JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Jordan from Lincoln, NE
About as good a start you could ask for!
The Jaguars' 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the 2026 regular-season opener at EverBank Stadium Sunday absolutely was "about as good a start as you could ask for," with the Jaguars controlling essentially every part of the game. I'm not sure how else to describe this one other than to say it's exactly how you hope a really good team looks in Week 1 against a team that's just getting going – which is what the Browns are under first-year Head Coach Todd Monken. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdown passes. Wide receiver Parker Washington continued to ascend toward elite status. They also ran well, with an offensive line that underwent some offseason changes playing well. The Jaguars' two best defensive players, ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, played like it. The defense forced two turnovers, registered five sacks and played well – as expected – against the run. This one wasn't as close as the score indicated. About as good a start as possible? No doubt.
Roger from Houston, TX
Mistake-free. Thoroughly dominant. Pretty doggone impressive.
It's the nature of the NFL that blowout victories all-but decided in the first half are rare. It's also the nature of the NFL that good teams sometimes struggle against not-as-good teams in Week 1 because there are so many unknowns in the regular-season opener. The Jaguars played well enough Sunday that those very real things weren't a factor. Credit to them.
JT from Palm Coast
Hey, John: First time in a long time. That was one of the most complete games I have seen from our Jags in a long, long time. In all three phases. Wow. The 2026 season started about as well as anyone could have hoped.
Winning is cool. Fans like it.
Henry from Florahome
The Jaguars looked like the teams that used to carve up the Jaguars Sunday.
The Jaguars went a very long time not being a very good team. They are a good team now and on Sunday they played the way good teams sometimes play.
Kalani from Duval
Devin Lloyd was not missed Sunday.
There are no plans – and no need – to turn each Monday O-Zone into a discussion about former Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd. Or about former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. No, the Jaguars did not miss either player Sunday. I don't expect them to miss them significantly as the season continues. Ventrell Miller and Branson Combs are good linebackers and played well Sunday. Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez and Ameer Abdullah are good running backs and played well Sunday. The angst over the changes at those positions was always on the outside of the organization and not the inside. Sunday was an early indication why.
JK from Ocala, FL
Chef O. I know it was the Browns, but we are cookin! Go Jags!
This is professional football, not the Southeastern Conference. Are the Browns one of the NFL's best teams? Perhaps not. But you still must do a lot right in the NFL to win by 24 points.
Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL
This offense, wow! Have you ever seen an NFL team put in the backup quarterback (including last year) because they have already wrapped up the game as often as the Jags have?
Yes.
Jordan from Mandarin
Are they slow playing Travis Hunter because of last season's injury? If not, I don't understand the plan. I know it's only one game, but we spent a significant amount of draft capital for him to have a backup role on both sides of the ball.
Wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter started at cornerback Sunday and played in packages on offense. He was not playing a "backup role on both sides of the ball."
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, either the Browns are that bad or the Jags are that good. I'm guessing it's a little of both. Regardless, it was a terrific way to start the new season.
Yes, it was.
Kent from Jag-sonville
Parker Washington needs to be paid. If I were Shad I would offer $25 million a year and throw in the Kismet 2 for good measure. Dude's an absolute stud.
Washington, after emerging as perhaps the offensive's go-to receiver late last season, continued in that vein on Sunday with five receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. The five receptions all mattered, coming as the Jaguars pulled away in the first half. His 30-yard diving touchdown reception that gave the Jaguars a 7-0 lead was impressive and spectacular. Multiple other early Washington receptions from this view were just as important, with Washington repeatedly getting open and making big plays for the offense. Lawrence clearly trusts him in a big way. Washington and the Jaguars have yet to reach an agreement on a contract extension, with Washington eligible to become a free agent next offseason. This is not a case of the Jaguars not wanting to pay Washington. It's a matter of the sides coming to an agreement on how much is fair. Remain tuned.
Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter
That sound you hear is the Brinks truck backing in with Parker's bag.
Washington is going to make a lot of money playing professional football relatively soon. This will be a topic until it's not.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
And a Texans loss! Week 1 could not have gone any better. Go Jags!
Not only did the Jaguars win impressively Sunday, the Houston Texans indeed lost to the Buffalo Bills. And the Indianapolis Colts lost to the Baltimore Ravens. And the Tennessee Titans lost to the New York Jets. The good guys are alone in first place in the AFC South. Sixteen games remain.
Robert from Jax
Hey, O. I know the team likes both running backs and looks at them more as 1a and 1b, but my eyes tell me there is clearly a No. 1 running back on this team. While I know they want to spread the ball around, can you see a few more games like that leading to a less than 50/50 split? Thanks.
Tuten rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries Sunday, with Abdullah rushing for 32 yards on four carries and Rodriguez Jr. rushing for 23 yards on six carries. Sunday was not a "50-50 split," and I don't know that the Jaguars should be in any particular hurry to move away from such a balanced, effective approach.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
KOAF: After the second turnover, it reminded me of "same old Jaguars." Games that are boring by halftime and the outcome mostly decided. Geez, can't even keep me interested for a whole game. Are we going to half to endure three passing touchdowns in the first half for every game? How will this build the fan base in blow out after blowout?
Nicholas' got jokes …
Paul from Jax
Now we know.
… and Paul's got cryptic statements.
Roger from London
Hi, John. Was I imagining it, or were some of Lawrence's passes the hardest we have seen him thrown him throw? Lasers! And, just as impressive, wide receivers plucked them out of the air even when covered. This bodes well!
Lawrence had one of his most impressive NFL games Sunday, completing 18 of 23 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. He had some "laser" throws, most notably a four-yarder that rookie Josh Cameron caught in the first quarter for Cameron's first NFL touchdown. I've seen Lawrence throw quite a few hard passes, though I suppose the pass to Cameron was up there with the hardest. I've heard observers criticize Lawrence for throwing too hard in the past. I've always wondered about this criticism considering a receiver's job is to, you know, catch passes. Jaguars receivers did a nice job doing their job Sunday.
Peter from Barnegat, NJ
I know it was early, but how good did that touchdown pass from Lawrence to Washington feel to start the game? Bet it felt pretty darn good especially if you are there live. Wish I was lol.
It was a-ight.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
I've been with you that a deal would get done in due time as both parties want to do so. I am starting to think it's not going to happen. Washington was set up for a big game due to the matchup he was drawing, but performances like this (BEAUTIFUL to watch) are putting him out of what this front office might be willing to pay due to how stacked we are at the position. He's elite. Do you still feel good it gets done? Gosh he is fun to watch.
The Jaguars are indeed stacked at receiver. They would be a lot less stacked without Washington at receiver.
John from Orlando, FL
How concerned are you that Trevor only threw one touchdown in the second half and was ultimately benched already in the first game of the season?
Winning is cool. Fans like it.
