Bengals at Jaguars
THE STORY: Two rookie quarterbacks will battle under center when the Cincinnati Bengals visit EverBank Field to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Blaine Gabbert and Andy Dalton – selected 10th and 35th overall, respectively – have been handed the keys to their teams’ offenses. However, Dalton appears road ready while Gabbert struggles with a lack of targets. Jacksonville, which leads the all-time series between the teams 11-6, has won seven straight home meetings with Cincinnati.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Jaguars -2, 36.5
ABOUT BENGALS (2-2): Dalton orchestrated a come-from-behind win over the then-undefeated Buffalo Bills last week, setting up a 43-yard field goal from Mike Nugent that gave Cincinnati a 23-20 victory. Dalton is rounding into a solid QB with the help of fellow rookie WR A.J. Green. The two have connected on 19 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns, including three receptions for 40 yards or more – tied for most in the NFL. The Bengals will have the services of RB Cedric Benson for another week while he awaits a ruling on his appeal of a suspension from the NFL after an assault arrest this summer. Benson is sixth in the league in rushing, totaling 348 yards and one touchdown.
ABOUT JAGUARS (1-3): Gabbert got a firsthand lesson on being an NFL quarterback from New Orleans’ Drew Brees last weekend. The Saints quarterback sliced up the Jaguars defense for 351 passing yards. Gabbert, on the other hand, completed only 39 percent of his throws for 196 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jacksonville’s lack of a go-to receiver has slowed Gabbert’s progression and makes the Jaguars one-dimensional on offense, relying heavily on RB Maurice Jones-Drew. He’s second in the NFL in rushing with 391 yards but has only found the end zone once.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Jacksonville is expected to have Pro-Bowl DE Aaron Kampman back in the lineup versus Cincinnati. Kampman has been sidelined following knee surgery. He has 58 career sacks.
2. The Bengals’ defense (275.5 yards allowed) is ranked first in the NFL for the first time since 1983. Cincinnati is also sixth in points allowed, giving up an average of 18.5 per game.
3. Benson complained about the direction of the offense, despite sitting second in the NFL in carries. He may be happier this week if Cincinnati returns right guard Bobbie Williams. Williams, who served a four-game suspension for violating the policy on performance enhancing drugs, is the Bengals’ best run blocker.