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The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense made an immediate impact in their season opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 13, with linebacker Foye Oluokun recording an interception that shifted momentum early in the contest. After the Browns advanced down the field on their opening drive, Oluokun’s ninth career interception halted their progress at Jacksonville’s 28-yard line, igniting a defensive performance that would dominate the remainder of the game.
The Jaguars’ defensive unit proved relentless throughout the matchup, sacking Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson five times while limiting Cleveland to minimal offensive output. Multiple Jacksonville defenders contributed to the pass rush, including Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, each recording 1.5 sacks. The defense’s strong performance set up scoring opportunities for the offense, which ultimately led to Jacksonville’s commanding 34-10 victory at EverBank Stadium before an attendance of 41,156.
Beyond the pass rush, Jacksonville’s defense excelled at limiting Cleveland’s ground game, continuing a streak of 18 consecutive regular-season games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. The Browns managed only 87 rushing yards, with running back Quinshon Judkins averaging just 2.8 yards per carry. Cleveland converted only one of eight third-down attempts, demonstrating Jacksonville’s comprehensive defensive control that overshadowed a strong performance by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who achieved a career-best passer rating of 150.6.
The loss marked Watson’s first defeat against the Jaguars as a starter, ending a previous winning streak against Jacksonville. The dominant defensive showing reflected the standard Jacksonville aimed to maintain following their strong defensive performance in the previous season under coordinator Anthony Campanile.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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