Final score predictions for Jaguars vs. Bengals in Week 4

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Is this the week?

That’s the big question surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals going into Week 4’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars as the organization still seeks out the first win of the Joe Burrow era.

Not that they haven’t come close. Cincinnati lost the first two games of the season by three and five points, then tied Philadelphia in Week 3 while showcasing some of the same old problems that plagued the roster last year.

It’s hard not to be encouraged with Burrow controlling things from under center, though. He’s completed 64.5 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and one interception while breaking plenty of records in the process despite a miserable offensive line in front of him.

Still, things look shaky given the injury woes. Geno Atkins again won’t play. Mike Daniels just moved to injured reserve and the team added three guys from the practice squad, including Alex Redmond, who is supposedly going to be the latest guy to start at right guard. Joe Mixon was also a shocking late addition to the injury report on Saturday, and even though reports hint that he’ll play, it’s probably not a good sign.

Being weak along the defensive line is problematic against Jacksonville considering Jaguars back James Robinson has rushed for 210 yards and three scores on a 4.9 average. Quarterback Gardner Minshew averages five yards per carry too, plus completes 73.8 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and three interceptions.

Sunday’s game would all seem to hinge on development. If the defense continues to mesh and takes better angles than the prior three weeks — and actually brings ball-carriers down at a consistent clip — then stopping an undrafted rookie running back shouldn’t be too difficult. And for as steady as Minshew has been, his team is 1-2 — a 33-30 loss to Tennessee was impressive…a 31-13 loss to Miami, not so much.

Nothing else matters if the Bengals can’t protect Burrow though. He’s been hit more than any other passer in the NFL. Predicting the Bengals win not only suggests the defense improves as suggested above, but that the play-calling from Zac Taylor does a better job, too.

At home with a beatable team visiting though, marginal improvements in these areas should be enough to take down a fellow rebuilding team, mostly as Burrow puts his team on his back and leads a late scoring drive.

Prediction: Bengals 24, Jaguars 20

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