JACKSONVILLE - Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdown passes — including his 100th career score — and Jacksonville’s defense forced two first-half turnovers as the Jaguars routed the Cleveland Browns 34-10 in the 2026 season opener at EverBank Stadium.
The tone was set on the game’s fifth play from scrimmage, when linebacker Foyesade Oluokun intercepted Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and returned it 22 yards. “Catch the ones they throw you and you’ll have a hell of a year, so it was nice,” Oluokun said. The takeaway sparked an eight-play, 59-yard drive capped by a 30-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to wide receiver Parker Washington for a 7-0 lead with 8:11 remaining in the first quarter. “It was cool to just start with a nice drive and start strong,” Washington said.
Lawrence’s milestone came with 1:42 left in the first quarter on a second-and-goal pass from the Browns 4 to rookie wide receiver Josh Cameron, a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, pushing the lead to 14-0. “Someone said it in the locker room, hundredth touchdown,” Lawrence said. “I’m like, ‘Oh, where’s that ball at?’ They’re like, ‘Oh, it’s Josh’s first one.’ He can keep it. I got to go get 200 now, I’ll keep that one.” Cameron said the play was by design: “It’s definitely a play that we kind of practiced all week, and kind of whenever I saw the safety, kind of cheated over … it’s probably going to come my way.”
The defense piled on midway through the second quarter when fourth-year linebacker Ventrell Miller punched the ball from Browns rookie wide receiver K.C. Concepcion after a five-yard reception on second-and-9 from the Browns 40. Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen recovered at the Browns 44. “He’s going to lead the league in punchouts,” Hines-Allen said of Miller. “The effort he played with today, we can expect that every week from him.” Lawrence connected with tight end Brenton Strange for 14 yards on the ensuing possession to extend the lead to 24-0. “That was the statement right there,” Hines-Allen said of the early defensive dominance. “This is when the game is going to turn, that fast. We kind of continued to do that.”
Lawrence’s fourth touchdown — a scramble-drill strike to wide receiver Jakobi Meyers in the back of the end zone to open the second half — marked his third career NFL game with four or more touchdown passes. “The best teams at it are the guys that can react as fast as possible and continue to work and get open while the play gets extended,” Lawrence said. “Scrambles lead the league in touchdowns every year, scramble plays. That’s a big part of our offense.”
Jacksonville’s pass rush smothered Watson all afternoon, registering five sacks. Defensive ends Travon Walker and Hines-Allen each recorded 1.5 sacks, while Miller and linebacker Branson Combs each added a sack. “It really is just a great feeling to just be healthy and be able to use my hands and things of that nature, and obviously get back into my groove,” said Walker, who played through wrist and knee issues much of last season.
The Jaguars travel for their Week 2 matchup with the defense looking to build on a performance that produced two turnovers, five sacks and a 34-10 margin that was never in doubt after the opening minutes.