The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a heartbreaking 34-31 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, despite a valiant effort from rookie quarterback Jake Browning. The Jaguars were without their star rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was sidelined with an injury.
The game started out with a bang for the Jaguars, as they scored on their first drive of the game. Browning connected with wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. for a 24-yard touchdown pass to give the Jaguars a 7-0 lead. The Bengals responded with a touchdown of their own to tie the game at 7-7.
The Jaguars then took the lead again with a field goal, but the Bengals responded with a touchdown to take a 14-10 lead. The Jaguars then scored another touchdown to take a 17-14 lead into halftime.
The second half was a back and forth affair, with both teams trading touchdowns and field goals. The Jaguars took a 31-24 lead late in the fourth quarter, but the Bengals responded with a touchdown to tie the game at 31-31 and send it into overtime.
In overtime, the Bengals scored a field goal to take a 34-31 lead. The Jaguars had one last chance to tie the game, but Browning’s pass was intercepted in the end zone to seal the victory for the Bengals.
Despite the loss, the Jaguars can take solace in the fact that Browning played well in place of Lawrence. He completed 25 of 36 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown and did not turn the ball over.
The Jaguars will now look to get healthy and prepare for their next game against the Houston Texans. They will need Lawrence back in order to have any chance of winning, but if Browning can continue to play well in his absence, they may have a chance.