The Cincinnati Bengals defeated Jacksonville 34-31 in overtime on December 4, 2023, at EverBank Stadium. Jacksonville entered the Monday night game at 8-3 and led the AFC South. Cincinnati arrived at 5-6 following three consecutive defeats.
Cincinnati played without starting quarterback Joe Burrow, who was recovering from season-ending wrist surgery. Jake Browning made his second NFL start in Burrow’s place. Jacksonville had several players carrying injury designations, including Travis Etienne Jr., Tyson Campbell, Luke Farrell, and Andre Cisco.
Browning completed 32 of 37 passes while Cincinnati produced 491 total yards. Jacksonville lost Trevor Lawrence during the fourth quarter after he suffered a high right ankle sprain. Backup C.J. Beathard still guided the Jaguars into field-goal range before regulation ended.
Evan McPherson decided the game with a 48-yard field goal in overtime. Cincinnati improved to 6-6, while Jacksonville fell to 8-4.
Match Overview
Jacksonville controlled the first quarter, but Cincinnati answered with consecutive touchdowns before halftime. Both teams scored 14 points during the third quarter. The game remained tied after four quarters.
| Match detail | Information |
| Date | December 4, 2023 |
| Venue | EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida |
| Competition | 2023 NFL regular season, Week 13 |
| Final score | Bengals 34, Jaguars 31, overtime |
| Records after game | Bengals 6-6, Jaguars 8-4 |
Pre-Match Context
Jacksonville entered Week 13 with three consecutive victories. The Jaguars had beaten Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Houston during that stretch. They held first place in the AFC South.
Cincinnati entered the game after losses against Houston, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. Burrow’s wrist injury had changed Cincinnati’s quarterback situation. Browning had completed 19 passes for 227 yards during his first start against Pittsburgh.
The Bengals needed a victory to return to .500 and remain involved in the AFC playoff race. Jacksonville could strengthen its divisional position and remain near the conference’s leading teams.
Etienne entered the game with a rib injury but remained active. Campbell also played after carrying a hamstring designation. Farrell was active despite a toe injury. Brenton Strange and five other Jaguars were inactive.
Cincinnati’s primary absence was Burrow. Defensive tackle D.J. Reader, wide receiver Tee Higgins, and several other previously injured players were available.
Quarter-by-Quarter Score
The teams combined for 65 points across regulation and overtime. Jacksonville led after one quarter, while the score remained tied after the second, third, and fourth periods.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 3 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 7 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 0 |
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter
Jacksonville opened the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown reception by Evan Engram. Lawrence completed passes throughout the opening drive before finding Engram near the goal line.
Cincinnati moved the football but did not score during the first quarter. Jacksonville recorded two shared sacks during Cincinnati’s early possessions. Josh Allen contributed to both pressures.
The Jaguars finished the period with a 7-0 lead.
Second Quarter
Cincinnati tied the game through Joe Mixon’s six-yard touchdown run. Browning completed several short and intermediate passes during the drive.
Jacksonville responded with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to rookie Parker Washington. Washington had entered the lineup after Christian Kirk suffered an early groin injury.
Mixon scored again before halftime, this time from two yards. Cincinnati’s second touchdown created a 14-14 halftime score.
Third Quarter
Browning gave Cincinnati its first lead with a 76-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase. Chase caught the pass near midfield and ran through Jacksonville’s secondary.
The Bengals later attempted a trick play involving Tyler Boyd. Josh Allen intercepted Boyd’s pass and returned possession deep into Cincinnati territory.
Jacksonville converted the turnover into Etienne’s four-yard touchdown run. Lawrence later scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak, giving Jacksonville a 28-21 lead.
Fourth Quarter
Browning tied the game with a 21-yard touchdown run. He escaped through the middle before reaching the end zone untouched.
Lawrence suffered his ankle injury with 5:25 remaining. Trey Hendrickson reached Lawrence as Walker Little was pushed backward into the quarterback’s lower leg.
McPherson made a 54-yard field goal after Lawrence left. Cincinnati moved ahead 31-28.
Beathard replaced Lawrence and completed nine of ten passes. His drive positioned Brandon McManus for a 40-yard field goal. McManus tied the score with 26 seconds remaining.
Overtime
Jacksonville received the opening overtime possession. Beathard completed a pass to Calvin Ridley that appeared to move Jacksonville into Cincinnati territory.
