As injuries shuffle Cincinnati’s depth chart, a rising receiver finds his opening while a hungry defensive front prepares to feast on Jacksonville’s struggling offensive line at home.
The Cincinnati Bengals face off with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday for the first home game at Paycor Stadium since week one against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cincinnati will try to improve to 3-1 after a road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, in which the Bengals' defense played uncharacteristically poorly after two solid starts to the season.
Let’s make some bold predictions for Sunday’s game based on matchups and trends on both teams. Look for Parker Washington to be a focal point of the Jacksonville offense and the Bengals defensive line to bounce back against a poor Jaguars offensive line.
Parker Washington scores twice, goes for 100+ yards
Washington received three straight end zone targets last week against the Patriots on his long touchdown, and he has clearly taken over as the Jaguars' wide receiver, usurping Brian Thomas Jr. With Travis Etienne gone from the offense and in New Orleans, Washington is getting a ton of passing volume from Trevor Lawrence, receiving 23 targets for 15 catches through three games.
With uncertainty at safety for the Bengals, Washington could have a big game as Jacksonville’s #1 option on offense.
Bengals hold Jaguars below 20 points
Cincinnati played the #11 offensive line in the league in Week 3, according to PFF. This week, they face the #27 offensive line unit in the NFL, which has allowed four sacks through three games. Cincinnati’s defensive line will be highly motivated after getting to Aaron Rodgers just twice last weekend, and will show how talented their front is by getting to Trevor Lawrence at least four times.
I still think Parker Washington will have a big day, and it could be because Lawrence throws the ball 40+ times to erase the Bengals' two-possession lead in the second half.
Dohnte Meyers records five catches and 60+ yards
It was surreal to see Dohnte Meyers' name just below Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the Bengals' most recent depth chart after Cincinnati both placed Andrei Iosivas on the IR and announced that Colbie Young would miss week four with an injury.
He has four receptions on seven targets so far this year, and now that he will have a more involved role, he could show off his abilities in the open field. As Travis Hunter and other Jaguars DBs lock in on Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Meyers could build on his strong training camp story with a big Week 4 game.
