The Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars are both seeking their first victory of the season as they prepare to face each other this week. The Browns encountered difficulties in Week 1, suffering a 33-17 defeat against the Dallas Cowboys. Meanwhile, the Jaguars narrowly lost to the Miami Dolphins, with a final score of 20-17, due to a last-minute 52-yard field goal.
Both teams exhibited noticeable weaknesses during their season openers. Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is facing calls for backup Jameis Winston after a challenging performance, completing 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Compounding the Browns’ issues, tight end David Njoku will miss this week’s game due to an ankle injury. Njoku was the team’s top receiver against the Cowboys, making his absence significant.
Browns receivers Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy will need to elevate their performance to support the struggling offense. The team is grappling with multiple injuries, having placed four players on injured reserve and listing 12 on their injury report, in contrast to the Jaguars, who have three players on their list.
The Jaguars’ defense allowed the highest number of receiving yards in Week 1, with 338 yards permitted, and cornerback Ronald Darby conceding 174 yards. This presents an opportunity for the Browns to exploit. However, Jacksonville also boasts a formidable pass rush, which is expected to put pressure on Watson during the game.
The matchup will take place at EverBank Stadium, which is set to be renamed to TrEverbank Stadium as part of a partnership with Lawrence and Everbank.