A holding penalty against Anton Harrison erased the gain. Jacksonville eventually punted.
Browning then completed passes to Chase and Boyd. Mixon added a key run before McPherson made the deciding 48-yard field goal.
Team Stats Comparison
Cincinnati produced 115 more yards than Jacksonville. The Bengals also finished with 156 rushing yards and allowed no sacks against Browning.
Jacksonville remained competitive through its passing game. Lawrence and Beathard combined for 321 passing yards and completed 31 of 39 attempts.
| Team statistic | Bengals | Jaguars |
| Points | 34 | 31 |
| Total net yards | 491 | 376 |
| Rushing yards | 156 | 71 |
| Gross passing yards | 347 | 321 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Penalties | 6 for 35 | 7 for 55 |
| Time of possession | 34:03 | 34:12 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
The final totals show how Cincinnati sustained drives and created more explosive offensive plays.
- Cincinnati gained 491 total yards, compared with Jacksonville’s 376.
- Browning completed 86.5 percent of his passes and avoided an interception.
- Chase produced 149 receiving yards, including Cincinnati’s 76-yard touchdown.
- Cincinnati rushed for 156 yards, while Jacksonville managed 71.
- McPherson made field goals from 54 and 48 yards during the final two periods.
Full Box Score: Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati used a balanced offense around Browning’s efficient passing. Mixon scored twice and added six receptions. Chase produced the game’s longest scoring play.
Rookie Chase Brown supplied 61 rushing yards on nine carries. Cincinnati recorded 178 total rushing yards before quarterback kneel-downs, and passing adjustments affected the official team total.
Bengals Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Jake Browning | 32/37 | 354 | 1 | 0 |
| Tyler Boyd | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | 1/1 | -7 | 0 | 0 |
Bengals Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Joe Mixon | 19 | 68 | 3.6 | 2 |
| Chase Brown | 9 | 61 | 6.8 | 0 |
| Jake Browning | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 1 |
| Tyler Boyd | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 |
Bengals Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Ja’Marr Chase | 11 | 149 | 13.5 | 1 |
| Joe Mixon | 6 | 49 | 8.2 | 0 |
| Tyler Boyd | 5 | 37 | 7.4 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | 3 | 36 | 12.0 | 0 |
| Tanner Hudson | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 0 |
| Trenton Irwin | 1 | 25 | 25.0 | 0 |
| Mitchell Wilcox | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 0 |
| Drew Sample | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 |
| Jake Browning | 1 | -7 | -7.0 | 0 |
Bengals Kicking
McPherson handled every Cincinnati place-kicking attempt. His 54-yard field goal created the fourth-quarter lead. His overtime kick ended the game.
| Player | FG | XP | Total points |
| Evan McPherson | 2/2 | 4/4 | 10 |
Bengals Returns
Jacksonville recorded touchbacks on its kickoffs. Verified individual Cincinnati return totals were not available within the accessible official box score.
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Verified return data | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Bengals Defensive Leaders
Cincinnati did not force a turnover, but its pass rush affected the fourth quarter. Hendrickson recorded the sack that ended Lawrence’s game.
Complete individual tackle totals were unavailable within the accessible official league and team box scores. Unverified totals have therefore been excluded.
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key play |
| Trey Hendrickson | Unavailable | 1.0 | Sack before Lawrence’s exit |
| D.J. Reader | Unavailable | 0 | Two verified tackles for loss |
| Bengals defense | Unavailable | 1.0 | No takeaways |
Full Box Score: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville’s passing offense remained productive after Kirk left during the opening possession. Engram led the receiving group, while Washington caught his first NFL touchdown.
Lawrence accounted for three touchdowns before his injury. Beathard completed nine of ten passes during regulation and overtime.
Jaguars Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Trevor Lawrence | 22/29 | 258 | 2 | 0 |
| C.J. Beathard | 9/10 | 63 | 0 | 0 |
Jaguars Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Travis Etienne Jr. | 11 | 45 | 4.1 | 1 |
| Trevor Lawrence | 5 | 8 | 1.6 | 1 |
| Calvin Ridley | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 0 |
| C.J. Beathard | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 |
| D’Ernest Johnson | 5 | 4 | 0.8 | 0 |
Jaguars Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Evan Engram | 9 | 82 | 9.1 | 1 |
| Zay Jones | 5 | 78 | 15.6 | 0 |
| Parker Washington | 6 | 61 | 10.2 | 1 |
| Travis Etienne Jr. | 4 | 34 | 8.5 | 0 |
| Calvin Ridley | 4 | 26 | 6.5 | 0 |
| Christian Kirk | 1 | 26 | 26.0 | 0 |
| Luke Farrell | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 |
| D’Ernest Johnson | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 |
Jaguars Kicking
McManus converted each extra-point attempt. His 40-yard field goal tied the game during the final minute of regulation.
| Player | FG | XP | Total points |
| Brandon McManus | 1/1 | 4/4 | 7 |
Jaguars Returns
The accessible official box score did not provide complete individual return totals. Those numbers remain excluded rather than estimated.
