Jake Browning becomes a hero in an upset Bengals win over the Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Florida –– Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning on Monday night delivered the throws that can get a team, an organization and a fanbase believing in an undrafted free agent quarterback who waited four years for an opportunity.

First, Browning beat a double team and got Ja’Marr Chase the ball for a first down. Then he flicked a sidearm throw. Then he handled third downs with confidence when the game was on the line. And, in overtime, Browning looked like he has worked with Chase and Tee Higgins for years.

The Bengals upset the Jacksonville Jaguars, 34-31 in overtime on Monday Night Football, and Browning picked up his first NFL win in the Bengals’ most dramatic victory in a while. Browning raised the bar for who he is as an NFL quarterback and how competitive the Bengals can be down the stretch.

In overtime, Browning got the drive started with an aggressive throw over the middle and a juggling catch by Chase that picked up 17 yards. Then on 3rd down, Browning threw a strike to Higgins on an out route to the left sideline.

Then after Chase dragged a defender with him on a screen to get the Bengals into field goal range, kicker Evan McPherson made the 48-yard walk-off field goal.

The Bengals snuck back into the playoff hunt with a 6-6 record. In a road primetime win over an AFC frontrunner, Browning looked like a starter as he topped 350 yards and completed over 80% of his passes against the eight-best defense in the NFL. On two different occasions, he did something incredible.

With 4:59 left in the fourth quarter, Browning got the ball back in a tie game. On 3rd and 1, Browning rolled out of the pocket, juked around a defender and scrambled for a gutsy 21-yard run. He nearly cost the Bengals the game when he committed two false start penalties and took a sack, but Browning got the Bengals back in range with a clutch throw to wide receiver Tyler Boyd.

Then, kicker Evan McPherson gave the Bengals the lead with a 54-yard field goal and just over two minutes remaining.

The Jaguars responded with a field goal drive of their own, which set up Browning with another chance to be the hero in overtime. After the Jaguars’ defense won the coin toss and got stopped by the Bengals, Browning gave the Bengals their most exciting win of the season.

The Bengals’ season looked over after last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But with a much improved Browning and three upcoming games against teams with injured starting quarterbacks, do the Bengals have a shot?

Browning made the right audibles, took aggressive chances down the field and handled the blitz with confidence. The Bengals were tied with the Jaguars at 14 at halftime, and the Bengals advanced past midfield on each of their first four drives. One week after the Bengals scored 10 total points, Browning led two touchdown drives in just the first half.

Over a 28-play stretch to cap off the first half, Browning raised the floor for the Bengals’ season. He made the types of plays that can convince the Bengals that they have a chance to win games down the stretch this season.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor gave Browning options down the field as well as a shot to be creative. The Jaguars didn’t see wide receiver Trenton Irwin lined up as a blocker in the backfield on one play, and the Bengals caught them off guard with a 25-yard pass.

The Bengals gave a shot to running back Chase Brown, who breathed some life into the run game. And they mixed in under center play action concepts that gave Browning opportunities to make plays on the run.

The Bengals fed Chase the ball all game and prioritized getting the ball to their best player. The Jaguars limited his opportunities for yards after catch early in the game. But on the Bengals’ first possession of the third quarter, the Jaguars committed a cardinal sin when you face the Bengals. They left Chase in a one-on-one matchup without any safety help.

Chase showed his speed to get a step ahead of the cornerback, made the catch and sprinted into the end zone for a 76-yard touchdown that put the Bengals up, 21-14.

Taylor nearly cost the Bengals the game with a play call in the third quarter. During a stretch of the game where the Jaguars couldn't stop the Bengals, Taylor dialed up a double pass. He took the ball out of Browning’s hands even though he was completing just about everything, and wide receiver Tyler Boyd threw a pick to Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen.

The play resulted in a potential 14-point swing and set the Jaguars up to take a 28-21 lead. Browning responded by leading a game-tying touchdown drive. Time after time, Browning rose to the occasion.

It was an incredible performance by a quarterback who was planning to retire and begin a coaching career in 2021. Browning didn’t think a call from an NFL team was coming after the Minnesota Vikings cut him. Then Taylor gave him a life-changing call and an opportunity on the Bengals’ practice squad.

On that phone call, Taylor told Browning how impressed he was by Browning’s performance in a college game against Fresno State. When Browning heard his new head coach rave about what he saw from Browning in college, he saw a real opportunity to develop with the Bengals.

This year, Taylor revealed that he never watched that Fresno State game that Browning played at the University of Washington. Taylor told the white lie so Browning would feel valued in Cincinnati.

Three years later, Browning returned the favor.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bengals QB Jake Browning hero in win over Jaguars