The Cleveland Browns (0-1; 0-1-0 ATS) and Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1; 1-0-0 ATS) will both seek their first victory on Sunday at EverBank Stadium, with the kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST. These two teams squared off last December, where Cleveland secured a narrow 31-27 win at home. This time, however, Jacksonville aims to leverage the home-field advantage for redemption.
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Cleveland’s Struggles in Season Opener
The Browns faced a disappointing start to the season, trailing 27-3 at halftime and ultimately losing 33-17 at home. Offensive setbacks from the previous year resurfaced, as Cleveland committed two turnovers, mirroring their pattern of high giveaways from last season. Jerome Ford stepped up as the primary running back in place of the injured Nick Chubb, managing just 44 rushing yards on 12 attempts. Quarterback Deshaun Watson struggled, completing only 53.3% of his passes for 169 yards, and was sacked six times, the highest in the league for the week. Off-field issues continue to shadow him as well. The Browns’ 17 points came late in the game, raising concerns about their ability to compete effectively. They hope to make significant adjustments for Week 2.
On the defensive side, expectations were high, but Cleveland faltered significantly. They managed three sacks but allowed 102 rushing yards on 25 carries and failed to force any turnovers, an area where they excelled in the previous season. The glaring issue remains allowing 33 points, including a touchdown from a punt return. The Browns also struggled on the road last year. To change their trajectory in 2024, they must capitalize on this opportunity on Sunday.
Key Injuries – TE David Njoku (out); DE Myles Garrett (questionable); DT Dalvin Tomlinson (questionable); G Joel Bitonio (questionable); OL Jack Conklin (questionable)
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Jacksonville’s Late Collapse
After falling short of the AFC South title last year, the Jaguars were expected to focus on finishing strong. However, they failed to score in the second half of their Week 1 matchup, squandering a 17-7 halftime lead to lose 20-17 at the last moment. Positively, Jacksonville limited their opponents to 3.2 yards per carry and recorded three sacks. Yet, they struggled to force turnovers, giving up 9.1 yards per pass attempt, which was the worst in the league for the week. Can they address these weaknesses before facing the Browns?
Offensively, the Jaguars were lackluster. They averaged 4.9 yards per rush but lost the ball once with a fumble in the red zone. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence achieved 7.7 yards per pass attempt but faced three sacks and only attempted 21 passes, the second-lowest in the league. Overall, Jacksonville’s performance yielded just 17 points and 267 total yards, prompting the need for a more balanced offensive attack in Week 2.
Key Injuries – LB Cam Robinson (questionable); S Darnell Savage (questionable)
Prime Bets for Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Cleveland is dealing with numerous injuries on both sides of the ball while heading into this away game after a lackluster offensive performance at home. They also had multiple turnovers to contend with. Meanwhile, Jacksonville’s defense has shown resilience against a challenging opponent, positioning them favorably in this matchup. The Browns struggled to make significant passing plays like the Miami Dolphins.
Jacksonville displayed effectiveness in their rushing game, an area where Cleveland’s defense was vulnerable last week. If the Jaguars can establish a solid ground game once again, their offense is likely to flourish. Strong rushing and minimizing turnovers could lead the Jaguars to not only a victory but also a cover against the spread.
