
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals meet Sunday afternoon at Paycor Stadium in an early-season AFC matchup between two 2-1 teams.
Jacksonville comes to Cincinnati following an impressive 35-6 victory over New England, while the Bengals are looking to rebound from a 30-27 loss at Pittsburgh. Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdowns against the Patriots, while Joe Burrow answered with three touchdown passes of his own against the Steelers.
Cincinnati enters as a 2.5-point home favorite, with the high 51.5-point total pointing toward the potential for an offensive shootout.
Matchup: Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026 Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET TV: CBS Venue: Paycor Stadium — Cincinnati, Ohio Tickets: As low as $119 Point Spread: Cincinnati -2.5 Over/Under: 51.5
Both offenses are averaging more than 26 points per game. Jacksonville enters averaging 27.3 points, while Cincinnati is producing 26.7 per game.
Joe Burrow enters Week 4 completing 70.9% of his passes for 743 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception.
He was excellent against Pittsburgh, completing 28 of 37 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns.
Ja’Marr Chase caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown, while Tee Higgins added six receptions for 90 yards and a score.
That combination could create problems for Jacksonville.
The Jaguars have generated eight sacks and four interceptions through three games, so Cincinnati’s offensive line must protect Burrow and give him enough time to exploit favorable matchups.
Chase Brown also provides offensive balance with 197 rushing yards through three games.
If Cincinnati protects Burrow, the Bengals should have opportunities to generate explosive plays.
Jacksonville responded impressively to its Week 2 loss at Denver by dominating New England.
Lawrence completed 19 of 29 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns against the Patriots. He enters Week 4 with 616 passing yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 66.7% of his attempts.
The Jaguars have also found balance with Bhayshul Tuten.
Tuten leads Jacksonville with 204 rushing yards on 43 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. Parker Washington has emerged as Lawrence’s leading receiver with 221 yards and two touchdowns.
Jacksonville’s biggest advantage could be its ability to create turnovers. The Jaguars enter with a plus-four turnover differential, while their defense has already intercepted four passes.
Burrow’s current passing-yard line sits around 265.5 yards.
He threw for 282 yards against Pittsburgh and should once again have plenty of opportunities with Cincinnati expected to rely heavily on Chase and Higgins.
The 51.5-point total also suggests significant offensive production.
Prediction: Joe Burrow — 286 passing yards
Chase’s receiving line currently sits at 76.5 yards.
He is coming off nine receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown against Pittsburgh.
Burrow should continue looking toward Chase in critical situations, particularly if this game develops into the shootout the total suggests.
Prediction: Ja’Marr Chase — 91 receiving yards
Higgins enters Week 4 as Cincinnati’s statistical receiving leader with 244 yards on 14 catches.
His current receiving prop sits around 60.5 yards.
Jacksonville will have to devote significant attention to Chase, creating opportunities for Higgins on the opposite side.
Prediction: Tee Higgins — 72 receiving yards
Washington has become one of Jacksonville’s biggest offensive threats.
He leads the Jaguars with 15 receptions for 221 yards, averaging 14.7 yards per catch. His current receiving-yard line is approximately 72.5.
Cincinnati allowed Aaron Rodgers to throw for 292 yards and three touchdowns last week, giving Lawrence and Washington a favorable reason to attack downfield.
Prediction: Parker Washington — 79 receiving yards
Burrow has thrown six touchdowns against just one interception and is completing more than 70% of his passes.
Chase remains Cincinnati’s most dangerous offensive weapon and is coming off his best performance of the season.
Lawrence already has seven touchdown passes through three games. Cincinnati’s pass rush must prevent him from getting comfortable.
Tuten has rushed for 65 or more yards in all three games, providing Jacksonville with the balance needed to keep defenses from focusing entirely on Lawrence.
Cincinnati’s first priority is protecting Burrow. Jacksonville’s defense has eight sacks and has consistently created turnovers.
The Bengals also need to limit Tuten on early downs and force Lawrence into obvious passing situations.
Jacksonville must prevent Chase and Higgins from controlling the game downfield. The Jaguars also need their running attack to shorten the game and keep Burrow on the sideline.
Turnovers could ultimately determine the outcome.
The 51.5-point total is one of the biggest clues in this matchup.
Cincinnati and Jacksonville both possess quarterbacks capable of throwing multiple touchdowns, and each offense is averaging more than 26 points per game.
Jacksonville’s defense has been opportunistic, but Cincinnati’s receiving combination of Chase and Higgins represents a significant challenge.
The Bengals’ home-field advantage and Burrow’s ability to create scoring drives give Cincinnati a slight edge.
Expect a competitive, high-scoring game at Paycor Stadium.
Lawrence and Jacksonville should generate points, particularly if Tuten establishes the running game and creates manageable situations.
But Cincinnati has the more dangerous collection of proven receiving weapons.
Burrow should find enough success throwing to Chase and Higgins to give the Bengals the advantage in the fourth quarter.
Cincinnati Bengals 30, Jacksonville Jaguars 27
Betting Category Pick Best Bet Ja’Marr Chase Over 76.5 Receiving Yards Against the Spread Cincinnati -2.5 Moneyline Cincinnati Over/Under Over 51.5 Top Prop Joe Burrow Over 265.5 Passing Yards
Final Prediction: Cincinnati 30, Jacksonville 27
Cincinnati improves to 3-1, covers the 2.5-point spread and uses another strong Burrow performance to win a high-scoring AFC matchup at Paycor Stadium.
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