Jaguars Open Season With Dominant 34-10 Win Over Browns

Jacksonville Starts Highly Anticipated Season With Statement Victory

The Jacksonville Jaguars waited seven long months to play another meaningful game at EverBank Stadium, and while Sunday’s opener won’t erase the disappointment of last season’s playoff loss to Buffalo, it provided the best possible start to one of the most anticipated seasons in franchise history.

Trevor Lawrence threw for 245 yards and four touchdowns, and the Jaguars routed the Cleveland Browns 34-10 on Sunday to spoil the debut of new Browns head coach Todd Monken. Jacksonville scored on six of its first seven possessions, with Lawrence connecting with Parker Washington, rookie Josh Cameron, Brenton Strange and Jakobi Meyers for touchdowns.

Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes and finished with a career-high passer rating of 150.6. Three of Lawrence’s four touchdown passes went to wide-open receivers as Jacksonville’s offense consistently found holes in Cleveland’s defense.

Lawrence Continues Strong Play Under Liam Coen

Lawrence’s performance continued the momentum he built during the second half of the 2025 season, when he emerged as one of the league’s most productive quarterbacks while leading Jacksonville to the AFC South title.

His development under head coach Liam Coen was one of the primary reasons the Jaguars entered 2026 as a popular pick to return to the postseason and potentially make a run at the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance. Sunday’s performance offered plenty of evidence that Jacksonville’s offense could be among the league’s most dangerous units.

Washington provided one of the game’s early highlights when he made a diving catch on Lawrence’s first touchdown pass. Washington, who is a pending free agent and currently negotiating a contract with Jacksonville, celebrated by flashing a “pay me” sign toward the approximately 42,000 fans in attendance. The Jaguars are also playing inside a stadium undergoing a major renovation, making the impressive opening performance even more notable for a franchise with heightened expectations.

Browns Struggle on Both Sides of the Ball

Cleveland entered the season facing major questions on defense after trading five-time All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett during the offseason. The Browns were also beginning their first season with new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg.

Lawrence took advantage of the changes, picking apart the Cleveland defense throughout the afternoon and rarely facing significant pressure. The Browns struggled just as much offensively.

Deshaun Watson made his first start in nearly two years but endured a difficult return. Watson threw an interception on Cleveland’s opening drive, nearly threw another on the second possession and later recovered his own fumble to prevent another turnover.

It was a stunning contrast to Watson’s previous success against Jacksonville. Watson had been undefeated in seven career starts against the Jaguars, winning in Jacksonville, at home, in London and in games ranging from close contests to blowouts. He had even beaten Jacksonville while playing through a broken rib and bruised lung.

There was no such success Sunday. Watson was sacked five times and absorbed numerous other hits as Jacksonville’s defense controlled the game. Rookie receiver KC Concepcion Jr. also lost a fumble, while Cleveland committed 11 penalties for 75 yards. The Browns converted just one of eight third-down opportunities and failed to score a touchdown on two trips inside the red zone.

Cleveland Finds Little Offense

Cleveland finished with only 272 total yards and spent much of the afternoon struggling to sustain drives. The Browns’ two biggest highlights came in the second half. Raheim Sanders returned a kickoff 74 yards, setting up a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Watson then connected with Denzel Boston for a 46-yard touchdown with 1:52 remaining, providing Cleveland with its only touchdown of the afternoon. By then, however, the game had long been decided. Jacksonville’s offense had already established complete control, while the Jaguars’ defense consistently pressured Watson and forced Cleveland into difficult third-down situations.

Jaguars Make Early Statement in AFC

The Jaguars couldn’t have asked for a much better beginning to a season filled with expectations. Lawrence looked poised and efficient, Jacksonville’s offense produced points consistently, and the defense capitalized on Cleveland’s mistakes.

The Jaguars now turn their attention to their first road test of the season as they travel to Denver next Sunday. The Browns will look to bounce back when they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday.

For Jacksonville, though, the message from Week 1 was clear: the Jaguars believe they are ready to take the next step, and their season-opening performance provided an impressive first glimpse of what that could look like.