I would have never thought a game against the Cincinnati Bengals would be a key to the success of the Jacksonville Jaguars 2020 season, however it is and fans should understand the magnitude of the potential loss on Sunday.
For everything the Bengals are, which is a winless NFL team, the thought of trying to defend Joe Burrow and a passing game that is better than most expected is what is facing the Jaguars on Sunday on the road. After 10 days off and mountains of time to prepare for this matchup, losing has more implications than one might think – especially if Todd Wash and the defense comes out and allows the rookie quarterback to dictate the outcome of the game early.
“If there is a singular key for the Jaguars this week – and moving forward – it’s solving their pass-rush issues. The Jaguars through three games have registered just three sacks, one in each game. And while defensive end Josh Allen has come within inches of several more sacks/turnover-causing hits, this front four has rarely created pressure without blitzing,” Jaguars.com senior writer John Oehser pointed out this week.
“Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone correctly noted this week that the issue isn’t solely the front; a young secondary has allowed all three opposing quarterbacks – particularly Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill last Thursday – easy completions to early reads in their progressions.”
Burrow has been better each week so far in his NFL education under center. The Jaguars must find a way to stop the LSU star from making this team his next victim. The defense has done a good job of stopping the run so far in 2020, but the secondary has played less than stellar defense in allowing wide receivers to look like Pro Bowl stars the past three weeks. And to top that off, the Jaguars are giving up 28 points a game which is 13th in the NFL this season.
You cannot win games by surrendering that many points.
The Jaguars have three more games before their bye week and need to win at least two of them if they are going to remain in the hunt for a playoff berth.
Yes, you read that right. The Jaguars can still turn this ship around with better play calling and more effort, especially at holding opponents under 20 points per game.
Burrow has had his own problems with pass protection, as Oehser points out.
“The Bengals enter Sunday struggling to an equal degree to protect the passer, having allowed eight sacks and 18 hits on rookie quarterback Joe Burrow last week. Those struggles don’t guarantee pressure for the Jaguars on Sunday, and the Jaguars may have to blitz to harass the thus-far impressive Burrow,” he explains.
“But however it happens, the Jaguars must get more pressure than they have thus far. All NFL quarterbacks – Burrow included – are too good to allow them the time the Jaguars have allowed this season.”
It will be interesting to see how both Josh Allen and former Burrow teammates K’Lavon Chaisson work to get to the quarterback this week to apply pressure and force Cincinnati’s signal caller into forced situations. Is this the week Jacksonville finally unveils a pass rush?
By all accounts, this is a big game for both teams. Cincinnati played to a tie with Philadelphia last week and the Jaguars must prove they are better than what they produced on the field in a 31-13 Thursday night loss to the Dolphins. Which team takes its next step? If it isn’t Jacksonville, then the season is in jeopardy. If Marrone can figure out how to get this team to 2-2 for the season, then fans should have something to talk about heading into another AFC South contest with the winless Houston Texans next week.
