The Jacksonville Jaguars once again proved that they belong among the NFL’s elite teams after beating the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 4.

It took a total team effort, and Jacksonville’s 22-17 victory wasn’t decided until the game’s final minute, when safety Rayuan Lane III stopped Bengals’ running back Chase Brown a half-yard short on a fourth-and-10 catch from the Jacksonville 21. 

The win moved the Jaguars to 3-1 on the season, and was their second straight win over one of the AFC’s top teams. In Week 3, Jacksonville dismantled the defending conference champion New England Patriots 35-6. 

One of the team’s biggest strengths is its balance. Look at the Jaguars’ roster, and you will find plenty of talent everywhere. 

Trevor Lawrence has developed into an MVP -level quarterback under head coach Liam Coen. 

The WRs, led by Parker Washington, may be the most talented in the league, top to bottom. 

Bhayshul Tuten has excelled in his four games as Jacksonville’s new top running back. His backup, Chris Rodriguez Jr., scored the game-winning touchdown with a sweet 25-yard house call. 

And then there is the defense, which seems to step up in different ways each week. 

Against the Bengals, Jacksonville’s defense gave up plenty of passing yards, but made game-changing plays when it needed them the most. 

In addition to Lane’s game-sealing tackle, the defense also got an interception from cornerback Jourdan Lewis, setting up Brian Thomas Jr.’s seven-yard touchdown catch to give the Jaguars a 13-3 halftime lead. Linebacker Foye Oluokun also recorded an INT, with the Bengals having a first-and-goal from the 10 and Jacksonville clinging to a 16-10 lead. 

The defense has only given up 53 points through four games, the second-fewest in the NFL. Aided by Travis Hunter’s development into a shutdown cornerback, Jacksonville’s defense has become elite. 

The Jaguars are as complete a team as any in the NFL, and Damien Harris of CBS Sports believes no other team has a better quarterback and defense combination. 

“I think the Jaguars have the best quarterback-defense tandem in the NFL.”

That is hard to argue against. The only defense to give up fewer points than Jacksonville this season belongs to the Minnesota Vikings, and Kyler Murray is nowhere near the QB Trevor Lawrence is right now. 

Having an elite quarterback or an elite defense can usually make a team a Super Bowl contender. 

The Jaguars have both and have already proven they can beat any team in the league after their back-to-back wins over the Patriots and Bengals. 

Everything is in place for Jacksonville to go on a long playoff run and finally reach the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl.