W2L4: Jake Browning Looks For First Career Win With Tee Higgins Expected Back, Bengals Aim To Snap 3-Game Skid In Jacksonville

Bengals (5-6) at Jaguars (8-3) Monday, Dec. 4 at Everbank Stadium (natural grass), 8:15 p.m. ET, TV: ESPN (National), WCPO-TV Ch. 9 (Cincinnati), Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, John Parry (rules). Radio: Dan Hoard, Dave Lapham. 700 WLW-AM, WEBN-FM (102.7 FM), ESPN1530. National: Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner Westwood One.

CINCINNATI — For the second straight week, the Bengals have a chance to ignite their flickering playoff embers. But the task this week will be much more daunting as they head into the den of Jaguars for a Monday night showdown with Trevor Lawrence and the leaders of the AFC South.

The Bengals are on a three-game losing streak, their longest since losing five straight in November and December of 2020.

The Bengals are trying to snap an even more dubious streak. With their loss in Baltimore on Nov. 16, they have dropped 15 straight primetime games on the road and have lost 26 of 27 night road games.

The Bengals have dropped nine straight Monday night road games, including last season’s 32-13 decision in Cleveland on Oct. 31, 2022, with their last win coming on Oct. 22, 1990, in Cleveland. The Bengals are 13-26 all-time on Monday night, with a 19-16 home against the LA Rams in Week 3.

The Bengals turn to Jake Browning who is making his second career NFL start after replacing Joe Burrow in Cincinnati’s 34-20 loss at Baltimore on Nov. 16.

In his first career start last Sunday against the Steelers in Cincinnati, Browning completed 19-of-26 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown and a costly third quarter interception. The Bengals held a 7-3 lead at the half and were driving for another score to open the third quarter when his pass for Ja’Marr Chase was intercepted.

“I thought he handled some things really well for us,” head coach Zac Taylor said. “It’s a tough task to play a divisional game versus a good defense in your first game. There’s going to be plenty of things he can learn from.”

Browning had to make his first start last week without Tee Higgins, who missed his third straight game with a hamstring injury. Higgins returned to practice Thursday and is hopeful to start alongside fellow star receiver Ja’Marr Chase Monday night.

“Tee’s one of the top receivers in the NFL,” Browning said. “I don’t think can really put into words how important he is to this offense.

“I think Andrei (Iosivas) has continued to play really well. Trenton Irwin has proven he can do it but there’s just something that Tee brings the table being as big, as fast and having the experience he does, where it’s always nice to have him and Ja’Marr on the outside.”

While Higgins and Logan Wilson are playing this week, Cam Taylor-Britt will miss his second straight game with an ankle sprain suffered in team periods on Friday. He was on track to return from a quad injury that forced him to sit out last week against Pittsburgh.

The Bengals have been abysmal this season against the AFC South, getting blown out in Tennessee in Week 4 and losing at home to C.J. Stroud and the Texans at home, a loss that kicked off the current three-game skid that has the Bengals on the outside looking in at the AFC playoffs.

Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor brings his Bengals into Jacksonville having lost three straight and falling into the cellar of the AFC North after winning the division the last two seasons.

Jacksonville is coached by Doug Pederson and Taylor’s younger brother Press serves as the offensive coordinator of unit that has star quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

“He’s somebody I’m very proud of,” Zac Taylor said of Press. “I’ve watched his journey. He’s earned every everything he’s ever gotten. He’s worked really hard for it. He’s really smart and takes care of people.”

The Jaguars are playing their first Monday night game since Dec. 5, 2011, a 38-14 home loss to the San Diego Chargers. The Jaguars played two Monday night games that season, splitting the pair.

The Jaguars are 8-7 all-time on Monday night.

Jacksonville has won seven of its last eight games and sits atop the AFC South. The Jags have the NFL’s fourth-ranked run defense (87.4 yards allowed per game) while Lawrence leads the offense and is coming off a 364-yard passing performance in their 24-21 win at Houston.

“What I’ve been most impressed with was how he’s just leading the football team,” Pederson said. “He has been taking care of the football the last couple of weeks,” Pederson said. “Honestly, there’s, there’s still some room if you watch the film to grow and improve and really anticipate certain things.

“He’s just continuing to make impressive throws and he continues to grow.”

Here’s what to look for:

• Jake Browning in his second NFL start:

After completing 19-of-26 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown to Drew Sample, there was plenty of good signs from the fourth-year NFL quarterback last Sunday. But it was the one bad pass that was intercepted in the third quarter that changed everything. After the game, Browning acknowledged that he made up his mind too soon on where to go with the ball before letting go of it. Browning commanded the offense very well and got in and out of plays smoothly. These are things that aren’t fancy but are very significant to a coaching staff which is making sure the signal caller isn’t overwhelmed.

• DJ Turner, Chido Awuzie vs. Jacksonville speed WR:

With No. 1 corner Cam Taylor-Britt (ankle) out for a second straight week, how will the Bengals secondary handle the speed of the Jacksonville receiving corps? That’s the biggest question that Lou Anarumo will have to answer. Zay Jones, Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley will stress the trio of Turner, Awuzie and Mike Hilton.

• Dax Hill vs. Evan Engram:

Hill has been the best answer for the Bengals in terms of covering tight ends this season. George Kittle and Pat Freiermuth (120 catches on nine catches last week) have had big games but that doesn’t mean it’s been a total wash for Hill. The second-year safety is the best answer the Bengals have in their secondary for covering tight ends.

• Sam Hubbard, Trey Hendrickson vs. Trevor Lawrence:

Goes without saying that the best chance the Bengals have against Lawrence is to make sure he doesn’t have a chance to get the ball to his receivers. The Bengals have just five sacks in their three-game losing streak, with two of those coming from DBs Mike Hilton and D.J. Turner. Trey Hendrickson has 1.5 sacks with Myles Murphy accounting for the only other defensive line sack in the last three weeks.

• Bottom Line:

This didn’t seem like a likely win WITH Joe Burrow. Without him, it’s hard to see how the Bengals can get back to .500 with a win in Jacksonville with anything less than a perfect game. The Bengals had two moments that cost them dearly last Sunday in a 16-10 loss: The Browning interception inside the Steelers 20, as the Bengals were holding a 7-3 lead early in the third quarter and the failure to pin Pittsburgh with a punt at the end of the first half and come away with a field goal. The Bengals must play a perfect situational game to have a prayer on the road in a hostile environment to even stand a chance. Just too much to ask.

Jaguars 28, Bengals 20