Key plays from the Jaguars’ 2024 home opener loss to the Browns

Jacksonville – Senior writer John Oehser breaks down five key plays from the Jaguars’ 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns in a Week 2, 2024 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville on 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 get within 16-13 and had possession at their 2-yard line with 1:48 remaining after a Corey Bojorquez punt went out of bounds. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence on first-and-10 dropped to his left and with little time to throw or find 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 lot of time, I’ve got to get rid of it,” Lawrence said. “You’re in the end zone and you held on to it for a moment too long, trying to wait for it to develop downfield. It just can’t happen. You just live to fight for another down. If it’s not there right away, get it out of your hand.” Center Mitch Morse said: “We needed to give our quarterback a chance to throw the ball, and we didn’t. We just wiped out any momentum we had.”

2. Wow. A lifeless day came to life for the Jaguars late in the third quarter, and one of the biggest storylines of this young season took over. Lawrence, on first-and-10 from the Jaguars’ 28, threw a deep pass across the middle of the field to rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who 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 left in the third quarter. Thomas has had big plays on all three of the Jaguars’ touchdown drives this season, catching a 14-yard touchdown pass in Week 1 and drawing a penalty for interference 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 underneath the ball,” Thomas said. “I reached out to grab it and I was able to grab it. I was just trying to go out there and make a play and get the crowd involved.”