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Verified return data | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Jaguars Defensive Leaders
Jacksonville recorded two sacks and one interception. Allen contributed 1.5 sacks and intercepted Boyd’s third-quarter pass.
Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd led Jacksonville’s tackling production. Their work came during Cincinnati’s 34-minute possession total.
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key play |
| Foyesade Oluokun | 13 | 0 | Team tackle leader |
| Devin Lloyd | 11 | 0 | Eight solo tackles |
| Josh Allen | Unavailable | 1.5 | Interception |
| Travon Walker | Unavailable | 0.5 | Shared sack |
Game Leaders and Top Performers
Jake Browning
Browning completed 32 of 37 passes for 354 yards. He threw one touchdown and did not record an interception.
His 86.5 completion percentage was the fifth-highest single-game figure in Bengals history at that time. Browning also scored Cincinnati’s tying fourth-quarter touchdown on a 21-yard run.
The performance earned Browning AFC Offensive Player of the Week recognition.
Ja’Marr Chase
Chase caught 11 passes from 12 targets for 149 yards. His 76-yard touchdown gave Cincinnati a third-quarter lead.
Chase later caught two passes during the overtime possession. Those receptions helped move Cincinnati toward McPherson’s field-goal range.
Trevor Lawrence
Lawrence completed 22 of 29 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored on a one-yard run.
His passing touchdowns went to Engram and Washington. Lawrence left during the fourth quarter after suffering a high ankle sprain.
Evan Engram
Engram caught nine passes for 82 yards and one touchdown. He scored Jacksonville’s opening touchdown and remained Lawrence’s leading short-area target.
Joe Mixon
Mixon carried 19 times for 68 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 49 yards.
Both rushing touchdowns came during the second quarter. Those scores allowed Cincinnati to enter halftime tied.
| Player | Team | Main production | Game impact |
| Jake Browning | Bengals | 354 passing yards, two total TDs | Directed winning overtime drive |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Bengals | 11 catches, 149 yards, TD | Scored on 76-yard reception |
| Trevor Lawrence | Jaguars | 258 passing yards, three total TDs | Left during fourth quarter |
| Evan Engram | Jaguars | 9 catches, 82 yards, TD | Led Jacksonville receivers |
| Joe Mixon | Bengals | 117 scrimmage yards, two TDs | Scored both second-quarter touchdowns |
Starting Lineups
The accessible official box score did not display the complete declared offensive and defensive starting lineups. The table therefore lists verified primary starters at major offensive positions.
Unverified offensive-line and defensive starters have not been added.
| Position | Cincinnati Bengals | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Quarterback | Jake Browning | Trevor Lawrence |
| Running back | Joe Mixon | Travis Etienne Jr. |
| Wide receiver | Ja’Marr Chase | Calvin Ridley |
| Wide receiver | Tyler Boyd | Zay Jones |
| Wide receiver | Tee Higgins | Christian Kirk |
| Tight end | Tanner Hudson | Evan Engram |
| Kicker | Evan McPherson | Brandon McManus |
Injury Report
Burrow’s absence created the game’s central Cincinnati lineup change. Browning started for the second consecutive week.
Jacksonville entered the game with Etienne, Campbell, Farrell, and Cisco carrying injury concerns. Each remained active.
Kirk suffered a groin injury on Jacksonville’s opening offensive play. Lawrence later sustained a high right ankle sprain. Both injuries affected Jacksonville’s available offensive personnel.
