JACKSONVILLE – This was fun. And convincing. And encouraging.

The Jaguars on Sunday beat the Carolina Panthers, 26-10, in a 2025 Week 1 game at EverBank Field. It was the debut of a new coaching/decision-making/leadership regime, with new all over the field – and the Jaguars are now 1-0 under new Head Coach Liam Coen.

Here's what Sunday wasn't for the Jaguars: Perfect.

They committed too many penalties and some plays that could have been made went unmade. A comfortable victory could have been even more comfortable.

But what Sunday was for the Jaguars was infinitely more important than what it wasn't. It was a big-time defensive performance with three takeways. It was an impressive running performance. Coen as expected coached aggressively. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was solid. And the Jaguars did a nice job responding when the going wasn't easy.

The Jaguars saw a lot of what they wanted to see Sunday. This was a good start. A really good start. And that was cool to see considering how much new there is around this franchise.

Let's get to it …

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

I like the Coen era: Physicality! Hustle! Smart decisions! Fourth-down conversions! Establishing the run! Takeaways! Pressure! Finishing the game! Winning! As Liam once said, "DuVAAAAAAL!!!"

Sunday was a good start. Fans should be happy – and believe it or not, some fans actually are happy. Wonders, it seems, indeed never cease. There have been plenty of starts in these parts that weren't good and some that have been just, plain awful. Sunday wasn't that. Insider tip: Enjoy it. Winning is fun. It's better than losing.

Tom from where ICE cannot find me

That's a lot of work for just three points.

This was the much-ballyhooed, sometimes-overrated, almost-always-published First Email of the Game. It came immediately after a 13-play, 55-yard drive on the game's first possession gave the Jaguars a 3-0 lead with 8:15 remaining in the first quarter. Was it a lot of work for three points? I guess. This email seemed like an odd amount of work to complain about a decent drive in which the Jaguars overcame three penalties and still managed to take an early lead. I guess both observations can be true.

Fred from Naples, FL

How in the world do you come out this flat?

I long ago learned that fans and observers observe and fan from different perspectives. I was surprised at this email. The Jaguars turned in scoring drives on two of their first three possessions and held the Panthers to a field goal with a forced turnover on the first three Carolina possessions. I didn't see "flat" when watching the Jaguars early. But people see what they see.

Darrell from Jacksonville

C'moooooooon Jaaaaaaaaaaaags!!!!!!

This email came during a lightning delay midway through the second quarter. Folks had some time on their hands.

Jim from Jagsonville

What's with the drops? Trevor was fairly accurate. Let's Go Jaguars!!

When watching from the press box in real time, I often rely on feel before rewatching the game. I didn't "feel" a big drop issue Sunday. I did see the Jaguars moving pretty efficiently and Lawrence completing 10 of 14 passes on the first three drives. We'll see what we see upon review.

JT from Palm Coast, FL

So damn refreshing to see a red-zone drive end with a guy wide open. I'm liking the coaching.

It's always coaching in the NFL.

Mike from Zaragoza, Spain

Convincing win. The pass game looks potent. It seems they didn't even open it up to their max ability. What's up with the run blocking? Do they need to jell or is it the same as last year?

The Jaguars rushed for 200 yards on 32 carries Sunday. That's what my uncle Otto used to call "a lot of rushing yards."

Robert from Newport Beach

Can we get a shoutout to the person who picked the songs during the weather delay? Prince, CCR, ending with the Beatles "Here comes the sun". Brilliant!

Shoutout to that person.

Tom from Moncks Corner

They are not going far with that defense!!

The Jaguars allowed 10 points in their 2025 Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

Steve at work at his desk in Jacksonville

The word that kept popping into my mind during the game was "efficient" fair?

Absolutely. I received many emails Sunday night with many concerns. That Lawrence missed some throws. That the Panthers aren't among the NFL's best teams. That there were a few drops by Jaguars receivers. And so on. The Jaguars won a game Sunday in comfortable fashion. They took a double-digit halftime lead and were never seriously pushed. They did what was necessary to win. You have to do that sometimes in the NFL. Remember: Sunday was a good day for the Jaguars. A very good day.