jaguars LT Walker Little. Hendrickson has 10½ sacks this season, including 9½ over Cincy’s past nine games, and now faces Little who is sliding over from left guard because of a knee injury to starter Cam Robinson. Little started the first four games of the season at left tackle in place of Robinson, and the Jaguars consider it his most natural position.
KEY INJURIES: Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) returned to practice Thursday after missing the past three games. CB Cam Taylor-Britt (quadriceps) also could return after sitting out last week. ... Jaguars RB Travis Etienne (chest) missed practice Thursday, but is expected to play. CB Tyson Campbell (hamstring) is expected to return after missing four of the past five games.
SERIES NOTES: The Bengals have won two in a row and six of the past eight in the series, which started as AFC Central rivals between 1995 and 2002.
STATS AND STUFF: Browning had a 96.2 QB rating in his first career start last week. He threw for 227 yards, with a TD and an INT. … Joe Mixon has at least 60 yards from scrimmage in 10 games this season, tied for the most among RBs. He has a TD in four of his past five games. … Chase had 12 catches for 141 yards in his only career game on MNF. He needs five catches and 86 yards receiving to become the fourth player in NFL history with 80 or more catches and 1,000 or more yards in each of first three seasons. … Hendrickson has six sacks in five road games this season. He has 7½ sacks in six career MNF games. … LB Logan Wilson is looking for his eighth consecutive game with at least five tackles. … The Jaguars are making their first appearance on MNF since 2011. It had been the NFL’s longest active drought. … QB Trevor Lawrence passed for a season-high 364 yards last week at Houston. It was his second career game with more than 350 yards passing. … RB Travis Etienne has at least 55 yards from scrimmage in eight of his past nine games. … WR Calvin Ridley goes for his third consecutive game with at least five catches, 85 yards and a TD. … TE Evan Engram has 64 catches for 524 yards but is still looking for his first TD catch of the season. … LB Foye Oluokun ranks fourth in the NFL with 119 tackles … CB Darious Williams leads the NFL with 16 passes defenses this season.
FANTASY TIP: Lawrence seems to have found something the past two weeks — three passing TDs and three rushing — should be a safe bet to start in his MNF debut.
