Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati – TV: CBS

*TV announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots

*Keys to the game: The Jaguars are doing a respectable job with a miniscule margin for error. Jacksonville’s defense has allowed only three touchdowns in the past four games, but turnovers — including a pair of pick-sixes from the right arm of QB Blake Bortles last week — closed the door on the team’s second win.

More consistency from the running game, in the form of back-to-back 100-yard games from RB Denard Robinson, has the attention of the Bengals (29th in the NFL vs. run). But Bortles will need to move the offense without giving the ball away.

A few takaways from a defense that ranks second in the NFL with 25 sacks (Bills, 28) could help ease the rookie’s burden. WR A.J. Green (toe) returned to practice for the Bengals on Wednesday and despite being limited is optimistic he will play Sunday for the first time since Oct. 8, but speedy RB Giovani Bernard (hip) could be held out with a Thursday night game against the Browns looming. That would give rookie RB Jeremy Hill, agile and powerful, a chance to tote the ball 20-25 times as offensive coordinator Hue Jackson proves the Bengals can overpower teams.

*Matchup to watch – Bengals WR Mohamed Sanu vs. Jaguars CB Demetrius McCray: Sanu is clicking with QB Andy Dalton and has emerged as an explosive threat with Green out the past three games. McCray has done a solid job since taking over the starting job four weeks ago.

*Player spotlight – Jaguars LT Josh Wells: Luke Joeckel is still recovering from a concussion, and the undrafted rookie Wells would get the call if Joeckel can’t play. Wells gave up just one sack filling in for Joeckel last week, but is still very inexperienced.

*Fast facts: The Jaguars will fly directly to London for a Week 10 game vs. Dallas. The team will play one home game each of the next four years at Wembley Stadium. … Bengals LB Vontaze Burfice (knee) is out. He has played 223 of 391 defensive snaps since signing a four-year extension.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

Without serious assistance – read: points – from his defense and special teams, Bortles is not fully equipped to tame a veteran Bengals defense.

*Our pick: Bengals 30-18