JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns in a 2024 Week 2 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. Simply baffling. The good news for the Jaguars Sunday: They didn't quit and made what looked for a time like a one-sided game tight in the fourth quarter. The truthful news is not quitting isn't enough in the NFL – and 0-2 with two tight losses is still 0-2, which isn't good enough. Head Coach Doug Pederson was visibly frustrated afterward. That's understandable considering this is a veteran team with established playmakers who aren't making big plays at critical times. Also baffling: The Jaguars in a key early-season home opener played a remarkably sluggish first half with seemingly little energy – allowing the Browns to take what turned out to be an insurmountable lead. "That's something we need to we need to look into and find out why," Pederson said. "We have an opportunity to play a football game. We're blessed to coach and play. You should be excited about stepping on the field and giving everything you have. It's something I have to figure out with the guys and see what's going on." Pederson seemed befuddled at multiple aspects of Sunday's game. This was just one, but it was a big one.
2. A good sign (maybe). Searching for good signs for a 0-2 team that expected to be better isn't easy. But if there is one, it might be quarterback Trevor Lawrence's demeanor in the post-game press conference. The fourth-year veteran from this view was as angry and pointed as he has been after any loss in his four NFL seasons. While he typically is as candid and as transparent as possible in these circumstances, Sunday was different. He spoke with an edge and an urgency. He seemed tired of the mistakes that have plagued this team through two games. He called for players, coaches and all involved – particularly himself – to be better. These are words many coaches and players say following losses. But Lawrence spoke them Sunday with an unusual anger. There's no way to know if his demeanor will change anything. There's no way to know if teammates and coaches will respond. But this is the sort of leadership you need from a quarterback in dire circumstances, and Lawrence showed it Sunday.

Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…

1. When it rains and pours. The news of tight end Evan Engram's pregame hamstring injury about an hour before kickoff felt like a bad sign. That turned out to be true for an offense that managed only 16 first-half passing yards, which was three of nine on third down and was just one of four in the red zone. It was ugly early, not so bad late in the third and ugly again when Lawrence was sacked for a safety that eventually forced the Jags to try for a touchdown instead of a game-tying field goal in the final seconds. The Jaguars didn't lose because Engram didn't play. They lost because their offense looked lost too often, with running back D' Ernest Johnson's illegal shift on wide receiver Christian Kirk's game-tying touchdown just one example. The Jaguars have an extra day this week and they're going to need all 1,440 of those extra minutes to figure out what ails them beyond Engram's hamstring.
2. Two halves...again? Pederson called a Week One loss in Miami a "tale of two halves." The same must be said of the loss to Cleveland. A defense that couldn't get quarterback Deshaun Watson off the field in the first half shut him down in the second. Watson managed a field goal off a questionable pass interference penalty on cornerback Montaric Brown early in the third quarter, but the Jags forced the Browns to punt five times on their other six second-half possessions. Give the defense credit for getting the ball back for the offense time and again in the second half – and twice with less than two minutes to play thanks to a few good plays. But it wasn't enough. They didn't get nearly enough pressure and for the second consecutive week failed to create a turnover. With the offense struggling as it was that might have been the difference.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ...

1. "We suck right now." Lawrence summed things up after Sunday's game. The second-half collapse in Miami last week seemed to continue Sunday as the Jaguars couldn't get anything going on either side of the ball. There are more questions than answers in the locker room as coaches and players are searching for answers. I fear things may continue to spiral with a tough matchup next week in Buffalo on Monday Night Football.
2. An anemic Jaguars offense needs an injection of BTJ. An abysmal day for the offense highlighted the importance of getting rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. more targets. Thomas was responsible for the one explosive Jaguars play of the game when he broke free in the open field to reel in the catch for a 66-yard gain. But Thomas was targeted only four times on Sunday. For someone with his dynamic playmaking ability, he must be more involved in the gameplan.