Michael Hull

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be taking an in-depth look at the Bengals' 2025 opponents. We will continue with the 2025 Open In Orange opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars.

2024

The Jaguars finished with a 4-13 record last season, resulting in the firing of head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke.

Jacksonville averaged just under 19 points per game last season, ranking 26th in the NFL, and gave up 25.6 points per game, the sixth-most in the NFL. QB Trevor Lawrence started 10 games before going on injured reserve. Rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. burst onto the scene, hauling in 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on his way to a pro bowl nod.

Offseason Changes

The Jaguars cleaned house this offseason, hiring former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen as head coach, former Rams assistant James Gladstone as general manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Boselli as executive vice president of football operations. The 34-year old Gladstone made waves during the NFL Draft, trading up from fifth overall to second to draft 2024 Heisman winner Travis Hunter. Hunter played both cornerback and wide receiver at Colorado, and the Jaguars plan to use him on both sides of the ball as well.

"[Hunter] wants to do it. It's not something he can't handle. He wants to do it more,"Coen said during minicamp."He wants more and that's a good thing. Ultimately, we have to also protect him from himself at times. But that's absolutely the plan moving forward."

Gladstone, Boselli and Coen spent much of the offseason trying to build around Lawrence, signing WR Dyami Brown and two potential starting interior offensive linemen: Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari. They also added to their secondary, signing S Eric Murray and CB Jourdan Lewis to help a unit that was gashed for the most passing yards in the NFL.

Coaching Staff

Coen comes to Jacksonville after helping Bucs QB Baker Mayfield throw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2024. Tampa Bay's offense was the only unit last season to finish top five in yards per game, scoring, passing yards per game and rushing yards per game. Prior to his lone season with the Buccaneers, Coen spent time with the University of Kentucky and the Los Angeles Rams.

Coen hired former Vikings assistant offensive coordinator Grant Udinski as the Jaguars offensive coordinator. Udinski was also the assistant quarterbacks coach in Minnesota and is entering his sixth season in the NFL.

Former Packers linebackers coach Anthony Campanile joins Jacksonville as its defensive coordinator. Campanile is a first-time defensive coordinator and enters his sixth season in the NFL.

Series History

The Bengals and Jaguars have met 25 times since their first matchup in 1995. Cincinnati has won seven of the last nine matchups and three straight against Jacksonville.

What To Watch For

QB Joe Burrow gets a rematch of the 2020 National Championship where his LSU Tigers met Lawrence's Clemson Tigers. The two first overall picks squared off in Cincinnati in 2021, with Burrow leading the Bengals back to win 24-21. The Bengals also beat the Jaguars 34-31 in overtime in 2023, but Burrow was out with an injury.

Open In Orange will also be a battle of LSU alpha wideouts, as Thomas Jr. goes up against triple crown winner Ja'Marr Chase. It remains to be seen how much Hunter will play cornerback in Week 2, but his matchup with Chase or Higgins will be must watch as well.