The Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off 2025, their inaugural season beneath head coach Liam Coen, with a dominant 26-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers. The Jaguars’ protection collected 33% of their 2024 turnovers whereas the Jacksonville offense produced its greatest particular person efficiency by a working again since 2022. Right here’s every little thing you want to know from Jacksonville’s Week 1 2025 EverBank win over the Panthers.
Atone for all the large performs and greatest moments from tonight’s sport in our stay weblog!
The next Panthers gamers didn’t play on this one: WR Dalevon Campbell, TE James Mitchell, DT Cam Jackson, and WR Jimmy Horn. Horn is an fascinating inactive after the crew just lately traded away Adam Thielen and positioned Jalen Corker on injured reserve. That Carolina determined to play third-year undrafted free agent WR Brycen Tremayne over the rookie sixth-round choose was a slight shock to most. Most notablbly, Panthers beginning left deal with Ikem Ekwonu was made inactive after present process an emergency appendectomy late final week. He was unable to follow all week.
For Jacksonville, second-year defensive deal with Maason Smith, a 2024 second-round choose, was surprisingly made inactive on this one in what appears to be a wholesome scratch. Smith missed a lot of coaching camp with an undisclosed coaching damage and first participated within the third preseason matchup. It’s attainable that the crew is permitting him time to ramp up his conditioning after lacking a lot of the 2025 offseason. Moreover, the crew was with out CB Montaric Brown, OL Wyatt Milum, OL Cole Van Lanen, DL Danny Striggow, and DL B.J. Inexperienced III for right this moment’s matchup.
Jacksonville began with the ball, changing an early mid-field fourth and 1 through a 4-yard Dyami Brown rush. After a first-down Robert Hainsey holding penalty, Unusual secured his second catch on the drive, this one for a primary down. Nonetheless, the crew was unable to transform this drive right into a landing after a primary down, 12-yard intentional grounding penalty. The Cam Little 35-yard subject objective kicked off the scoring to wrap up the 13-play, 55-yard, 6:45 drive. In whole, the Jacksonville offense racked up three penalties for 32 yards on the primary sequence, so as to add a Brian Thomas Jr drop on a jailbreak display. (Jaguars 3, Panthers 0)
The Carolina offense opened their drive with a number of robust rushes, getting reasonable motion up entrance towards the Jacksonville inside. After an underthrown Bryce Younger go try was damaged up by Jourdan Lewis, the 13-play, 41-yard, 7:39 drive was capped by a Panthers’ 48-yard subject objective. Lewis initially was overwhelmed by Hunter Renrow on the route, however didn’t quit, breaking apart the go on the final second. Apparently, the Jacksonville line of defense persistently rotated all through the opening drive, with one snap on the drive occurring with Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, and Arik Armstead all off the sphere. (Jaguars 3, Panthers 3)
The Jacksonville offense, nonetheless, went three-and-out on the next drive after a brief Travis Etienne rush, an Etienne display, and a Travis Hunter catch for a lack of yards on third and three. The Jacksonville protection instantly obtained the ball again with security Eric Murray almost intercepting Younger. Nonetheless, Foye Oluokun was trailing the play, securing the diving interception off the deflection.
After a brief 8-play, 35-yard, 4:12 drive, Lawrence discovered TE Hunter Lengthy working alone within the endzone for the 6-yard landing. Cam Little’s further level was good. (Jaguars 10, Panthers 3)
Instantly after the additional level, the sport then entered an hour, 16-minute climate delay with 8:32 remaining within the second quarter.
Following the stoppage in play, the Panthers put collectively a promising drive, threatening to attain after a third-down 22-yard Younger rush into Jacksonville territory. Nonetheless, Jourdan Lewis shut the door on the drive, with a near-sack of Younger on third down leading to a punt. On the next play, Travis Etienne compelled two missed tackles, bursting out from the 9-yard line on a 71-yard race to sunlight, earlier than being tackled on the Carolina 20. After just a few Bhayshul Tuten rushes, Brian Thomas Jr then walked in untouched for the 9-yard landing rush. (Jaguars 17, Panthers 3)
After the Panthers picked an early first down on the drive, Foye Oluokun then compelled his second turnover in as many quarters of play, punching the ball out of Younger’s grasp. Jourdan Lewis recovered the Younger fumble with 55 seconds remaining within the half. Lawrence and the offense capitalized through a 23-yard Dyami Brown reception with six seconds remaining. Cam Little then drilled the 47-yard subject objective with one second remaining within the half. (Jaguars 20, Panthers 3)
On the half, Jacksonville leads the next classes:
- Time of possession: 15:44 to 14:16
- Yards per rush: 10.3 to five.3
- Speeding yards: 134 to 74
- Redzone: 2 of three within the redzone vs 0 redzone conversions
- Passing yards per try: 6.7 to three.1
- Passing yards: 128 to 47
- Complete yards: 262 to 124
- First downs: 12 to six
- Turnovers Compelled: 2 to 0 (10 factors off of turnovers for Jacksonville on the half)
Carolina started the half with possession and instantly marched down the sphere on the again of a Tet McMillian early catch and a 26-yard go interference from Jarrian Jones whereas protecting McMillian. Nonetheless, the Jacksonville protection bent with out breaking within the pink zone, stopping Carolina on 4 straight performs whereas inside their very own 10-yard line.
