It was late in the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium, 84 degrees on the field, and the air felt like a wet blanket. The Cincinnati Bengals were down. Joe Burrow was already in the locker room with a left toe injury. Most fans in the stands—and probably everyone watching at home—figured the Jacksonville Jaguars had this one in the bag. After all, Trevor Lawrence had already tossed three touchdowns.
But then Jake Browning happened. Again.
If you follow the Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals matchup, you know it’s never just a "game." It’s usually a chaotic, high-stakes car crash of a football game that defies logic. On September 14, 2025, it happened again. Browning, the backup who seems to have a personal vendetta against Jacksonville, marched the Bengals 92 yards down the field to score a rushing touchdown with 18 seconds left. Final score: Bengals 31, Jaguars 27.
The Weird Stat That Nobody Notices
Basically, everyone talks about the Burrow vs. Lawrence rivalry. It makes sense. They’re both former number-one overall picks. They both have that "face of the franchise" hair. But honestly, the head-to-head history between these two teams is much weirder than a quarterback duel.
Right now, the all-time series is tied dead even at 13-13.
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Think about that. Over 26 games spanning decades, neither team has managed to pull away. It’s a perfect stalemate. In their last few meetings, the margin of victory has been razor-thin. We’re talking about an overtime thriller in 2023 where the Bengals won 34-31, and then this most recent 2025 heartbreaker that was decided in the final seconds.
For Jacksonville, this specific rivalry has become a sort of "litmus test" for their legitimacy. Under Head Coach Liam Coen in 2025, the Jaguars actually looked like the better team for 55 minutes. Lawrence was surgical, finding Travis Etienne Jr. and the rookie Bhayshul Tuten with ease. But Jacksonville has this habit—this sorta "Jags thing"—where they let a lead slip through their fingers like wet soap.
Why Paycor Stadium is Jacksonville’s Kryptonite
Playing in Cincinnati has become a nightmare for the Jaguars. The Bengals have now won 25 consecutive regular-season home games with over 65,000 fans in attendance. That’s the longest streak in their franchise history. When the Jaguars walked into that stadium for the 2025 home opener, they weren't just playing against a defense; they were playing against a wall of noise.
The stats from that September 14th game tell a story of missed opportunities:
- Trevor Lawrence: 25/43 for 294 yards, 3 TDs, but 2 costly interceptions.
- Ja'Marr Chase: 14 catches (one shy of his record) for 165 yards and a TD.
- The Sacks: Trey Hendrickson took Lawrence down for a 10-yard loss in the fourth quarter, moving him into 5th all-time on the Bengals' sack list.
The most controversial moment? A 25-yard pass interference call on rookie Travis Hunter. It was fourth-and-5. If the Jags get the stop, the game is over. Instead, the flag flew, and it gave Cincinnati the life they needed to finish the comeback. Liam Coen’s post-game quote said it all: "I'd like to see them maybe go earn it, but it is what it is."
The "Travis Hunter" Factor
Speaking of Travis Hunter, the 2025 season saw the Jaguars leaning heavily on the two-way star. Most people thought the "Ironman" football thing wouldn't work in the NFL. They were wrong. Hunter played both wide receiver and cornerback against the Bengals. While he got flagged on that final drive, his presence on the field changed how Cincinnati had to call plays.
Usually, you can just double-team a star receiver or avoid a shutdown corner. But when the same guy is doing both, it messes with the opposing coach's head. Bengals' offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher had to account for Hunter on every single snap. It’s this kind of nuance—the chess match between specialized players and versatile unicorns—that makes the Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals games so fascinating to watch for scouts.
What Really Happened with Joe Burrow?
Every time these teams meet, health is the headline. In 2023, Burrow was out with a wrist injury. In 2025, he exited in the second quarter with that toe issue. It’s frustrating. We want to see the heavyweights go 12 rounds, but instead, we keep getting the "Backup Bowl."
Jake Browning isn't a fluke, though. He’s the "Jaguars Killer." He completed 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards in relief during that 2025 game. Even with three interceptions, he found a way to win. It proves that the Bengals' system under Zac Taylor is more resilient than people give it credit for. They aren't just "Burrow or Bust" anymore.
Misconceptions About the Rivalry
A lot of national media outlets treat this as a secondary matchup. It’s not the Ravens-Steelers or the Chiefs-Raiders. But if you look at the offensive output, Jaguars-Bengals is quietly one of the most explosive pairings in the AFC.
Since 2021, games between these two have averaged over 50 total points. It's a shootout every single time. People think the Jaguars are a "run-first" team because of Etienne, but Lawrence has been airing it out more against Cincinnati than almost any other opponent. He threw 43 times in the last meeting. That’s not a team trying to play it safe; that’s a team trying to win a track meet.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
As we move into 2026, the trajectory of these two franchises is diverging. The Jaguars are coming off an AFC South championship but a painful Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills. They are in "win-now" mode. They have the pieces, but they need to prove they can close out games against elite AFC competition.
The Bengals, on the other hand, are dealing with the reality of an aging core and the massive contracts of their stars. Keeping Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins together while paying Burrow is a salary cap miracle that James Blackburn and the front office are trying to maintain.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
- Watch the Injury Report: This seems obvious, but for this specific matchup, it's everything. Burrow’s availability shifts the spread by 6-7 points instantly.
- Bet the Over: History doesn't lie. These teams don't play defense when they see each other. They trade blows until someone runs out of time.
- The "Home Field" is Real: Jacksonville hasn't won in Cincinnati in years. If the game is at Paycor, the Bengals have a psychological edge that is reflected in the late-game "magic" we saw in 2025.
- Monitor Travis Hunter's Snaps: If he’s playing 90%+ of the snaps, he will tire out by the fourth quarter. That’s exactly when Browning attacked him in their last meeting.
The Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals rivalry is the best NFL story that isn't being told on the nightly news. It’s a messy, high-scoring, unpredictable series that consistently produces the best games of the season. Whether it’s a backup quarterback running for a game-winner or a controversial pass interference call, you can bet that the next time these two meet, something weird is going to happen.
If you're looking to catch the next game, keep an eye on the 2026 schedule release. While they aren't scheduled for a locked-in annual meeting, their divisional rankings often put them on a collision course. Given how the 2025 season ended for both, a rematch is exactly what the AFC needs to settle the score.
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For now, the series remains tied. 13 wins each. The tiebreaker is coming, and it’s going to be electric.
Next Steps for Following the Rivalry:
Check the official NFL 2026 schedule release in May to see if these teams are slated for a "strength of schedule" matchup. You should also follow the Jaguars’ injury updates regarding Trevor Lawrence’s off-season progress, as his performance in high-pressure games remains the key variable for Jacksonville’s future success.