Jacksonville Jaguars grade out well in season opener against Cleveland

TheJacksonville Jaguarsput a pretty good report card on the table with their 34-10 rout of the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 13 at EverBank Stadium. Here's how the first test of the season graded out: Offense: B The balance that coachLiam Coen strives for was there, with 32 running plays for 126 yards,

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What is the story about?

TheJacksonville Jaguarsput a pretty good report card on the table with their 34-10 rout of the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 13 at EverBank Stadium. Here's how the first test of the season graded out:

Offense: B

The balance that coachLiam Coen strives for was there, with 32 running plays for 126 yards, 23 passes for 245 yards, scores on the Jaguars' first four possessions and six of the first seven, with only two punts required all day. Trevor Lawrence was 18 of 23 for 245 yards and three touchdowns and his 150.6 passer rating was a career high for one game.

Seven players carried the ball on running plays or QB scrambles, eight receivers caught passes and 10 were targeted. The only nagging issue was picking in first downs with 1 or 2 yards to go. The Jags made

their first two, missed their next three, then converted another.

Defense: A

A turnover on the first possession. Forcing another turnover and four punts in the first half. Five sacks and eight QB hits on a mobile guy like Deshaun Watson. The defense brought a little bit of everything to the table to set the tone for the opening game. The Jaguars defense should have dominated and they did.

Special teams: C

Apparently the issues of poor kickoff coverage in the preseason have bled over to the regular season. The Browns got good field position several times with kickoff returns, the last time on a 74-yard sprint down the left sideline by Raheim Sanders. Kicker Cam Little did his job, hitting 3 of 3 field-goal attempts and extending his streak to 20 in a row over his last 11 games, dating back to last season. Long snapper Ross Matsicikmade a big hit on a punt return.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) looks on during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Browns 34-10. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Intangibles: B

The Jaguars had just a few opening-day miscues, the worst of which was Lawrence losing track of the line of scrimmage and getting a penalty for an illegal forward pass. C Robert Hainsey had a false start but for the most part it was a clean performance by the line with only one player returning (Hainsey) at the same position he played last year. The Jaguars did not turn the bal over and were content to let the Browns self-destruct (four penalties on an ill-fated attempt to pick up points near the end of the first half) and do Job One: take care of a team the Jags were supposed to beat.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars grade out well in season opener against Cleveland