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Joe Burrow, Bengals | Right wrist | Injured reserve, out |
| Christian Kirk, Jaguars | Groin | Injured during game |
| Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars | Right ankle | Injured during fourth quarter |
| Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars | Ribs | Questionable, active |
| Tyson Campbell, Jaguars | Hamstring | Questionable, active |
| Luke Farrell, Jaguars | Toe | Questionable, active |
| Andre Cisco, Jaguars | Shoulder | Questionable, active |
| Brenton Strange, Jaguars | Foot | Inactive |
| Montaric Brown, Jaguars | Not disclosed | Inactive |
| Yasir Abdullah, Jaguars | Not disclosed | Inactive |
| Elijah Cooks, Jaguars | Not disclosed | Inactive |
| Chandler Brewer, Jaguars | Not disclosed | Inactive |
| Angelo Blackson, Jaguars | Not disclosed | Inactive |
Season Series and Head-to-Head
The 2023 result gave Cincinnati another victory in a series that began when Jacksonville entered the NFL in 1995.
The teams were AFC Central rivals through 2001. Cincinnati held a 7-4 advantage in meetings following the NFL’s 2002 divisional realignment through 2023.
The complete historical game-by-game list was not available within the accessible official sources. Recent verified meetings are listed below.
| Date | Venue | Winner | Score |
| December 4, 2023 | Jacksonville | Bengals | 34-31, OT |
| September 30, 2021 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 24-21 |
| October 4, 2020 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 33-25 |
| November 5, 2017 | Jacksonville | Jaguars | 23-7 |
| November 2, 2014 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 33-23 |
| October 9, 2011 | Jacksonville | Bengals | 30-20 |
| October 22, 2006 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 17-14 |
| October 9, 2005 | Jacksonville | Jaguars | 23-20 |
Cincinnati won the 2023 meeting after trailing 28-21 during the third quarter. It was also Cincinnati’s first Monday night road victory since 1990.
AFC Standings After the Game
Jacksonville remained first in the AFC South after falling to 8-4. Cincinnati moved to 6-6 but remained last in a competitive AFC North.
| Division | Team | Record | Position |
| AFC South | Jacksonville Jaguars | 8-4 | 1st |
| AFC South | Indianapolis Colts | 7-5 | 2nd |
| AFC South | Houston Texans | 7-5 | 3rd |
| AFC South | Tennessee Titans | 4-8 | 4th |
| AFC North | Baltimore Ravens | 9-3 | 1st |
| AFC North | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-5 | 2nd |
| AFC North | Cleveland Browns | 7-5 | 3rd |
| AFC North | Cincinnati Bengals | 6-6 | 4th |
Broadcast and Stream Information
The game occupied the Week 13 Monday Night Football window. ESPN carried the national television broadcast.
| Category | Information |
| National television | ESPN |
| Local Cincinnati television | WCPO |
| Kickoff time | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| Broadcast window | Monday Night Football |
| Venue | EverBank Stadium |
| Streaming | ESPN authenticated platforms and supported television providers |
Conclusion
Cincinnati’s victory kept its playoff position viable despite Burrow’s absence. Browning controlled the offense and repeatedly completed passes against Jacksonville’s coverage.
Jacksonville generated three touchdowns through Lawrence but lost its starting quarterback late. Beathard helped force overtime, although a penalty disrupted Jacksonville’s overtime possession.
Cincinnati’s sustained drives, rushing support, and Chase’s explosive reception created the offensive advantage. McPherson completed the comeback after Jacksonville failed to score in overtime.
The Bengals next hosted Indianapolis in another AFC playoff matchup. Jacksonville travelled to Cleveland while evaluating Lawrence and Kirk following their injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Jaguars versus Bengals game?
The Cincinnati Bengals won 34-31 after Evan McPherson converted a 48-yard field goal during overtime.
What were Jake Browning’s stats against Jacksonville?
Browning completed 32 of 37 passes for 354 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. He also scored one rushing touchdown.
What were Trevor Lawrence’s player stats?
Lawrence completed 22 of 29 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns. He added one rushing touchdown before leaving injured.
Why did Trevor Lawrence leave the game?
Lawrence suffered a high right ankle sprain during the fourth quarter. Walker Little stepped backward onto Lawrence’s ankle during a sack.
Who led the game in receiving yards?
Ja’Marr Chase led every receiver with 149 yards from 11 catches. His totals included a 76-yard third-quarter touchdown.
How did Cincinnati win in overtime?
Jacksonville punted after an offensive holding penalty erased a major gain. Cincinnati then advanced for McPherson’s deciding 48-yard field goal.
What were the teams’ records after the game?
Cincinnati improved to 6-6 and ended a three-game losing run. Jacksonville dropped to 8-4 but remained atop the AFC South.
