Browns vs. Jaguars preview Week 1
Here's everything you need to know when the Cleveland Browns play the Jacksonville Jaguars Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Video Transcript
Let the Todd Monken-Browns era begin.
Cleveland's new head coach and his squad getting 2026 started on the road.
These are not the same old Browns, as they say in the Pound.
Look around, baby.
It's time, prime time, showtime.
They are off to Duval to face the defending AFC South champs, the Jacksonville Jaguars, looking to show year one of Liam Cohen was no fluke.
Trevor Lawrence ready to show the world he has indeed arrived.
A lot of work put into this moment, a lot of work.
Remember one thing today- Ladies- You're not alone.
You got 10 dudes around you that are gonna lay it on the line for you.
NFL football is back, and that means Game Preview Guy is back.
I'm kind of a big deal.
People know me.
No, they, they don't, actually.
I don't have any leather-bound books, and I wear a bag on my head, which makes it easy for some to think I'm AI.
If that stands for Actual Idiot, then maybe, but otherwise, no, I'm a real person.
It's another opportunity to be great.
Man, week one is great, isn't it?
Optimism abounds for every fan, player, coach, and team.
Clean canvas to paint on for everybody.
So let's examine what this contest might bring forth by laying out 10 storylines we can watch for.
Order doesn't matter.
But we will lead off with Lawrence.
Fires toward the end zone.
Ball's caught, touchdown!
Can he keep it rolling, rolling, rolling, Limp Bizkit-style the way he had it rolling last year?
Now fires toward the back of the end zone.
That ball's gonna be caught.
Parker Washington.
He looked very much the part of number-one overall pick with Cohen calling the shots.
You know he wants to get out of the gates hot as a way to carry over all the good vibes he stacked up in 2025.
Now he fires downfield.
That ball's caught.
That's gonna be a touchdown pass to Tim Patrick of 26 yards.
Hey, unbelievable throw, right there.
And hey, it's a big-time throw.
T-Law doesn't have to worry about miles, of course.
Does have to be concerned with Jared Verse, who they picked up in their big trade with LA, and he's a force.
Come on, A. I need you.
A, right here.
Right here, A.
One more, one more.
But sure, this is the first time we get to see if Cleveland's pass rush will be as effective without Garrett.
And now he's sacked at the 25.
How about the legendary Cleveland QB curse?
Is Deshaun Watson ready to break it?
Watson, a nice floating pass over the middle.
That's connected for a conversion to Jerry Jeudy.
His play caller in this case, Todd Monken, who makes his regular season debut as Cleveland's head coach, was Baltimore's OC last year.
Monken taking over for Kevin Stefanski.
He and Watson with the tall task of trying to get Cleveland's offense humming, which it rarely did in 2025.
What kind of first impression are they gonna leave Cleveland's faithful when the final whistle blows?
Mohammed trying to get over to the rookie Concepcion, and unable to bring him down before he picks up the first down.
Fourth, the return of Travis Hunter.
The dual-threat weapon only got in seven games last year before getting hurt.
He's supposed to catch balls and knock them down.
Well done playing the football.
This guy's got tremendous instincts.
How much does he do of each?
How prominent is he on each side of the ball in their opener?
Travis Hunter has his first career touchdown.
Hunter is part of one of the most improved defenses year over year in 2025.
So good, they're basically running the same 11 starters back.
Looks, fires deep downfield, and that ball's picked off.
They added some guys in the third and fourth rounds, but it's all returnees who are expected to be out there for the first snap.
That ball is going to be knocked away.
The Jags win it in overtime.
Their secondary may not be well known by folks outside of Duval, but Hunter's fellow corners, Jordan Lewis, Monterrick Brown, safeties Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson, gave QBs fits all of 2025.
They're looking to show it was no fluke.
Antonio Johnson with a pick six.
They're doing battle with the new-look Browns pass-catching group, first rounder Casey Concepcion.
Watson threads the needle.
Just shy of the sticks.
Catch is made by the rookie Casey Concepcion.
And second rounder Denzel Boston both making their regular season debuts.
That's a completion to the aforementioned rookie Denzel Boston.
Paired with Jerry Jeudy, the vet of the bunch.
Jerry Jeudy, and he's off.
And tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who put up a great rookie year.
How does the target pie get split up between those dudes?
First career touchdown catch from Harold Fannin.
Browns' offensive line will be on many fans' minds, as they have five new starters, four of whom weren't on the team last year.
First-round pick Spencer Fano will be at left tackle, former Texan Titus Howard at right tackle.
They have a new guard and center, too.
They need to gel right away if their playmakers are gonna have a chance to do their thing.
Inside the 30.
He hit another home run ball to IB.
Fano and Howard versus Trayvon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.
That's a tag team matchup to eyeball.
Biggest defensive play of the day for Jacksonville.
Walker is a force despite his low sack total last year.
Hines-Allen, Jacksonville's all-time sack leader.
Team didn't have a ton of bags last season.
See if they can rack up a few on their opening shopping trip.
Josh Hines-Allen got him.
They will also need to keep track of Quinshon Judkins.
Nice rookie season for him, despite having to grind behind that line.
Let's go, A. Yeah.
Let's go.
Let's- He's another guy who's supposed to have a bigger impact if their line is better.
Super powerful, explosive kid.
I'm fired we the best rookie class, bro.
Nah, for sure.
Overly.
Overly.
Overly, for sure.
His counterpart, Bashel Tooton, who takes over as RB one for Jacksonville.
Jags let Travis Etienne depart, handing the reins to Tooton.
Etienne had a good year for them, so Tooton has some semi-big shoes to fill.
They hand it to Tooton.
Lower the shoulder into the end zone.
He walked into the end zone.
We'll leave the rest of the talking points to you.
There's plenty more, but better to read some of them in the comments section rather than listen to me ramble on.
Jags up 12-8 against the Browns.
They won the first six meetings when they were both playing in the AFC Central.
Yeah, they were division rivals for a bit.
Before we see what our new look picks panel has for this game, let's relive the most exciting game between the two from back in 2013.
The following week, the Jaguars looked to pick up their third road win in a row when they traveled to Cleveland.
And he back to throw.
Launches a pass in the direction of Harper.
He's got it.
Touchdown, Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville defense forced turnovers on three consecutive possessions in the second quarter.
As the pressure's coming in, he's gonna get hit, and the ball's on the field, and it's recovered by the Jaguars and picked up.
Chad Derrick Marks is going back.
He stumbles and falls at the 18.
The turnovers led to 13 points, and Maurice Jones-Drew's first career touchdown pass.
Maurice pulls it out from being tucked away and throws it to Mercedes in the end zone.
Yeah, he really sold that.
Great play.
Big, big play.
In a game with five lead changes, the most important one came with 45 seconds remaining.
He's got Cecil.
Touchdown, Jacksonville!
That's the game.
The Jaguars win it in Cleveland 32-28.
Back-to-back wins for the first time in three years.
Three consecutive road wins for the first time since 2008, and it's a big win for the Jaguars.
