The Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Cincinnati Bengals in a Week 4 National Football League matchup at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game was identified as the following day’s matchup in analysis published Oct. 3, 2026. Jacksonville Jaguars analysts differed on the outcome while emphasizing protection for Trevor Lawrence, the running game and takeaways.
Frank Frangie, Brent Martineau, John Oehser and Brian Sexton provided the matchup analysis. Frangie, Oehser and Sexton picked the Jacksonville Jaguars to win, while Martineau predicted a 31-30 Cincinnati Bengals victory. The analysts also identified pressure on Joe Burrow, time of possession and the turnover battle as important factors.
Frank Frangie emphasizes protection and pressure
Frangie said the Jacksonville Jaguars will need to continue protecting quarterback Trevor Lawrence and maintain the emergence of running back Bhayshul Tuten. He also said the Jaguars must pressure Burrow and move him off his spot. Frangie described Burrow as a special quarterback and said Cincinnati would have a similar path to victory if it protects Burrow while pressuring Lawrence.
Frangie said Lawrence’s top-five finish in last year’s Most Valuable Player voting was no fluke. The source also noted that Lawrence has thrown seven touchdown passes in two home games this season and none in a road loss at Denver. Frangie predicted a Jacksonville Jaguars victory, saying, “The Jags are better and should win. This team is elite. It is well-coached. The word is out. I expect the Jags to beat the Bengals.”
Brent Martineau points to turnovers and possession
Martineau said the Jacksonville Jaguars must win the turnover battle and hold the ball for at least 33 minutes. He also identified the ability to run and sustain drives as important to keeping the Cincinnati Bengals’ offense in check. Martineau expected Cincinnati to pass the ball more than 40 times, creating opportunities for Jacksonville to force turnovers.
For Cincinnati to win, Martineau said the Bengals would need at least 27 points and a disruptive performance from defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. He predicted a narrow Bengals victory in the final moments. “I think it is going to be another entertaining game, but Burrow and the Bengals will break the Jags’ heart in the final moments to win 31-30,” Martineau said.
John Oehser sees a test for Jacksonville’s running game
Oehser said the Jacksonville Jaguars must run effectively and force two turnovers. He described the Cincinnati Bengals’ improved defensive front as the Jaguars’ toughest challenge in the running game to that point. Oehser also said Jacksonville would need to force mistakes because it was unlikely to shut out Burrow and the Cincinnati offense.
Oehser identified Ja’Marr Chase as a major Cincinnati threat. The source described Chase as a future Hall of Famer who can score multiple times even when a defense is prepared and playing well. Oehser predicted that the Jaguars would pull away late for their first victory over the Bengals after four consecutive losses.
Brian Sexton stresses takeaways
Sexton said Jacksonville must create two or more takeaways against Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. He pointed to Cincinnati’s two fumbles in its previous loss at Pittsburgh and said eliminating one or two possessions could be decisive. Sexton also described Burrow as one of the game’s best quarterbacks and Chase as one of the NFL’s most dangerous receivers.
Sexton said the Bengals could win by shutting down the Jacksonville Jaguars’ running game. Cincinnati invested draft picks and money to improve a run defense that ranked last in the NFL the previous season, according to the source, and had entered the week in the top 10 through three games. Sexton predicted a Jacksonville Jaguars field-goal victory, saying, “I think this offense can keep up and repay the Bengals for last year’s last-second loss with a field-goal victory.”
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 4 preparation included practice at the Miller Electric Center on Sept. 30, 2026. The source identified Frank Frangie, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton, Mark Duffner, Austen Lane, John Shipley and Kainani Stevens as Jacksonville Jaguars analysts for the 2026 season. The Week 4 analysis was provided by Frangie, Martineau, Oehser and Sexton.
FSB Take
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ clearest path to victory is built around three connected priorities: protecting Trevor Lawrence, running effectively and forcing turnovers against Joe Burrow. Three of the four analysts picked Jacksonville, but Martineau’s 31-30 prediction reflects the narrow margin expected in the matchup. The turnover battle, Jacksonville’s time of possession and its ability to pressure Burrow will be central factors at Paycor Stadium.
Source: Original report