The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off of a decisive Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers, but that may not be the biggest accomplishment to boast of, considering how bad the Panthers are. However, a victory in Week 2 over the Cincinnati Bengals would make a much bigger statement, and prove that Jacksonville is a real contender this season.
The biggest obstacle to this win will be Joe Burrow. Burrow is a major threat for the Jaguars defense, because he is explosive, accurate, and able to avoid the blitz when pressured.
Making it even more difficult is that the Jacksonville defense was one of the worst in the league last year. Granted, the defense steamrolled over the Panthers last week, and Ryan Nielsen - the Jaguars' utterly awful defense coordinator from last season - is long gone. It's already clear that the defense has improved, but will it be enough?
This is what the Jaguars need to do to contain Joe Burrow
Daniel Griffis noted that Burrow had a great 2024 season, leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns under pressure. And yet, Cincinnati allowed the fourth-most pressures in Week 1. Despite all the talent on their offense, the Bengals barely managed to eke out a win over the Cleveland Browns.
What the Jaguars can take advantage of is the weakness of the Bengals' offensive line. The key will be to blitz Burrow and keep him on the ground, but to also keep him guessing. Burrow is a smart player; if it's nothing but nonstop blitzing, he will quickly see it coming and be able to adapt and overcome the pass-rush.
The other thing the Jaguars will need to do is keep separate him from his offensive weapons. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are two of the best receivers in the league, and while Burrow would likely still be a threat without them, it will be that much harder for him to succeed if Chase and Higgins aren't easily available.
Jacksonville should study what Cleveland did in their Week 1 game; yes, the Browns ultimately lost, but just barely, and they managed to contain Burrow and hold him to one of the lowest passing totals of his career. By comparison, Joe Flacco had over double the yards. Burrow was constantly being hammered by the Browns defense, forcing him to make quick decisions (and therefore, mistakes).
Furthermore, the Browns were able to keep Burrow on his toes and make him uncomfortable. That is what the Jaguars need to do to win during Week 2: have an aggressive, physical, and hard-hitting defense that never gives Burrow a chance to feel comfortable on the field.