*The match between the Jaguars and the Bills will be shown from 7:30 p.m. on RDS2 and on RDS.ca.
*Commanders vs. Bengals game at 8:10 p.m. on RDS.ca
ORCHARD PARK, New York – By Miller warns his Buffalo teammates against getting carried away despite a promising – and somewhat surprising – 2-0 start to the season.
“You have to focus on the game and not the atmosphere,” the veteran defender said. “The real test of a man is how he reacts to success.”
In Jacksonville, the quarterback Trevor Lawrence is looking to turn things around after expressing frustration following an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns that left the Jaguars questioning their 0-2 record.
“It’s not fun to be (angry) and want to get back on the field. I think that’s one of the worst parts of losing, especially when you’re not playing well,” Lawrence said Thursday.
“How can we improve instead of just being angry about the outcome? How can we use it to learn from it and improve? From that perspective, there is a sense of urgency.”
While it’s premature to assess either team before the end of Week 3, their Monday night matchup could change or confirm the trajectory of each team.
The Bills, the four-time defending AFC East champions, have so far defied expectations and validated the approach they took early this season with a revamped, rejuvenated team that lost six of its eight captains in the offseason.
Despite the departures of the receivers Stefon Diggs et Gabe Davisin particular, and the absence in defense of Matt Milan, Terrel Bernard et Johnson conferenceBuffalo defeated the Arizona Cardinals in the first game of the season, before dominating the Dolphins de Miami 31-10.
“All we care about is winning football games, no matter how,” Allen said. “So no, it’s not a surprise to us. It’s what we expect. We’re just trying to focus more on the process than the outcome right now.”
The process in Jacksonville, meanwhile, has been sidetracked by a stagnant, error-prone and injury-riddled offense.
Lawrence has completed 51 percent of his pass attempts and just one for a touchdown while being sacked seven times, including once for a safety last week. Travis Etienne has accounted for Jacksonville’s other two touchdowns, both on the run. He also committed a fumble near the goal line that helped Miami rally from a 14-point deficit in a 20-17 victory in the season opener.
Lawrence has lost eight straight starts dating back to last season. The Jaguars’ only win in that span — against the Caroline Panthers December 31 – occurred while he was absent due to a sprained shoulder.
“I don’t think the two seasons are back-to-back. I know we lost our first two games this year, and that’s what matters,” Lawrence said. “We’ve had a couple of days to pick ourselves up, breathe and move forward. And we’re ready to attack Buffalo.”
Finally a Bengals victory?
20 h 15 | Webcast on RDS.ca
PRE-MATCH
THE Bengals de Cincinnati are trying to get back on track after another difficult start.
They’re used to it, having started five of the last six seasons with an 0-2 record. Cincinnati has a chance to snap its losing streak tonight, as the Commanders de Washington (1-1) will visit them. A loss would mark the Bengals’ worst start since losing their first 11 games of the 2019 season.
However, playoff expectations remain intact for Joe Burrow and his teammates.
The Bengals looked flat in their 16-10 Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots. Last Sunday, they held off the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, only to fall 26-25 on Harrison Butker’s 51-yard field goal on the final play of the game.
The Commanders, meanwhile, have 30 new players on their 53-man roster, including first-round quarterback Jayden Daniels. They beat the New York Giants 21-18 with seven field goals and no touchdowns last week.
The Commanders are playing the first of their two games this season in prime time, which has become the norm in Washington. The team played one last season and three in 2022.
Including Monday’s game, the Bengals will play in such a situation three times this season.
