JACKSONVILLE — The Jaguars took just 2:43 of game time in Week 1 to set off the fireworks at EverBank Stadium. Trevor Lawrence and Co. played efficient football and broke records en route to Jacksonville’s 34-10 rout of the Browns.
The first chapter of Deshaun Watson’s 2026 story did not open on a pretty page. Watson, 30, threw an interception into the arms of a leaping Foyesade Oluokun on the QB’s third pass of the afternoon. The Jaguars’ first offensive series of the year went nearly perfect for the home club following the pick.
Lawrence orchestrated an eight-play, 59-yard drive capped by a 30-yard touchdown to Parker Washington. The quarterback found the four-year Jag sprinting toward the end zone and the wideout did the rest of the work. Washington made an acrobatic effort, jumping head-first toward the front right pylon and put Jacksonville ahead 7-0 with 8:11 remaining in the opening frame.
“That’s what you dream of,” Washington said. “That’s what you put the time in the offseason and focus on. Just coming out here, how do I start strong and, most importantly, how do I finish strong? So that’s the mindset, that’s the key to wanting to be the best pro you can be and that’s how I want to attack each day.”
Washington is in the midst of a contract dispute with Jacksonville. The Penn State product logged five receptions for 83 yards and the score against Cleveland.
Despite posting 847 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 58 receptions in 2025, the two parties failed to reach an agreement before the start of the season. Washington will play out the final year of his rookie contract — a four-year, $4.03 million deal — after talks stalled Saturday.
“No, I was just having fun,” Washington said when asked if he was sending a message Sunday. “Just wanted to bring energy and go out there and celebrate with the guys and have a great win today.”
The Jaguars’ high-powered offense failed to stop there, though. They came out on the succeeding possession with a nine-play, 74-yard touchdown drive. Wide receiver Josh Cameron’s 4-yard score to cap the series came at the hands of history.
Lawrence’s touchdown pass made him just the fourth player in NFL history to toss 100 touchdowns and rush for 20 all before his 27th birthday. He joined the elite club of Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Cam Newton in the final two minutes of the first quarter.
The former No. 1 pick had thrown for four touchdowns in a single outing just twice before Sunday. Lawrence closed out Week 1 with 245 passing yards and completed 18 of 23 attempts with a passer rating of 150.6. His day came to a close after the third quarter.
“It was awesome,” Lawrence said. “A bunch of different guys getting open and winning, and up front, able to just progress and go through my progressions and get the right guy the ball.”
Lawrence added his fourth passing touchdown of the afternoon on a 32-yard deep ball to Jakobi Meyers. He evaded pressure and threw the football across his body while running to the left side of the field, connecting with the veteran wide receiver. The score was also Lawrence’s 102nd as a pro, one TD shy of tying the franchise record.
Jacksonville came into the contest 5-0 against AFC North opponents in season openers, carrying a +54 margin of victory. The Jaguars flexed their muscles on both sides of the ball throughout the win, moving them to 17-15 in season openers.
After they kept Cleveland scoreless for the game’s first 36-plus minutes of play, the Jaguars let up a 46-yard touchdown pass with 1:52 remaining. Rookie wideout Denzel Boston eked behind Jacksonville’s secondary and picked up his first score of his young career. Outside of the late score, the defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s group pitched a near-perfect game.
Like Lawrence, EDGE Travon Walker etched his name in the history books. Walker’s 1.5 sacks were good enough to move into sixth place in franchise history in total sacks recorded. Walker passed eight-year Jag John Henderson (2002-09) on the leaderboard.
“To be amongst those greats, it really means a lot,” Walker said. “I just want to keep chopping wood.”
Walker and defensive line mate Josh Hines-Allen berated the Browns’ front five, logging a combined three sacks and two tackles for loss. Cleveland’s offensive line was revamped in the offseason, leaving them with a lack of experience up front. Former Gator Austin Barber filled in at right guard for the injured Teven Jenkins, while other pieces had seen limited to no action in a Browns uniform heading into Sunday.
Hines-Allen feasted on the unseasoned offensive line, particularly in the opening half. He cleaned up Walker’s initial shoestring sack attempt, caught Watson from the back and forced a fumble later corralled by the QB. Hines-Allen continued his already-impressive showing after recovering KC Concepcion’s fumble on the succeeding possession at the 8:38 mark in the second.
“If we just continue to stay healthy and execute what’s being called, I think we have a really great, talented room and we just gotta keep doing that,” Hines-Allen said.
Jacksonville’s victory extended its winning streak to nine games dating back to last season,marking the second-longest regular-season stretch in franchise history (No. 1 was 11 games in 1999).
The Jaguars will travel to Denver and take on the Broncos Sept. 20. Kickoff from Empower Field is set for 4:05 p.m. ET.
