JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Anita from Springfield
Despite committing many of the mistakes I feared, and having some weakness in areas I was concerned about, we won handily. But Week 1 is weird. How should I feel about the scale of the victory?
Fans and observers too often view the NFL unrealistically, with an element of this phenomenon evident following the Jaguars' 26-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in the 2025 regular-season opener at EverBank Stadium Sunday. Your focus on mistakes and weaknesses is understandable because there indeed were some mistakes Sunday and the Jaguars indeed have weaknesses. But guess what? All NFL teams make mistakes and most teams have weaknesses – even really good teams. Good teams in the NFL don't dominate every week. Good teams overcome adversity and make big plays in big moments often enough to get into the postseason, where matchups and bigger plays in bigger moments decide the day. The Jaguars won a regular-season NFL game Sunday. They dictated play much of the game, ran well, forced three takeaways and were never seriously threatened in the second half. It was by any measure a "comfortable victory." Comfortable victories don't happen every week in the NFL. How should you feel about the game? Enjoy the hell out of it and hope there's a few more.
Roy from Ridgewood, Orange Park, FL
Yay!! We won against a really bad team!! And unfortunately, Trevor doesn't look improved at all. He missed many open receivers again.
For further evidence that some people just don't like being happy, see … this email. Jaguars, after finishing 4-13 last season, played well in many facets of Sunday's victory. They were very good defensively, ran for 200 yards and made a lot of big plays in key situations. Are they perfect? No. Am I convinced they are a playoff team? Not yet. Is Carolina a playoff team? Very possibly not. But this was the first game of a new regime with a lot of new players and a new defensive scheme – and there's never, ever, ever anything wrong in professional football with a one-sided victory with very little fourth-quarter stress. As for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence … yes, he missed a couple of open receivers. He also had some really clutch throws in some key situations and some very heady scrambles. To use Sunday as an example of him not improving … well, some people just don't like being happy. This I say without fear of being wrong, for I am of this tribe.
Jordan from Mandarin
That felt like a win that the coaches can critique quite a bit in the film room.
Every NFL victory is a victory coaches can critique quite a bit in the film room.
Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL
Good win. Any win in the NFL is a good win. Going a level deeper, though, the first half felt like a high-energy, physical team executing well. The second half felt like a sloppy attempt to run off thirty minutes of clock. I can't imagine they truly went into cruise control that early, but it certainly felt different. Am I crazy?
The Jaguars didn't go into cruise control in the second half Sunday. They just didn't play as well in the third quarter as they did in the second quarter. Professional football is hard. If you miss one play there or make a key mistake there, a game can turn in a hurry. The Jaguars didn't play well in the third quarter and still maintained a 20-3 lead. They managed not to let the game turn and it's why they scored a comfortable victory.
Johnny B from Howey In The Hills
Dr. O: A couple of comments right after the game. First, Jaguars linebacker Foye Olukuon and tight end Brenton Strange are beasts. What an awesome couple of guys on each side of the ball. I watched the offensive line in particular and left tackle Walker Little, left guard Ezra Cleveland and center Robert Hainsey kept Trevor clean; they are really playing well together. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis is the real deal. I'm glad rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter only played offense; he is such a valuable target and has awesome hands. Wide receiver Dyami Brown was a good catch as well. We may have the best receiving corps since 2023 during the run to the division title. I know it's early, but if these guys can stay healthy, they will have a good year. I was sad for safety Andrew Wingard; awesome pick; love the dude and he's all competitor. Last but not least ... the special teams are special: two 50-yard-plus punts, perfect on four field goals and two extra points. Defense played well and I was surprised at defensive tackle Arik Armstead. Glad he was in the middle. He was a force in there. Defensive end Duwaune Smoottttttt and running back Travis Etienne Jr. are back. Go Jags.
That was more than a "couple of comments."
Jordan from Mandarin
One of the big storylines I'm watching this year is wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and Trevor Lawrence. Last year, BTJ emerged as possibly our best player but much of that was with backup quarterbac Mac Jones under center. I definitely don't take too much away from game 1 but I did think the lack of targets was odd.
The ball for the most part goes where the ball goes. Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen is a believer in getting key receivers and skill players touches early because it gets them involved with the game. That happened early Sunday, and the Jaguars' first play was a deep pass to Thomas. But this offense has a lot of speed and a lot of playmakers at a lot of positions. If Thomas isn't constantly fed the ball, it's not as much "odd" as a product of the offense.
Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter
My Week 1 impressions: Carolina is not a good team right now. Jags O-line much improved but three holding fouls on running plays? Defensive backfield has tightened up significantly. Low-event debut for THE, but strong dance game.
Now we know Cliff's impressions ...
John from Jax
Hi, I think they need a two-drink limit in the booth. That review of Thomas' catch being reversed was fast and careless. With regards to Wingard's Pick 6, that was fun to watch even though the penalty call due to acting was lame.
… and now we know John's, but what's a "two-drink minimum?" And is it as ridiculous and cruel as it sounds?
Tom from The Mean Streets of Nocatee
The only player who ever caught Fred Taylor from behind was Jimmy Smith.
My Scooby Sense – not my Scobee or Spidey sense – tells me this is complaining about running back Travis Etienne Jr. not scoring on a 71-yard run in the first half. My common sense tells me this is sort of a nitpicky complaint, even though Etienne admonished himself afterward for not finishing the run.
Motler from C-ville
My boy gets to wear his Victory Monday shirt to school tomorrow! This game was fun and felt different. Yes, it's only Week 1, but it's a Week 1 victory! Strange's blocking ability is a game changer. Go Jags!
Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange is a really good player. It feels as if he has a chance to be the most balanced tight end this franchise has had in a while. Stay tuned.
Bill from Iselin, NJ
One fer Brenton Strange
Absolutely.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, Texas
Do you think the lightning delay was just the Panthers' owner slamming his cup hard (sounds like thunder), then a few drops hitting an NFL official (thinks it is rain) that caused the game to be delayed?
I do not think this, but I do think it's important here in the O-Zone to be nice. This was certainly not nice.
Jim from Jagsonville
Offensive MVP Travis Etienne Jr! Defensive MVP Foyesade Oluokun!
You go, girl.
Payder from Omaha, NE
Can the Jags have a winning season this year and make the playoffs this year too?
Can they? Sure. Will they? I'm not ready to say that yet. I thought entering the season this was likely an eight-to-nine victory team, perhaps a victory or two more if things broke right. The Jaguars played well Sunday. If they build on that, then sure … a winning season and a playoff season is possible. But they still have a lot of building to do.
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, saw a lot of good things Sunday. However, penalties and Trevor becoming Trevor in the second half was a bit concerning. This is a good win in front of the home fans.
The Jaguars indeed did a lot of good things Sunday, with the main exception 11 penalties for 93 yards. I don't know what Trevor being Trevor means. It was a damned good victory in front of the home fans.
