The Bengals and Jaguars bring a handful of compelling one-on-one battles into Sunday’s game at Paycor Stadium, and a few of them could go a long way toward deciding how the afternoon unfolds.
One of the most intriguing spots is in the slot, where Cincinnati appears set to lean on Dax Hill against Parker Washington. Washington has been Jacksonville’s most productive receiver early in the season, piling up 221 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Cincinnati’s nickel situation changed Tuesday when Jalen Davis was placed on IR, and the Bengals have officially listed Hill as their slot corner. That doesn’t lock him into the role every snap, but with Ja’Sir Taylor still on short-term IR, Hill is expected to spend plenty of time there trying to slow Washington down.
The middle of the Bengals defense also has a chance to make life miserable for Jacksonville’s interior line. Emmanuel Pregnon, the Jaguars’ rookie left guard, has already shown the kind of uneven start you’d expect from a first-year blocker.
He gave up four pressures in Week 2 against Denver, then bounced back by not allowing a single pressure in Week 3 against a strong Patriots front. Robert Hainsey had a tougher night against New England, surrendering a couple of pressures and a couple of quarterback hits while finishing with a 36.2 pass block grade.
That group will have its hands full with Dexter Lawrence, who added two more sacks against the Steelers last week and has been an absolute force in the middle of the Cincinnati defense. Trevor Lawrence may need to do plenty of scrambling on Sunday, even if he’s not related to Dexter Lawrence.
Cincinnati’s pass protection on the edge is another spot worth watching, especially with Orlando Brown Jr. likely to see plenty of Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. Brown had a rough Week 2 against the Texans, allowing three sacks, but he steadied himself against Pittsburgh by giving up just two pressures and no sacks.
Hines-Allen enters the game with six pressures, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble, while also sitting on 62.5 career sacks. Walker, the former No. 1 overall pick, has 13 pressures this season and 29 career sacks.
If Brown can handle that challenge the way he did against the Steelers, the Bengals should be in good shape to move the ball.
Then there’s the matchup that will draw the most attention: Ja’Marr Chase against Travis Hunter. Jacksonville traded up to take Hunter with the second overall pick in the 2025 draft, and the second-year player is now focusing more on cornerback, which has long looked like the cleanest fit for him.
He still gets some offensive snaps, but this season has been about letting him settle in on defense, and he picked up his first interception of the year in Week 3 against the Patriots. Chase, meanwhile, has shaken off a quiet opening week.
After catching just two passes for 12 yards in Week 1, he has surged over the last two games with 173 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Tee Higgins has also been rolling, and the Bengals will be looking for that momentum to carry over against Jacksonville.
In Other News...
Andrew Whitworth Sounds Off On Bengals Trust In Joe Burrow
Andrew Whitworths latest comments landed with the kind of force only a former Bengals captain can deliver. On his podcast, the retired tackle made clear he wants Cincinnati to show more trust in Joe Burrow and loosen up an offense that has too often looked cautious, especially when the quarterback is the clearest strength on the roster. For a team built around Burrow, that sort of critique from Whitworth serves as a reminder that the conversation around the offense is not just about execution, but about identity.
The backdrop makes the point even sharper because the Bengals have had other issues in the mix, from defensive lapses to discipline concerns after a recent game. Dexter Lawrence pointed to penalties and tackling as areas that need cleaning up, while Evan McPherson was honored as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his field goal work. Even with that recognition on special teams, the bigger question around Cincinnati remains whether the offense will lean harder into the quarterback who gives it the best chance to take control. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Secondary Suddenly Has A New Problem Fans Can't Ignore
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Now the attention shifts to a Steelers secondary that suddenly looks far less stable than it did just a week ago. Jalen Ramsey said he broke his right wrist in the game against Cincinnati, while Joey Porter Jr. briefly returned to practice before being ruled out for the next game because of a back injury and then dealt to the Cowboys, leaving Pittsburgh with another hole to fill on the back end. For a Bengals team that already showed it can hold up against the Steelers best rusher, the changing picture in that secondary only adds to the intrigue the next time these teams line up. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Have A Discipline Problem They Cant Keep Ignoring
For a team that spent the 2025 season near the top of the NFLs cleanest clubs, the Bengals early return in 2026 has been jarring. Cincinnati ranked second in fewest penalties overall last year, but through three games this season the group has already piled up the most pre-snap penalties in the league and sits fifth in total flags, a sharp swing that has changed the feel of drives before they can really get going.
The problem is not just the number of penalties, but when they arrive. Several have wiped out key plays and turned manageable moments into long, frustrating possessions, with the visible irritation spreading across the sideline. For a team trying to stay sharp in a tight AFC race, the question is no longer whether the issue is real - it is how long the Bengals can keep treating it like a temporary glitch. [Read more 🡒]