The NFL season enters its second half. At the midpoint, there are nine teams with a .700 or better winning percentage, led by the 7-1 (.875) Philadelphia Eagles. Since 1990, when the current 12-team playoff format was adopted, nearly 97 percent (60 of 62, 96.8 percent) of the previous teams to start 7-1 or better advanced to the postseason.
Through the first eight weeks, 16 teams have a winning record. Two divisions – AFC East (New England 6-2, Buffalo 5-2, Miami 4-3) and NFC South (New Orleans 5-2, Carolina 5-3, Atlanta 4-3) – each have three teams with a winning record.
Since 2000, 44 teams have reached the halfway point of their season with a .500 or below winning percentage and advanced to the playoffs, including at least one in each season. Last year, there were four such teams: Detroit (4-4), Green Bay (4-4), Miami (4-4) and Pittsburgh (4-4).
Of those 44 clubs, seven have advanced to the Conference Championship Game, including both the Packers and Steelers last season. The 2001 New England Patriots reached the midway point with a 4-4 record and went on to win Super Bowl XXXVI.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-4) at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-3)
Sunday, November 5
1:00 PM ET
EverBank Field
Referee: Brad Allen
ON THE AIRWAVES
TV: CBS (1:00 PM ET): Andrew Catalon, James Lofton
National Radio: Westwood One: John Sadak, Ross Tucker
Sirius: 146 (Cin), 157 (Jax)
XM: 385 (Cin), 228 (Jax)* *
REGULAR SEASON HISTORY
Leader: Jaguars lead all-time series, 11-9
Streaks: Bengals have won past four
Last Game: Jaguars 23 at Bengals 33 (11/12/14)
Last Game at Site: Bengals 27 at Jaguars 10 (9/30/12)
The Bengals defeated Indianapolis 24-23 last week as quarterback ANDY DALTON threw two touchdown passes to lead the offense.
With Cincinnati trailing by six (23-17) in the fourth quarter, defensive end CARLOS DUNLAP had a 16-yard interception-return touchdown to help put the Bengals ahead for good. It marked the second fourth-quarter game-winning interception-return touchdown in team history (KEN RILEY, October 23, 1983).
The Jaguars, who had a bye last week, are coming off a 27-0 win at Indianapolis in Week 7. Led by defensive ends YANNICK NGAKOUE (2.5 sacks) and CALAIS CAMPBELL (two), the Jaguars recorded 10 sacks against the Colts. Jacksonville, which recorded 10 sacks in Week 1, became the first club in NFL history to record at least 10 sacks in two of a team's first seven games of a season.
Campbell, who leads the AFC with 10 sacks in his first season with the Jaguars, has the most sacks by a player in his first seven games with a new team since the individual sack became an official statistic in 1982.
Bengals Notes:
- QB ANDY DALTON passed for two TDs vs. 0 INTs for 108.8 rating last week. Has 120 rating in two of past three on road. Aims for 4th meeting in row with 2 TD passes.
- RB JOE MIXON (rookie) had career-high 91 receiving yards in Week 8. Is one of two NFL rookies (KAREEM HUNT) with 250 rush yards (253) & 150 rec. yards (189). RB GIOVANI BERNARD has TD catch in two of past three on road. Is one of three NFL RBs (MATT FORTÉ & THEO RIDDICK) with 195 catches (198) & 8 receiving TDs (8) since entering league in 2013. RB JEREMY HILL had 154 rush yards with two TDs in only career meeting (11/2/14).
- WR A.J. GREEN had TD catch last week. Has four TD catches in past five. Aims for 4th meeting in row with receiving TD. In two career games at Jacksonville, has 207 receiving yards (103.5 per game) with two TD catches. Since entering league in 2011, is one of three in NFL (ANTONIO BROWN & DEMARYIUS THOMAS) with 500 catches (519), 7,500 receiving yards (7,707) & 50 TD catches (53). TE TYLER KROFT has three TD catches in past two on road.
- DE CARLOS DUNLAP had sack & INT-TD last week. Aims for 3rd meeting in row with sack. DT GENO ATKINS had sack in Week 8. Had two sacks in last game at Jacksonville. (9/30/12). Since entering league in 2010, has 57 sacks, most among NFL DTs. LB VONTAZE BURFICT had eight tackles and sack in his last meeting (9/30/12). S GEORGE ILOKA had INT in last meeting. CB DARQUEZE DENNARD tied career high with 10 tackles in Week 8.
Jaguars Notes:
- QB BLAKE BORTLES passed for 330 yards with TD for 124.7 rating in Week 7. Had two TD passes and 96.4 rating in last meeting. Has five pass TDs vs. 1 INT for 105.9 rating in past two at home.
- RB LEONARD FOURNETTE (rookie) has rushed for 311 yards (155.5 per game) with three TDs in his past two. Aims for 3rd in row with 130 rush yards and rush TD. Is only AFC player with 500 rush yards (596) & 6 rush TDs (6) in 2017. RB CHRIS IVORY had rush TD in Week 7. Had 117 rush yards with two TDs in 12/5/10 meeting with New Orleans. RB T.J. YELDON had career-high 122 rush yards with TD in Week 7.
- WR ALLEN HURNS had 101 rec. yards in Week 7, his 8th career 100 receiving yard game. Had 112 rec. yards with 2 TD catches in only career meeting. TE MARCEDES LEWIS had TD catch in last game vs. Cincinnati. Has 4 TD catches in 2017, tied for 3rd among NFL TEs.
- JAGUARS lead NFL with 33 sacks. Had 10 sacks in Week 7 and are 1st team in NFL history with 10 sacks in 2 of team's 1st seven games of season. DE CALAIS CAMPBELL had two sacks in Week 7. Has three multi-sack games in 2017, tied for most in NFL. Ties for 2nd in league with 10 sacks, most by player in 1st seven games with new team. DE YANNICK NGAKOUE had career-high 2.5 sacks in Week 7. Has 4.5 sacks in past four. LB TELVIN SMITH has 10 tackles in three of past four. CB A.J. BOUYE had three PD in last meeting (12/24/16 with Houston).
