In just his second career start, Jake Browning dazzled, leading the Cincinnati Bengals to a huge 34-31 overtime road victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football.
The game ended on a 48-yard field goal by Evan McPherson as the Bengals (6-6) got back to .500, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
That being said, the air was sucked out of EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville well before the Bengals' OT win as Jaguars' franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence left the game with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter after being sacked with his own offensive lineman Walker Little stepping on the QB's ankle. Lawrence then fell back over on his ankle, with all his weight on it. As he got up after the play, Lawrence fell back down and threw his helmet off in frustration thereafter. Moments later, he had to be helped off the field.
The game was knotted at 28 apiece when Lawrence left the game with his injury.
That's when Browning led the Bengals on a seven-play drive ending with McPherson nailing a 54-yard field goal to put Cincinnati up 31-28 with 2:28 left in the fourth quarter.
C.J. Beathard, playing backup QB for Lawrence, came on cold and helped guide the Jags to a nine-play, 53-yard drive, which ended with a 40-yard field goal from Brandon McManus with 26 seconds left to tie the game for the fifth time.
After the Bengals' defense came up with a stand, Browning authored a 12-play overtime drive, including a key 3rd down conversion pass to Tee Higgins, who stuck with the play.
The clutch throw and catch helped pave the way for McPherson's game-winning field goal as the Bengals snapped their three-game skid.
Browning finished the game completing 32-of-37 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for another score. His top target was Ja'Marr Chase who had 11 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown, while Joe Mixon rushed for 68 yards and two TDs.
Here's how the entire thrilling Jaguars-Bengals' Monday Night Football game went.