JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser examines five key plays from the Jaguars' 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns in a 2024 Week 2 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Sunday
1. Safety first. Sunday's biggest play didn't end the Jaguars' chances, but it came close. The Jaguars, after trailing 16-3, rallied to within 16-13 and had possession at their two-yard line with 1:48 remaining after a punt by Corey Bojorquez went out of bounds there. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence on first-and-10 dropped to his left – and with little time to throw or for a route to develop downfield was sacked by Browns defensive end Alex Wright for a safety and an 18-13 Cleveland lead with 1:44 remaining. "Even if I don't have a ton of time, I've got to get rid of it," Lawrence said. "You're in the end zone, and just held on to it for a tick too long, trying to wait on it to develop downfield. It just can't happen. Just live to fight another down. If it's not there right away, get it out of your hand." Said center Mitch Morse, "We need to give our quarterback an opportunity to throw the ball, and we didn't. We killed every momentum we had."
2. Whoa. A lifeless day came to life for the Jaguars late in the third quarter – and a major storyline of this young season grew. Lawrence on first-and-10 from the Jaguars 28 threw deep down the middle of the field to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. He caught the pass and turned it into a 66-yard gain to the Browns 6. Running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s four-yard run two plays later cut the lead to 16-10 with 1:11 remaining in third quarter. Thomas has had big plays on all three Jaguars touchdown drives this season, catching a 14-yard touchdown pass in Week 1 and drawing an interference penalty that led to the Jaguars' other Week 1 touchdown. "I was able to get behind my defender and Trev made a great throw, and I was able to run under it," Thomas said. "I reached out for it and was able to grab it. I was just trying to go out there and make a play and get the crowd involved."
3. Raaamblin', scraaaaaaamblin' … The Jaguars trailed 10-0 midway through the second quarter when they got needed momentum on an off-schedule play from Lawrence. The Jaguars faced third-and-7 at the Browns 35 when Lawrence escaped pressure and ran 33 yards for a first down for a first-and-goal at the Browns 2. Three plays netted minus-two yards, with Lawrence throwing incomplete to wide receiver Gabe Davis on third-and-goal from the Browns 4. Little's 22-yard field goal trimmed the Browns' lead to 10-3 with 4:44 remaining in the second quarter.
4. Oh goodness. Early momentum Sunday turned on a near miss. The Browns on their first possession faced second-and-20 at their 45. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was pressured from the pocket. He threw downfield, with Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby breaking on the pass only to have an interception go through his hands. Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught the deflection for a 21-yard gain, turning a potential Jaguars takeaway into a first down at the Jaguars 34. A roughing-the-passer penalty on linebacker Devin Lloyd gave the Browns first-and-goal at the two, with Watson's one-yard run capping a 16-play, 80-yard drive and giving the Browns a 7-0 lead with 2:29 remaining in the first quarter.
5. Grinding. The Browns dominated the first half, and it wasn't about big plays as much as steady consistency. Their three first-half scoring drives were possessions of 12, 12 and eight plays and consumed just over 20 minutes. They retook control of the game Sunday on the possession after Little's first field goal, moving 52 yards on eight plays. The key play on the drive came on fourth-and-one from the Browns 37, with running back Jerome Ford running around left end for 36 yards to the Jaguars 37. Kicker Dustin Jenkins' 38-yard field goal with :27 remaining in the second quarter gave the Browns a 13-3 halftime lead.
6. Sack – and doink. The Jaguars struggled for consistency Sunday. When they got some in the third quarter, it went away quickly and allowed the Browns to maintain control of the game. The Jaguars drove steadily to the Browns 14 midway through the third quarter. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. lost three yards on second-and-5 from the Browns 14, then Lawrence was sacked on third-and-8 from the Browns 17. Little's 43-yard field goal hit off the right upright, allowing Cleveland to maintain a 16-3 lead with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter. The Jaguars scored one touchdown and two field goals on three possessions inside the Browns' 20-yard line Sunday. "It comes down to awareness, comes down to just execution on the field, comes down to coaching," Head Coach Doug Pederson said. "There are a lot of things I think we can maybe point a finger at. But it's definitely an area that needs to improve."
