Two rookie quarterbacks will

duel this weekend in the National Football League when the Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) head to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars (1-3) at EverBank Field. This matchup out of the AFC will be on the early Sunday slate with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. (ET).
Currently on the Don Best odds screen, the Jags are a 2½-point favorite with a total that opened at 35½ but has already moved up to 37.
Second-round pick Andy Dalton of the Bengals and top-10 pick Blaine Gabbert of the Jaguars will be at the forefront of the storylines, but defense is really the name of this game.
Through four weeks of football, Cincinnati has the league’s top ranked defense in terms of total yards, and is No. 6 by giving up just 18.5 points per game. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is really getting a nice all-around team effort in 2011.
Cincy only has one interception on the year, but the Bengals have forced six fumbles, the third-most in the league.
Jacksonville was ranked highly on defense until running into the New Orleans Saints last week. As far as rankings go, the Jaguars are now in the middle of the pack, but rankings are not the whole story. With an anemic offense not doing them any favors, the ‘D’ has really given them the opportunity to win all four games.
For a couple of examples, rookie sensation Cam Newton has amassed passing yard totals of 422, 432, 158 and 374. The 158 was at home against the Jags. Also, last week against the Saints may have knocked down yardage rankings, but the 23 points New Orleans scored against Jacksonville is the Saints' lowest total this year. Drew Brees’ No. 2 ranked offense was held to just three field goals in the second half.
As far as each team is concerned, the offensive side of the ball is not as pretty.
The Bengals are No. 23 in both points scored and passing yards. However, Dalton has played pretty well especially for a rookie. He also may have grown up quickly before everyone’s eyes last week. After a dismal first half against the Buffalo Bills and down 17-3, the TCU product led his team to a 23-20 victory.
Running back Cedric Benson is also having a great season so far with 348 yards on the ground and averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Trouble is brewing for Benson, though, as he appears to have a three-game suspension looming.
It is currently unclear when that will take place. It could be this week which would be a big blow to the team.
Nothing takes the cake quite like the Jags’ offense. Get this; They are averaging 9.8 points per game, and it goes without saying that is the lowest in the NFL. The simple fact is the progression and maturation of Gabbert will directly influence whether the team wins or loses. He has the defense behind him, but to win games everyone around him on offense needs to elevate their game.
Maurice Jones-Drew is certainly not the problem as the star running back is still off to his best start to a season as a pro. MoJo’s 391 rushing yards is good for second in the entire NFL.
The ‘under’ really seems to make a lot of sense here, maybe too much sense. After all, there is no “sure thing” in the NFL.
The Bengals are 5-0 against the spread in their last five games as an underdog while the Jags are 5-1 ATS in their last six as a favorite. Cincy has also experienced a lot of trouble covering on the road against the Jaguars, going 1-5-1 ATS in Jacksonville.
Very early weather reports call for a chance of thunderstorms with temperatures in the 70s.