Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars opened the 2026 regular season with a 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at EverBank Stadium.
Lawrence was near perfect at quarterback as the Jaguars delivered a complete performance. The defense stopped the run, pressured Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and forced timely turnovers, while the offense turned those opportunities into touchdown drives.
Parker Washington sparks Jaguars’ fast start
Parker Washington caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence for the Jaguars’ first touchdown of the season and a 7-0 lead. Washington also supplied first downs and important yardage in key situations as the Jaguars built early momentum.
Washington’s performance came while the Jaguars and the wide receiver had not yet reached an agreement on a contract extension. Lawrence’s trust in Washington helped establish the tone of the Jaguars’ fast start.
Ventrell Miller leads defensive effort
Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller delivered one of the game’s standout performances. The fourth-year veteran recorded 10 tackles, including seven solo tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit and one forced fumble.
Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said he believes Miller will lead the NFL in forced fumbles produced by punchouts. Miller’s performance also came after former Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd signed with the Carolina Panthers as an unrestricted free agent during the offseason.
Jaguars capitalize throughout opener
The Jaguars’ running game was punishing and effective, complementing Lawrence’s passing performance and a defense that consistently created problems for the Cleveland Browns. Head coach Liam Coen also opted to kick a field goal on fourth-and-1 from the Browns 29-yard line in the first half.
The Jaguars were effective in areas where they had been strong and showed improvement in areas they wanted to address. That balance helped turn a fast start into a one-sided victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Source: Original report