Who Dey'd: Bengals defeat Jaguars on MNF, back in the mix for postseason contention

It took serious concentration for Cincinnati Bengals (6-6) wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase late in the game as he bobbled a pass into the air.

He was being wrapped up by Jacksonville cornerback Darious Williams from behind with his team in need of a first down conversion to keep their drive alive.

But circus catches are nothing new for the third-year playmaker, bouncing the ball from hand to hand before reeling it in to keep Cincinnati’s drive alive.

Game Takeaways: Jaguars lose Trevor Lawrence to ankle injury, fall to Bengals 34-31 in overtime on MNF

It was one of 11 catches on 12 targets for Chase, recording 149 yards and a touchdown for the Bengals who defeated the Jaguars on Monday Night Football, 34-31.

The lone drop came on a third down with Cincinnati attempting to score a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. But still, the Bengals and Jake Browning didn’t stop throwing the ball his way.

“Ja’Marr could have like five straight drops [and] I would keep throwing him the ball,” Browning said after the game.

Browning arrives: Torches Jacksonville's defense in his second start

In his second NFL start, Browning torched Jacksonville’s defense. He completed 32 of 37 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown through the air while adding a touchdown on the ground as well.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor credited him for feeling out the defense and taking advantage of what happened.

“Once the game gets going and he's completing balls like he is, it gives you the confidence,” Taylor said. “Let's just keep dialing this thing up.”

The win comes after the Bengals' offense struggled in its first game without Joe Burrow last week against the Steelers.

It was a game that seemed to indicate that Cincinnati would be dead in the water without Burrow.

Monday’s performance told a different story.

“I can watch Joe or whoever I've been behind do it a million times. It’s different once it's you,” he said while reflecting. “I was able to kind of reflect on what was my week like, and what I need to improve, and it was the first time in a live pocket for a little while, and first time in a regular season game for my whole career.

“I learned a lot from the Pittsburgh game and was really able to focus on some of those things throughout the week of practice.”

Bengals back in the playoff mix with the win

When the calendar hits December, it signals it is time for the playoff push in the NFL. Coming into the contest it was Jacksonville with high aspirations.

Now, it’s the Bengals. Picking the timely win puts them back into the mix for the postseason. And that’s what it’s all about for Taylor.

“Just happy to get a win right now. I think that's good for this team, to get to 6-6 and keep ourselves right in the thick of it,” he said. “Because that's what you got to do right now ... This is really good win for this team. We just got to continue to build on it.”

Juston Lewis is a sports reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JustonLewis_.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: JaMarr Chase, Jake Browning lead Bengals to victory over Jaguars MNF