Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars predictions

🎵 Hello, my friend, we meet again, it's been a while, where should we begin? Feels like forever... 🎵

How many journalists are starting out the 2026 NFL season with lyrics from a Creed song from 2001?

Yet, it does feel like forever since we had some real, substantive NFL games.

The Jaguars kick off their season Oct. 13 at home against the Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m.

Jacksonville is favored by 7.5 points against what appears to be a pretty bad team with a, well, let's say polarizing quarterback in Deshaun Watson.

Seems easy, right? Yet, another verse from the same Creed song, "My Sacrifice," is poignant here:

🎵 We've seen our share of ups and downs, Oh, how quickly life can turn around, in an instant. 🎵

For the Jaguars, it's been more downs than ups

over the past two decades. However, after a playoff season in 2025, and much of the team returning, you'd expect the Jaguars to make the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time this millennium (since 1998-99 to be exact).

A loss, however, would mean things would turn around in an instant, sucking the air out early from a season with high hopes.

Can the Browns march into EverBank Stadium and escape with a win?

Or will the Jaguars do what is expected, and that's start the season on the right foot with a win?

Here's what our experts say:

(GALLERY)

DEMETRIUS HARVEY

Jaguars beat writer

Jaguars 24, Browns 10

Jaguars get off to a good start before settling down against a solid Browns defense. Cleveland’s offense makes it an easy day for Jacksonville.

2025 season record: 14-3

MIKE DiROCCO

ESPN

Jaguars 24, Browns 10

The run game behind Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten gets off to a good start, a couple turnovers on defense, long field goal from Cam Little. A feel-good opener.

2025 season record: 10-7

RYAN O'HALLORAN

Times-Union Sports columnist

Jaguars 27, Browns 17

When you play only six of these games in your home stadium this season, they are all must-wins in general and when your opponents in Weeks 2-4 are at Denver, vs. New England and at Cincinnati in particular.

Expect the Jaguars to approach this lid-lifter with the required urgency.

Don’t let Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson achieve equal parts a rhythm and hope for the upset so mix in more man coverage than he might expect and also use simulated pressure to test their protection rules.

Don’t let Browns defensive end Jared Verse ruin the game plan so play two-tight end personnel and have Brenton Strange or Nate Boerkircher helping out.

Do stretch the field vertically even though a major offseason talking point was a better running game. The Jaguars’ best players are in the pass game.

And do play Travis Hunter enough on offense (5-10 snaps?) to give the Broncos something to think about in their short-week preparation for the Jaguars.

2025 season record: 13-4

GARRY SMITS

Times-Union Sports reporter

Jaguars 23, Browns 20

Some questions about the Jags remain unanswered. Will an entirely new left side of the O-Line, with Anton Harrison playing left tackle for the first time, with a rookie guard (Emmanuel Pregnon) on his right, protect Trevor Lawrence's blind side? Since Ventrell Miller and Branson Combs didn't separate themselves in camp, is there a chance neither is the answer to replace Devin Lloyd? Will WR Parker Washington and S Antonio Johnson take their games to another level, motivated by being in contract years? Do Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton (19 years combined experience) still have gas left in the tank, especially since rookie NT Albert Regis has been hurt and a bit slow to develop anyway?

The spread spooks me a little bit and I think the Browns cover the 8.5. But the Jaguars will finally find a way to beat Deshaun Watson and PK Cam Little comes through with a hat trick of field goals.

2025 season record: 11-6

JUSTON LEWIS

Times-Union Sports reporter

Jaguars 34, Browns 13

Year 2 of the Liam Coen era should open with a decisive win. This is a matchup of two teams at different points of a rebuild and it should look like it.

2025 season record: 11-6

CLAYTON FREEMAN

Times-Union Sports reporter

Jaguars 23, Browns 10

Cleveland's defense may not be bad in 2026. But the offense? That's another story. Sunday feels like a prime opportunity for the Jags to grab a takeaway or three, and put a stop to the three-game franchise losing streak against a team they last defeated in 2017.

2025 season record: 11-6

TIM WALTERS

Times-Union Sports Editor

Jaguars 27, Browns 13

Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker should be able to get to Deshaun Watson given he's torn his Achilles twice in the past two years. I can't imagine his mobility is anywhere near what it used to be. This could lead to mistakes, and I'm predicting Travis Hunter collects his first career interception. The Jaguars need to establish the run early with Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez and take some of the burden off Trevor Lawrence, who did not appear in any of the Jaguars' three preseason games. Trevor will still have a nice game as the Jags cruise in this one.

2025 season record: 12-5

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars predictions