Jacksonville, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars opened their 2026 campaign with a statement win, routing the Cleveland Browns 34-10 at EverBank Stadium. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was the catalyst, delivering 245 passing yards and four touchdown throws while completing 18 of 23 attempts and posting a career‑high passer rating of 150.6.

Early dominance

The Jaguars seized momentum from the opening kickoff, scoring on six of their first seven possessions. Lawrence connected with wide receiver Parker Washington on a diving first‑touchdown catch, then found rookie Josh Cameron, tight end Brenton Strange and veteran Jakobi Meyers for the remaining scores. Three of the four targets were wide open, underscoring Jacksonville’s aggressive game plan under head coach Liam Coen.

Defensive stand

Jacksonville’s defense limited Cleveland to just 272 total yards and forced five sacks on Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was making his first start in nearly two years. The Browns also committed 11 penalties for 75 yards and struggled on third down, converting only one of eight attempts.

Key moments

• Lawrence’s four‑TD performance marked his best statistical outing of the season and reinforced his status as one of the league’s top quarterbacks.
• Veteran defensive end Josh Hines‑Allen praised the effort, calling the win “a great first step for where we’re trying to get to.”
• Brown’s new head coach Todd Monken acknowledged the rough start, noting the team “did exactly what we wanted to start the game” but was unable to sustain drives.

Injury updates

The Jaguars saw defensive end B.J. Green leave the game with an elbow injury at halftime, while wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. briefly exited with a shoulder issue before returning for the final series of the first half. Cleveland’s running back Dylan Sampson (knee) and left guard Zion Johnson (left knee) were both ruled out in the first half.

Looking ahead

Jacksonville’s right tackle Cole Van Lanen made his first start eight months after undergoing knee‑ligament surgery, playing the first half before yielding to backup Walker Little. His quick return adds depth to an offensive line that helped protect Lawrence throughout the game.

Both clubs will travel next week: the Browns head to Tampa Bay, while the Jaguars face the Denver Broncos on the road. The win positions Jacksonville as a strong contender for a playoff spot and possibly its first Super Bowl appearance.

Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.