JACKSONVILLE – Another week, another fourth quarter, another chance.

Another disappointing finish.

The Jaguars, after a sluggish start, scrapped and clawed and nearly overcame a double-digit second-half deficit in the 2024 regular-season home opener Sunday. But the Cleveland Browns made key plays late to secure an 18-13 victory on a rain-soaked day in front of 60,105.

"I'm at a loss," Head Coach Doug Pederson said, with center Mitch Morse adding: "Disappointment is an understatement."

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence's last-play pass to tight end Brenton Strange fell incomplete in the end zone. The play began from the Browns 33 with :08 remaining, ensuring the Jaguars' second consecutive tight fourth-quarter loss to start the season.

The Jaguars lost to the Miami Dolphins, 20-17, on a last-play field goal in Week 1 and are now 0-2.

"We've been together for a while now," Pederson said. "We shouldn't be playing the way we're playing. We shouldn't be coaching the way we're coaching. I take accountability there. It starts with me and then it goes to the assistant coaches and the players.

"We're a better football team than the way we played today."

The Jaguars have lost seven of their last eight games dating to last season.

"We can't hit the panic button, but we have to have some real conversations," Lawrence said. "We have too good a team to perform two weeks in a row like this. These games are precious. You don't get them back. We're 0-2 to start the year and it's not going to get an easier.

"We've got a lot of good teams on our schedule so we have to fix it quick."

Browns defensive end Alex Wright sacked Lawrence for a safety with 1:42 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Browns a five-point lead. The play came one play after Browns punter Corey Bojorquez's punt went out of bounds at the Jaguars two-yard line.

"We need to give our quarterback an opportunity to throw the ball and we didn't," Morse said.

Lawrence completed 14 of 30 passes for 220 yards and no touchdowns with no interceptions. Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson completed 22 of 34 passes for 186 yards and no touchdowns with no interceptions.

The Jaguars, after trailing 16-3, rallied to within 16-13 in the fourth quarter on a third-quarter touchdown run by running back Travis Etienne Jr. and a fourth-quarter field goal by rookie kicker Cam Little. The Browns led 13-3 at halftime after outgaining the Jaguars, 195-81.

The Jaguars registered two sacks with takeaways Sunday, and have five sacks with no takeaways this season. Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen sacked Watson in the first quarter for his first sack of the season, and linebacker Foye Oluokun registered a sack.

"I think you don't hit the panic button," Pederson said. "There's a long season ahead, but we have to figure some things out in a hurry. Each person has to look themselves in the mirror, me included. We have to do better.

"It's disappointing because there are glimpses of greatness out there, but it's not consistent."

Said defensive lineman Arik Armstead, "It's never a panic, because that's when things start to spiral. It's cleaning some things up, looking hard in the mirror and working to get better for next week."

Jaguars 2024 Home Opener Step-By-Step:

• Watson's one-yard run capped a 16-play, 89-yard drive and gave the Browns a 7-0 lead with 2:29 remaining in the first quarter; a roughing-the-passer penalty on linebacker Devin Lloyd two plays before the touchdown gave Browns first-and-goal at the two.
• The Browns maintained momentum and the lead with a steady, efficient second quarter. Kicker Dustin Hopkins' 53-yard field goal with 9:52 remaining in the second quarter pushed the lead to 10-0. The Jaguars had been outscored 23-0 since halftime of a Week 1 loss at Miami at that point, and the Browns at that time held a 143-15 edge in total yards. Little's 22-yard field goal made it 10-3, Browns, with 4:44 remaining. Lawrence's 33-yard run on third-and-7 from the Browns 35 set up Little's field goal. Hopkins' 38-yard field goal with :27 remaining in the half pushed the lead to 13-3.
• The Jaguars turned the game's momentum late in the third quarter. Hopkins' 44-yard field goal capped the first drive of the second half, pushing the lead to 16-3 with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter. The Jaguars then produced their biggest play of the game to that point when Lawrence found rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a 66-yard gain to the Browns 6. Etienne's four-yard touchdown run two plays later made it 16-10, Browns, with 1:11 remaining in the third quarter.
• Little's 25-yard field goal with 7:32 remaining in the fourth quarter cut the lead to 16-13.

Notable Moments: Week 2 CLE vs. JAX

• Jaguars tight end Evan Engram sustained a hamstring injury in pregame warmups Sunday and was ruled out before the game. The Jaguars' six other inactive players Sunday: rookie defensive lineman Maason Smith, veteran safety Darnell Savage, rookie defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson, defensive lineman Tyler Lacy, offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen and rookie offensive lineman Javon Foster.

In-Game Injury Report:

• Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby sustained a shoulder injury returning a kickoff in the second quarter and returned. Safety Andre Cisco sustained a second-quarter groin injury and returned.