The Jacksonville Jaguars will take a 2-1 record into their Week 4 road game against the 2-1 Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jacksonville is coming off a one-sided home victory over the defending AFC champion New England Patriots. The game begins the Jaguars’ first of three consecutive contests away from Jacksonville.
Head coach Liam Coen said Jacksonville handled the practice week well while preparing for a Cincinnati team that has won the last four meetings between the clubs. The Bengals also defeated the Jaguars 31-27 in Cincinnati during Week 2 of the previous season. Coen said the Jaguars’ recent preparation reflected the approach the team needed before another challenging road game.
“The guys did a nice job of attacking the week the right way,” Coen said.
Jaguars emphasize physical practice and special teams
Coen said the Jaguars worked with a physical approach during the week, including a strong special teams period on Thursday. He acknowledged that the practice was not perfect but considered the special teams work one of the better periods the group has had since working together. Jacksonville enters Sunday as one of the NFL’s least-penalized teams through the first three weeks.
“They worked,” Coen said. “[Thursday] was physical. It wasn’t all perfect, but started with special teams. I thought our special teams period [Thursday] was arguably one of the better ones we’ve had since we’ve been here together as a group.”
Communication remains a road-game priority
The Jaguars expect the Cincinnati crowd to create a demanding communication environment. Coen recalled the atmosphere from last season’s meeting, when the crowd made communication more difficult for Jacksonville. The Jaguars have sharpened their offensive pre-snap process since that game under Coen.
“This atmosphere last year, if you guys remember, was pretty gnarly,” Coen said. “They had a great turnout for this game last year, made it challenging in some ways in terms of communication.”
Coen said road environments require greater detail and coordination, particularly when the offense uses motions and must execute its pre-snap responsibilities under pressure.
“All of that stuff that you’re doing has to be that much better,” Coen said of playing in raucous road environments. “It has to be that much more detailed. It has to be that much more synced up because there’s no room for error when the center has his head between his legs and you’ve got timely motions happening and fast motions.”
Jacksonville Jaguars begin three-game road stretch
The Jaguars have road experience under Coen, including two games in Denver during his tenure. Jacksonville won in Denver and San Francisco last season, giving the team recent experience in difficult road settings.
Sunday’s game provides the next test of that preparation against a Cincinnati team with a recent advantage in the series. Jacksonville will try to carry the practice habits, special teams work and disciplined execution from the week into its first game of the three-game road stretch.
Game details
Matchup: Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
When: Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026
Where: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Records entering Week 4: Jacksonville Jaguars 2-1; Cincinnati Bengals 2-1
FSB Take
The Jacksonville Jaguars enter Cincinnati with a winning record and a positive practice report from Liam Coen, but the matchup carries two clear challenges: the Bengals have won the last four meetings, and the game starts a three-game road stretch. Jacksonville’s special teams work, penalty discipline and pre-snap communication will be central to its preparation at Paycor Stadium. The Jaguars’ recent road experience under Coen gives them a verified foundation, but Cincinnati will provide the next test.
Source: Original report