The Jacksonville Jaguars opened the 2026 regular season with a 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium. The win extended Jacksonville’s regular-season winning streak to nine games, which is the NFL’s second-longest active streak and the second-longest in franchise history.
Head coach Liam Coen discussed the victory Monday during his day-after media availability at the Miller Electric Center. He pointed to the Jaguars’ fast start and complementary football as key elements of the performance.
“The guys came out and tried to do what we asked them to do in terms of starting fast, played some complementary football,” Coen said.
Jacksonville Jaguars defense limits Cleveland Browns
The Jacksonville Jaguars held the Cleveland Browns to 87 rushing yards, recorded five sacks and forced two turnovers. The defensive performance helped Jacksonville control the game after taking an early lead.
Linebacker Ventrell Miller said the Jaguars carried the same priorities into the season that they emphasized in their preparation: stopping the run, creating takeaways and limiting big plays.
“They have been preaching last year was last year,” Miller said. “We have got to come out and try to do the same thing. That’s the way we practice, how we prepare for the game. Still the same mindset: Try to stop the run, create takeaways, limit big plays, but just coming out to do it this year again.”
Trevor Lawrence spreads four touchdown passes
Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdown passes as the Jacksonville Jaguars scored on their first four drives and six of their first seven. Josh Cameron, Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Brenton Strange caught the touchdown passes.
Lawrence completed passes to nine different receivers. Meyers said the distribution made the offense more difficult to defend.
“That’s how football should be played,” Meyers said. “Everybody eat. It’s hard when there’s one person out there trying to do everything and people know who to focus on. Everybody eating, that keeps us unpredictable.”
Meyers also said the team celebrated each player’s contributions. “Everybody was happy for everybody who scored, everybody who touched the ball, everybody who played. It was just cool just to see how much the guys really rock with each other. So, it’s cool,” Meyers said.
Jacksonville Jaguars rushing attack produces 126 yards
The Jacksonville Jaguars rushed for 126 yards on 32 carries. Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries in his first career start, while Ameer Abdullah added 22 yards on four carries and Chris Rodriguez Jr. gained 23 yards on six carries.
“It truly takes all 11 in this offense to run the football, and I think our guys did a nice job,” Coen said. He said Tuten “ran his tail off” and “ran hard” in his first career start.
“I don’t think he missed many reads personally,” Coen said. “I thought he ran through arm tackles a ton.”
Cole Van Lanen returns to Jacksonville Jaguars lineup
Right tackle Cole Van Lanen returned to the lineup after missing much of the preseason and training camp while on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Van Lanen sustained a knee injury in the 2025 regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans on January 4.
Van Lanen started against the Cleveland Browns as the Jacksonville Jaguars began the season with a 34-10 victory.
Source: Original report