Will Joe Burrow Target Ja’Marr Chase with Travis Hunter Guarding Him!? Cincinnati Bengals vs Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) head to Paycor Stadium to face the Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) on Sunday, September 14, 2025, in a pivotal Week 2 AFC matchup broadcast on CBS at 1 p.m. ET. Both teams notched gritty victories in their season openers—Jacksonville edging the Carolina Panthers 26-10 at home, while Cincinnati survived a nail-biter against the Cleveland Browns. This early test could define trajectories for two franchises hungry for playoff redemption after missing the postseason in recent years.
Under new head coach Liam Coen, the Jaguars are showing signs of resurgence following a dismal 4-13 campaign in 2024. Trevor Lawrence, entering his fourth year, looked sharp in Week 1, distributing efficiently to a revamped offense bolstered by second-overall draft pick Travis Hunter. The Heisman winner dazzled with six catches for 33 yards while logging defensive snaps at cornerback, adding versatility to a secondary that struggled mightily last season, allowing 389.9 yards per game. Hunter pairs explosively with sophomore sensation Brian Thomas Jr., who posted an 83.4 PFF receiving grade as a rookie. The ground game, led by Travis Etienne, aims for consistency under Coen’s scheme, inspired by his success with Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Defensively, coordinator Anthony Campanile’s new aggressive approach yielded a solid Week 1, but Jacksonville must generate more turnovers after ranking last in the NFL with just nine in 2024. Offseason additions like guards Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsey strengthen the line, protecting Lawrence from pressures that sidelined him before. The Jags hold a slight 13-12 all-time edge over Cincinnati, but their last meeting ended in a 34-31 Bengals overtime thriller in 2023.
For the Bengals, expectations remain sky-high around Joe Burrow, whose prime years demand results after back-to-back 9-8 seasons without playoffs. Burrow, fully healthy after injury-plagued 2023 and 2024 starts, orchestrated a close Week 1 win, leaning on elite receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase, the 2024 receiving triple crown winner, and Higgins form one of the league’s most dynamic duos, with the offense averaging 27.8 points per game last year. However, defensive woes loom large: Cincinnati’s unit allowed 25.5 points per game in 2024, prompting offseason overhauls. Pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, fresh off 17.5-sack seasons, headlines the front but seeks a contract extension amid holdout rumors. Rookies like DE Shemar Stewart and LB Demetrius Knight Jr. inject youth. The run game, with Chase Brown stepping up post-Joe Mixon, adds balance, but the secondary must contain Lawrence’s deep threats.
Key matchups tilt the scales. Hendrickson’s edge rush could disrupt Lawrence, who faces a Bengals defense that gained 6.0 yards per play last year. Conversely, Jacksonville’s revamped secondary—bolstered by Hunter and veterans like Jourdan Lewis—must shadow Chase and Higgins to avoid big plays. The over/under sits at 50.5, reflecting potent offenses, but turnovers and red-zone efficiency will decide it. Oddsmakers favor Cincinnati by 3.5 points (-190 moneyline), citing home-field and Burrow’s 10-1 divisional record, but the Jaguars’ momentum and two-way star Hunter make them live underdogs (+155).
This “cat fight” promises fireworks, with playoff implications hanging in the balance. Bengals seek to assert North dominance; Jaguars aim to build South momentum. Expect a high-scoring affair where execution separates contenders from pretenders.
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