Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals Picks and Prediction, September 14, 2025 

On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars will play the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, and we have you ready to go with our Jaguars vs. Bengals prediction. Kickoff from Cincy is at 1:00 p.m. ET.

The Bengals are 3.5-point spread favorites, and the game total is 49.5 points scored.

Jacksonville and Cincinnati last met in 2023. The Bengals are 7-2 straight-up and 5-3-1 against the spread against the Jaguars since 2008. The over was 5-3-1 in those games. If you want the Jaguars vs. Bengals prediction, read on and check out our NFL Picks to beat the sportsbooks!

Jaguars are building for the future

Jacksonville (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS, and 0-1 O/U) beat Carolina 26-10 in its season opener. The Jags were 0-2-1 in the preseason and 4-13 last season. The Jags forced three turnovers against the Panthers, which is significant because they ranked last in the turnovers in 2024 with nine. They also hired a new defensive coordinator in Anthony Campanile, who made quite the show in his first game as did linebacker Foye Oluokin with a pick and a forced fumble.

Jacksonville picked up a home win in Week 1, the franchise's first under a new regime, including first-year coach Liam Coen. The Jaguars dominated at the line of scrimmage, outgaining the Panthers 378-255, and forced three turnovers. QB Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown, RB Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for 143 yards on just 16 carries, and WR Brian Thomas Jr. ran for a score to lead the way.

After their win, the Jags traded third-year back Tank Bigsby to Philadelphia for two late-round picks in 2026. The former Auburn running back led Jacksonville with 766 yards in 2024.

“It feels great the direction we're heading,” Lawrence said. "You got to take for what it is. We won in Week 1. We're 1-0 to start the season, and we're all pumped about that. ... No one takes it for granted how hard it is to win in this league, so we're all really proud of that. But it's one game. We got to keep doing it. Consistency is what will be the difference.”

Jacksonville Jaguars Football Injury Report:  F. Oluokun LB Injured - Illness M. Brown CB Injured - Ankle A. Harrison OG Injured - Back W. Milum OG Injured - Knee C. Van Lanen OG Injured - Shoulder

Cincinnati hopes to get back to the postseason

Cincinnati (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS, and 0-1 O/U) defeated Cleveland 17-16 in Week 1. The Bengals were 1-2 in preseason action and 9-8 last season.

The Cincy defense was the x-factor last week, picking up the slack when QB Joe Burrow and the offense were unable to sustain drives. Cincinnati managed just 141 total yards, averaging 3.7 yards per pass and 2.0 yards per carry. Burrow threw for just 113 yards, which were his fewest since the 2023 opener against Cleveland.  The Bengals forced two turnovers in the second half, helping the visitors overcome a pathetic offensive performance (seven yards in the second half). Still, it was a gutsy victory the Bengals can use as a building block this season.

“We found a way to win. Like somebody said earlier, we didn’t win any of these games last year," Burrow said. "Usually when you can win a game like this, that’s a recipe for success, and that means you are going to be a good team if you can find a lot of different ways to win, and we did today.”

Cincinnati Bengals Football Injury Report: B. Hill DL Injured - NIR - Rest W. Wagner LS Injured - Hamstring A. Mims OT Injured - Ankle

Jaguars vs. Bengals Pick

Spread Pick for Jaguars vs. Bengals

• Bengals -3.5 (5 Units)

Cincy's offense was stuck in neutral in Week 1, but I am optimistic that Burrow and co. will be fired up to put on a show in their home opener on Sunday. The Bengals' starter has typically bounced back impressively the following week after throwing for under 200 yards during his NFL career, averaging 298.4 yards and 2.1 touchdowns. Don't be surprised if he gets out of the pocket more against Jacksonville to extend plays, giving his talented pass-catchers more opportunities to break free. The Jags' defense looked solid against Carolina last week, but let's not forget that they allowed the most passing yards in the NFL last season.

Considering how well the Cincinnati defense played with its back against the wall last week, a better showing by the offense would make the Bengals a safe bet to cover the spread on Sunday.

Over/Under Pick for Jaguars vs. Bengals

• Over 49.5 (4 Units)

I won't rush to any conclusions after one week of action. I need a bigger sample size before crowning these defenses as elite stop units, especially considering that neither team faced a good offense last week. The Browns cost themselves the game with offensive blunders, and the Panthers were similarly inept. Besides, the Jags' offense showed some promise in Week 1, as their playmakers showed off, especially Etienne. Given my optimism that the Bengals' passing game will be much more explosive on Sunday, I believe this matchup will result in a sneaky high-scoring total.