CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow said it best after the Bengals won in Pittsburgh on Sunday that it’s a great time to be a Bengals fan. And why wouldn’t it be? The Bengals just beat Pittsburgh on Sunday for the first time on the road since 2015, Ja’Marr Chase is validating every reason why he was the Bengals first round draft pick in April and the team as a whole is really fun to watch. On top of that, the Bengals are doing something Thursday night we clamored for for years and thought we never would get to see; they are inducting the first four members into their Ring of Honor.
Opening thoughts
I get more nervous for these kinds of gams than I do for games against Pittsburgh. That’s because these are the games the Bengals should win, and if they don’t… whoa boy. This is the epitome of a trap game. The Bengals are coming off an impressive win at Pittsburgh, and it has created a feeling that maybe things are different this year for the franchise. Now with a winning record, the Bengals are facing a Jaguars team that isn’t very good and they’re also inducting the first four members to their Ring of Honor. They also have a highly-anticipating home game with Green Bay on the schedule in week five that should draw a huge crowd. But truthfully, Thursday night’s game is the only one that matters.
This is what I call a “Take Care of Business” game. It’s a game being played on only a short week of practice and preparation, but just go out and execute the gameplan and the rest will take care of itself. The Bengals beat Pittsburgh on Sunday in a business-like manner, like they knew all along they would win. If they can utilize that same approach Thursday night, they should beat Jacksonville comfortably.
This is a game that a lot of Bengals fans have been waiting for for a long time, and my family is included with all those fans. My grandfather is celebrating his 83rd birthday Thursday, and he and my grandmother have been Bengals season ticket holders since the inaugural season in 1968. They’ve been there since the beginning and have seen a lot of great players come through the organization. Thursday, after years of clamoring for it, my family and all of Who Dey Nation will see four iconic figures associated with the franchise get inducted into the Bengals Ring of Honor. Now Bengals fans who maybe don’t know much about the team’s history will get to see it on display inside Paul Brown Stadium when Paul Brown, Anthony Munoz, Ken Anderson and Ken Riley get inducted. No more dark days of losing and not honoring what is a great history of Bengals football. The past will finally be honored, and hopefully that honored past will marry what is an opportunistic present with what this year’s Bengals team has done so far with their 2-1 start
Players to watch
Bengals on offense – Joe Mixon. The last time the Bengals played the Jaguars, Mixon had, arguably, the best game of his career. Mixon rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns while also hauling in six receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. Coming into week four second in the NFL in total rushing yards, I am expecting to see Mixon used a lot especially on a short week.
Jaguars on defense – Josh Allen and Myles Jack. Jacksonville’s defense hasn’t done anything flashy yet this season. In fact, they finally forced their first turnover in this past Sunday’s game against Arizona. For a defense that does not have a lot of noteworthy players, they do have two that stand out. Josh Allen leads the team with two sacks and three quarterback hits, while Myles Jack leads the team with 25 tackles and also had an interception last year against the Bengals.
Jaguars on offense – James Robinson. The Jaguars second-year running back is their offense. When he’s running well, that’s when this offense can move the ball. Robinson rushed for 1,000 yards last year as a rookie, and he’s off to a solid 160 yards rushing through the Jaguars first three games this season.
Bengals on defense – Trae Waynes. Finally, the player who the Bengals paid $42 million for in the offseason prior to the 2020 season will make his debut Thursday night. It will be interesting to see what he can bring to the secondary, especially with Jesse Bates out Thursday with a neck injury.
Opposing quarterback thoughts
I once heard Trevor Lawrence be described as a once-in-a-generation talent. But I haven’t seen him play like that once so far in his rookie season. Lawrence is unique, because he had nearly everything go his way at Clemson and hasn’t had much success so far in the NFL. He’s not used to losing. He only lost four games combined in high school and college.
I do have sympathy for him, though. The team the Jaguars have around him is not very good. It’s tough for a rookie quarterback to walk into a situation where the team that drafts him is not very good. Add in a rookie head coach who has never coached in the NFL, and that doesn’t make the situation any better.
Frankie’s gameplan to victory
1. Protect. the. Franchise – Just as the offensive line did in Pittsburgh.
2. Unleash Joe Mixon – Like I mentioned in my players to watch segment, I think Mixon will be used a lot Thursday night. And he should be. With only a short week to prepare, keep the gameplan simple and do what works best for this offense, which is Mixon averaging five yards a carry Sunday at Pittsburgh and being a back that can move the chains and take the pressure off Joe Burrow.
3. Get after Trevor Lawrence – The Bengals secondary will be without its leader Thursday in Jesse Bates, so that puts an added incentive to get after Trevor Lawrence and not have the secondary have to do too much. That’s what the Bengals defensive line did Sunday at Pittsburgh, and it produced a dominant 14-point win.
Where this game will be decided
If the Bengals defensive line is able to get to Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars could be in for a very long night. Jacksonville’s best offense is James Robinson, and I think he will be effective regardless because of his ability in pass-catching. But the Bengals defense has been solid in stopping opposing teams’ running backs through the first three weeks. My bigger concern is their defensive line getting after Trevor Lawrence, and if they can do that they can really limit Jacksonville’s offensive productivity.
Game pick: Bengals 31 Jaguars 14
This is a trap game, but I think the Bengals are far and away the better team. Thursday night is a night Bengals fans have been waiting for for a long time. Joe Burrow said after the win at Pittsburgh that it’s a great time to be a Bengals fan, and I have no doubt he will lead this team to victory on a night when Bengals legends are honored.
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 