The 2026 NFL season has finally arrived. The Cleveland Browns are entering the year with high hopes, with a new head coach and a new offensive and defensive coordinator, and plenty of new players dotted among the roster.
Their first game of the year is against a very good team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, who went 13-4-0 last season and took home the AFC South Division crown. Going into the playoffs, they had the #3 seed and were one victory away from getting the #1 seed and a bye in the first round
of the postseason.
RELATED: BROWNS-JAGUARS NEED TO KNOW
The Browns were on the other side of the spectrum. Winning just five games was all they mustered, and two of those wins were the final games of the season. The Jaguars had the league’s #1 run defense during that great season, but lost a 27-24 heartbreaker to the Buffalo Bills.
That meant the Browns faced an uphill battle against Jacksonville. Plus, it was on the road. In the end, Cleveland got taken to the woodshed in a 34-10 loss that was never close and was all Jaguars.
So, who played well for the Browns? Who didn’t?
BROWNIES (Winners)
KR Raheim Sanders – Because Jacksonville scored so many touchdowns, that allowed a ton of returns. Have to hand it to the Rocket; he impressed on every kickoff return. Three kickoff returns for 130 yards with 43.3 yards per return.
The 74-yarder in the third quarter was electric and had one man to beat. In the second quarter, he scampered for 31 yards, plus the 37-yarder in the fourth quarter. Keep in mind, Sanders was not the starting kickoff man. That was Dylan Sampson, who became injured early in the game.
LB Carson Schwesinger – No matter what the scoreboard shows, Schwesinger still gets behind the ball carrier to drag him down. He did have loose coverage in the second quarter on tight end Brenton Strange for the touchdown. Led the team in tackles with 10, one QB hit, and one tackle for loss.
WR Denzel Boston – Okay, somebody has to have had a great play, and that was the rookie Boston, who waited all game to show his talent. Excellent catch on the deep ball for the touchdown. Four targets, two catches for 59 yards, a 29.5-yard average per reception for the rookie. More to this kid, please.
K Andre Szmyt – He did everything you wanted your kick to accomplish: 1 for 1 in field goal attempts, 1 for 1 on PATs, scored the game’s first points for Cleveland to avoid the shutout, and the few kickoffs he had were placed well.
FROWNIES (Losers)
Third-down efficiency – One for eight isn’t going to get any offensive unit anywhere.
QB Deshaun Watson – Dreadful for most of the game, and it began early. In the Browns’ first possession, they were doing really well on offense: a 14-yard pass completion, a 4-yard run, a 9-yard pass completion, a 5-yard run to the Jags’ 33-yard line. Then Boom! Watson threw it right to LB Foyesade Oluokun, who wasn’t even covering a man and just grabbed the pass intended for WR Jerry Jeudy. Eight plays later, touchdown Jacksonville.
On the Browns’ next possession on a third-and-six, Watson was almost picked off again while trying to hit TE Harold Fannin. Later, Watson fumbled, but he recovered it and killed a third-and-10. What exactly was that lame duck throw in the second quarter that went deep to WR KC Concepcion? The TD pass to Boston with 1:52 left in the game was vintage Watson.
CB Myles Harden – Still can’t find a play where Harden was in position to bat a ball away. The Jaguars completed passes all day on him. Jacksonville’s first touchdown was a great ball thrown to WR Parker Washington, who beat Harden to the corner. Yes, it was a great throw, and yes, it was an acrobatic catch. But the receiver had five steps on Harden because he fooled him off the initial break and then was wide open. Struggled all game and had just two tackles.
Penalties – This goes right into the “You’ve got to be kidding” file folder. How is this for a sequence of events? Cleveland has the ball right before the half. First down on their own 30, Watson hit Jeudy for 20 yards, then an 11-yard pass to the Rocket. Now, first down at Jacksonville’s 39 with 51 seconds remaining. Incomplete pass to WR Isaiah Bond, with a holding call on LG Zion Johnson. Now, first-and-20. False start by RT Tytus Howard. First-and-25. Short pass to Jeudy. Next play: holding on Johnson after Watson scrambled for nine. Second-and-34, now at the Cleveland 37-yard line. Nine-yard pass completion followed by an incomplete pass to end the half and no chance of a field goal. Game total: 11 penalties for 75 yards. If this team’s target practice is aimed down, you will hit your foot every time.
Pass defense – Or should we say lack of? This defense ranked #3 in pass defense last year. Today, they will begin the season at or near the bottom. Jags QB Trevor Lawrence completed passes almost at will. Look at how many intermediate to long passes were completed: 32 yards, 30, 22, 18, 16, and 14. A total of 10 Jacksonville receivers caught a pass. Nine completions were converted for a first down, including a second-and-18 for 22 yards, a third-and-six for 14 yards, and a second-and-19 for a 32-yard TD. Several missed tackles by CB Tyson Campbell, Harden giving way too much cushion, and S Ronnie Hickman taking his time to get over and help out guys like Harden, then overran the coverage on WR Jacobi Meyers in the third quarter for the TD.
Offense – Absolutely a horror show. The offensive line gave up five sacks as Jag defenders were in Watson’s face for the majority of the game. Watson didn’t help his line by dropping back five to eight yards after a shotgun snap. One interception, a dropped interception, two fumbles (one lost), 0-2 in the Red Zone, 87 total yards rushing, disgusting on third downs and 1-2 on fourth, only 14 first downs, all of these projected weapons which ended up with minimal yards: Fannin two catches, Denzel Boston two catches, Jeudy two catches, Bond zero catches, and Concepcion four receptions.
Milk Bones – Any last requests before football season begins?
DT Mason Graham – Was decent up the middle and kept his gap responsibility. Put decent pressure on passing downs, but had two really good runs go right past him.
His run defense was really good, considering. Had the game’s only sack in the second quarter when he got the inside on C Robert Hainsey and was the first to Lawrence on a third-and-one that forced a punt. In the third quarter, he got to RB Bhayshul Tuten in the backfield for a four-yard loss with 13:19 left. Finished with five tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one QB hit.
DE Jared Verse – The TV announcers didn’t call his name much unless they were discussing the Myles Garrett trade. Didn’t see the huge pass rush from Verse, but keep in mind he was going against LT Anton Harrison, who kept him in check. Finished with four tackles, zero sacks, zero QB hits, and one tackle for loss.
Who were your winners and losers from Week 1’s Jaguars vs. Browns matchup?
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