The Jaguars didn’t just beat the Browns in Week 1 - they steamrolled them, 34-10, and made it look easy enough that Liam Coen could shut things down after Jacksonville went up 31-0. That kind of runaway win answers plenty about one Sunday, but it also leaves a few bigger questions hanging as the Jaguars turn the page to Denver.
The biggest one involves Travis Hunter and how Jacksonville really plans to use him. On Sunday, Hunter logged 29 snaps on defense and just four on offense, and all four of those came on the same drive. That’s a far more lopsided split than what he did last year, when he spent most of his time at wide receiver and only sprinkled in cornerback work unless injuries forced the issue.
The obvious follow-up is whether that usage would look different in a tighter game. Against Cleveland, the Jaguars had explosive plays and touchdowns coming so freely that there was no real pressure to push Hunter onto the field more often at receiver.
Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, and Josh Cameron combined for 12 catches on 13 targets, 183 yards, and three touchdown grabs. The passing game was rolling without needing extra help.
Hunter still made his presence felt on defense. The Browns targeted him just once in coverage, which effectively let him erase a third of the field.
That’s the kind of cornerback production that makes his offensive upside even more intriguing, especially after Jacksonville paid so much to get him. The question now is whether this was just Week 1 game flow or a preview of his actual role.
Another spot worth watching is right tackle, where Cole Van Lanen returned from the knee injury that had kept him out since January and limited him through the spring and summer. He played the first half against Cleveland, and Coen said Monday that the plan was always for Van Lanen to go just that long. That was manageable in a game that was already basically decided after the Jaguars’ 14-0 first-quarter lead.
Denver is a different test. The Broncos didn’t exactly shine against the Chiefs in Week 1, but they should still be a much tougher assignment than Cleveland.
And the pass rush is no small thing: Denver has piled up 132 sacks from 2024-2025 and is the only defense to reach 100 sacks in that span. So the real question is whether Van Lanen’s workload can grow enough for him to handle a full game on the road, or whether Walker Little will again be the fallback at right tackle.
Then there’s the personnel wrinkle on offense. If Nate Boerkircher was supposed to signal a shift toward heavier packages, Week 1 gave at least a partial glimpse of that.
The Jaguars were at their most efficient in 12 and 13 personnel in any game during the Liam Coen era, and they weren’t shy about using it. But the game script matters here.
Jacksonville opened in its usual 11 personnel, and only moved heavier once the Browns were buried.
The numbers tell the story. The Jaguars’ 11-personnel rate fell from 66.5% in 2025 to 41.5% on Sunday. Even so, 12 of their first 15 plays came from 11 personnel, while only three of their 17 second-half snaps, not counting kneel-downs, came from 11.
That leaves one more thing to sort out: when the Jaguars are in an actual fight, what do they want to be? Will they keep leaning on 11, or will 12 and 13 become a real part of the offense when the game is still in the balance?
The Browns never forced Jacksonville to show its hand for long. If the Broncos can keep things tighter this week, the Jaguars should start giving some real answers.
In Other News...
Shad Khans Standing Among NFL Owners Says Plenty About The Jaguars
Shad Khans place in the NFL hierarchy says a lot about how far the Jaguars owner has come as a sports figure, even beyond Jacksonville. Forbes now estimates Khans net worth at $16.5 billion, which puts him 70th on the Forbes 400 and sixth among NFL owners, a reminder that his reach extends well past one franchise and into a wider global sports portfolio.
Khans wealth has more than doubled over the last five years and has risen every year since 2022, giving him a financial profile few owners can match. Along with the Jaguars, he also owns Fulham soccer club and co-owns AEW Wrestling with his son Tony, a mix that underscores how his influence stretches across different corners of the sports world even as Jacksonville remains the centerpiece for local fans. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Got Another Reason To Feel Overlooked In Week 2
Even before the Jaguars take the field for their home opener against the Broncos, theres a little extra fuel for the building. NFL Week 2 puts Jacksonville in a matchup of two 2025 playoff teams, but the leagues schedule still nudged that game into the 4:05 p.m. ET slot with a regional audience, while the bigger 4:25 p.m. window went to Commanders-Cowboys.
For a team trying to establish itself under Liam Coen, it fits the broader feeling around Jacksonville that it needs to keep proving it belongs in the conversation. Coen already sounded like someone who noticed the slight, and the timing could give the Jaguars an added edge as they try to make a statement against Denver in front of their home crowd. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Week 1 Grades Put Early Pressure On One Veteran
The Jaguars Week 1 win over the Browns gave the coaching staff plenty to like, and Pro Football Focus early grades reinforced that picture with a mix of encouraging breakouts and familiar standouts. On offense, Parker Washington, Bhayshul Tuten, Josh Cameron, Trevor Lawrence and Cole Van Lanen were among the highest-rated performers, while the defense got strong marks from Ventrell Miller, Branson Combs, Foye Oluokun, Josh Hines-Allen and rookie safety S. Ransaw.
The grading also put an early spotlight on the other side of the ledger, and it is not a great look for one veteran trying to settle into the season. Arik Armstead landed among the lowest-graded players overall, a development that adds a little pressure after a game in which Jacksonville was otherwise able to start the year with a win and some positive tape to build on. [Read more 🡒]