JACKSONVILLE – What. A. Start.

The Jaguars didn't just win their 2026 regular-season opener Sunday, they did so in as impressive a fashion as possible – a 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium that was as one-sided and dominant as the score indicated.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was near perfect. The defense stopped the run, pressured Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and forced timely turnovers. The offense followed that with touchdown drives. Wide receiver Parker Washington was equal parts spectacular and efficient. And the Jaguars' running game was punishing and effective. And so on and so on.

That was about as complete as possible.

The Jaguars did what a good, contending team is supposed to do and handled a young team in its first game under a new head coach. This was workmanlike, impressive and encouraging – and that was about as good a day as they could have had Sunday.

Let's get to it…

Josh from Atlanta, GA

That is what you call a team putting the league on notice. Head Coach Liam Coen knew it, evidenced with his interview talking about Caleb Wilson, that Pete Prisco was the only outsider giving the Jaguars a second thought. How impressive was that, John?

The Jaguars' victory Sunday was very impressive. They were good in areas they were good last season and they were good in areas they wanted to improve. They were playing a team that gave them some opportunities with some turnovers and the Jaguars took advantage. The Jaguars were the better, more experienced team and they played like it. It was exactly how you want to look if you're a good team playing a team just getting started. I don't know what Coen knew or who interviewed with or who's thinking about what. I do know Sunday was good stuff for the good guys.

Jim from Jagsonville

Pay that man! First TD of the season?! Let's Go Parker! Let's Go Jaguars!! DUUUVALL!!!

You're referencing Washington, who not only caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence for the Jaguars' first touchdown of the season – and a 7-0 lead – he also clearly gave the Jaguars energy and needed first downs and yardage in big situations early Sunday. Lawrence's trust in Washington shone in a big way early and was a big reason for a fast start that turned into a one-sided victory. This performance came after news this weekend that the Jaguars and Washington have not yet reached an agreement on a contract extension. When the Jaguars will "pay that man" is perhaps a topic for another day, but Washington continues to show he's this team's best receiver and critical to one of the NFL's best offenses.

Shane from Glen St. Mary, FL

PAY THAT MAN!!!!!

And so it begins …

Chief from Biloxi, MS

After this first half, the man needs to be paid. No way around it.

… and so it continues.

Richard from Jacksonville

How many emails did you just get saying "pay the man!"

At least two. No, three. No …

Wes from Ponte Vedra, FL

In the absence of a new contract, how much should we read into Parker Washington's touchdown celebration, in which he rubbed together the fingertips of his first three fingers of an outstretched arm in the universal "$$" gesture?

I would assume Washington did that because he would like to be paid a lot of money. I don't know why he wouldn't like that or why his gesture wouldn't mean that.

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

Ventrell Miller was a beast. Ten tackles, seven solos, one sack, two tackles for a loss and one quarterback hit. Devin who? Go Jags!

Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller, a fourth-year veteran, indeed had a standout game Sunday. In addition to the statistics you mentioned, he also forced a fumble. Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen on Sunday said he believes Miller will lead the NFL in "punchout" forced fumbles. Perhaps he will. Either way, he was very good Sunday. The Jaguars were never particularly worried that Miller wouldn't be able to effectively "replace" former linebacker Devin Lloyd, who signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Carolina Panthers this past offseason. Sunday doesn't prove beyond all doubt and until the end of time that the Jaguars were right on that front, but it was a start.

Brad from The Avenues

Today was a good day.

Damn right.

Bobby from Summerville

Hi, John, looks like Cohen learned his lesson from last year's playoff game. You take three points when you can.

Coen – a.k.a., Cohen – in the first half Sunday indeed opted to kick a field goal on fourth-and-1 from the Browns 29. I would not take this to mean that Coen has "learned a lesson," or that he always will opt for a field goal in fourth-and-short situations.

Chris from Mandarin

Midseason form.

Yep.

Wayne from Jacksonville

That effort by Miller!!! Incredible! Five plays in and I've seen enough. If the Jags stay healthy=16-0.

This was the much-ballyhooed, sometimes-off-putting, oft-overreactive First Email of the Game. It was something about something and I can say that for certain.

Tom from The Mean Streets of Nocatee

Our long national nightmare is over … well, at least Jaguars football is back.

Indeed it is.