JACKSONVILLE — Not so fast.
That’s what the Bengals said to all those who thought they’d be writing obituaries on the 2023 Bengals on Tuesday morning. Thanks to Jake Browning’s coming out game that ranks as the greatest second career start by any quarterback in recorded NFL history, the Bengals captured a wild 34-31 overtime win at EverBank Stadium over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Browning completed 32-of-37 passes for 354 yards. He dropped a 76-yard dime to Ja’Marr Chase down the left sideline for a touchdown on third-and-2 that brought out the evil in the most talented Bengal without a ‘9’ on his back.
Browning led an offense that was a remarkable 8-for-14 on third down and converted a fourth down that kept alive a fourth-quarter drive with the Bengals down, 28-21. Browning converted a third down in overtime that kept alive the game-winning drive.
It wasn’t all Browning.
Ja’Marr Chase caught 11 passes for 149 yards and the 76-yard rainbow from yielded gold in the form of a 21-14 lead. Tee Higgins returned and caught three passes, including a critical toe dance for a first down in overtime.
And oh yeah, the Bengals found out what a healthy run game can do for a quarterback, any quarterback in a pass-heavy offense. Rookie Chase Brown ran nine times for 61 yards while Joe Mixon found the end zone twice, running 19 times for 69 yards. Eight days after running the ball 11 times, the Bengals carried the rock 30 times.
The defense came up with the biggest stop of the night when they needed it. The Jaguars, behind backup C.J. Beathard, were about to write their own unlikely quarterback story in overtime. But Sam Hubbard was held by tackle Anton Harrison, wiping out a 42-yard heave to Calvin Ridley down to the Cincinnati 2.
On the next play, third-and-17 from the Jacksonville 45, Germaine Pratt tackled Ridley for a four-yard loss on a pass behind the line of scrimmage.
They Jags punted, the Bengals drove and Evan McPherson ended the wildest night of the season with a 48-yard field goal that leveled the Bengals at 6-6.
And while no one in their right mind is suggesting that one night of Jake Browning is better than a healthy Joe Burrow, what we saw Monday night in Jacksonville is a sign from this team that just because their quarterback is gone for the season, that doesn’t mean they’re not going to fight like hell to get there and make life miserable for all who stand in their path.
All teams with great expectations have a chip on their shoulders. This team suddenly discovered one Monday night when Joe Mixon ran it in from six yards to tie the game, 7-7, in the first quarter.
As Mixon, Higgins, Irv Smith were all dancing, there was a big addition in the person of starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. He joined them in the celebratory dance and after they were all done, he leaned forward and let the national TV audience know what he thinks of the naysayers.
“JACKASS!”
“This is an organization that’s going to continue to fight… that’s a special win. Hats off to everybody.” Orlando Brown Jr. Who also talks about his touchdown celebration with Joe Mixon, and jackass. pic.twitter.com/37o77ZK2JQ
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 5, 2023
Brown explained himself after at his locker.
“Yeah, man that was fun. The guys let me in on that on Friday and I’m glad I was able to go out there and execute,” Brown said of the celebratory dance.
What was the dance?
“I don’t know. I have no idea what that was. But I hit though.”
But it was what he said next that carried the most weight.
“Honestly, I was getting ready pregame and seeing all the picks pregame and everyone had Jacksonville to win and it just seemed right in the moment,” Brown smiled.
Brown wasn’t the only one with a nasty chip Monday night. When your most gifted healthy player cops an attitude, others follow. Such was the case with Ja’Marr Chase, who told Higgins before the game that the time was right to tell all of the doubters what they can do.
“I was just gonna be a jerk,” Chase said. “Let’s just say that. I was just gonna be a jerk today. Take towels, just do stuff. I just felt like being an evil person today. In pregame, I just told Tee I just like like to just like been evil today.”
And a new attitude has been born.
It may not carry them to the promised land but this 2023 team is done feeling sorry for themselves. Beyond the final score Monday night, that may have been the biggest victory of all.
Now that the Bengals have some spark back in them, the next step is to take care of business at home against Indianapolis and Minnesota, certainly two teams the Bengals are capable of handling. If they do, they’re 8-6 heading into Pittsburgh two days before Christmas against a team that lost by two scores at home to Arizona. Get the drift?
That’s the thing about winning a game like Monday night on the road against a division leader. Show you can do it, have your leaders step forward and move on thinking there’s real purpose to your season.
Jake Browning says the reason they could throw the ball deep to Ja’Marr Matt for the touchdown was the actual threat of running the ball pic.twitter.com/dp8BfPFJAm
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 5, 2023
Trevor Lawrence went down with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter when Trey Hendrickson pushed offensive lineman Walker Little back into Lawrence and Little stepped on his right ankle. As the Bengals have learned, injuries happen to star players. The NFL is nothing if a war of attrition. For meaning and purpose to a season, teams that have been hit like the Bengals need a moment like Monday night to galvanize around a single purpose.
The Bengals have that now. The script is being written and suddenly this reality show is worth watching and worth of very close attention.
And to those who doubt this, there’s a new rally cry from the Bengals.
“Jackass!!”