Jacksonville additionally went three-and-out on the next sequence, with Lawrence unable to attach with the tightly lined Thomas Jr on third down. Carolina picked up an early first down catch from Hunter Renfrow, earlier than Dawuane Smoot shut the door on the sequence with a 12-yard sack on third-and-1 to drive a punt.
The penalty problem once more popped up on the next drive with each Patrick Mekari and Dyami Brown known as for holding penalties whereas inside their very own 20-yard line. On the next play, Lawrence was intercepted by Jaycee Horn on an underthrown go to Travis Hunter.
The Jacksonville protection held Carolina to three-and-out with Tyson Campbell forcing a Tet McMillian endzone fourth down incompletion.
After a shaky third quarter for Lawrence, going 1 for six with an interception, the Jacksonville offense picked issues up with Trevor going 4 for six on the 15-play, 49-play drive, capped by a Cam Little 36-yard subject objective. (Jaguars 23, Panthers 3)
With the Jaguars seemingly enjoying barely softer, fourth quarter protection, Carolina methodically moved down the sphere scoring their first landing of the matchup – a 27-yard catch and run by Chuba Hubbard. A missed deal with by Eric Murray allowed the Panthers to waltz into the endzone untouched. (Jaguars 23, Panthers 10)
Anton Harrison left the sport throughout this drive with a again damage. Chuma Edoga stuffed in at proper deal with with Cole Van Lanen beforehand introduced inactive. After recovering the onside kick, Jacksonville, in time milking mode, put collectively a 7-play, 38-yard, 2:50 subject objective drive with Cam Little making the 28-yard try. (Jaguars 26, Panthers 10)
Jourdan Lewis then put a bow on this one with a tipped go interception to wrap the Panthers’ closing drive. Closing rating: Jaguars 26, Panthers 10
Travis Etienne’s 71-yard second quarter rush really opened up the sport for the Jacksonville offense.
Largest play(s) of the sport:
In response to rbsdm.com, the most important play of the sport by Anticipated Factors Added (EPA) was Foye Oluokun’s second quarter interception (-4.9 EPA).
Per rbsdm.com, this play was additionally the most important play of the sport by Win Likelihood (-12%).
- QB Trevor Lawrence: 19/31 for 178 yards (5.7 YPA) with 1 TD & 1 interception (74.4 QBR)
- RB Travis Etienne: 16 carries for 148 yards (8.9 YPC), 3 catches on 3 targets for 13 yards (4.3 YPR)
- TE Brenton Unusual: 4 catches on 4 targets for 59 yards (14.9 YPR)
- WR Dyami Brown: 3 catches on 4 targets for 52-yards (17.3 YPR), and a pair of rushes for six yards (3.0 YPC)
- LB Foye Oluokun: 10 tackles (6 solo), 1 interception, and 1 fumble compelled
- CB Jourdan Lewis: 5 tackles (3 solo), 1 interception, 3 passes defensed, 1 QB hit, and 1 fumble restoration
- DE Dawuane Smoot: 2 tackles (1 solo), 1 QB sack
View the complete field rating right here.
- Particular Groups: Ok Cam Little: 4/4 with a protracted of 47 yards and a pair of/2 on further factors
- Protection: Whereas each Jourdan Lewis (interception, 2 go breakups, and a fumble restoration) and Eric Murray (large hit and deflection inflicting the Foye interception) each obtain honorable mentions, this award goes to Foye Oluokun palms down
A ten-tackle sport with 6-solo, an interception, and a fumble compelled in a sport the place your crew scores 10 factors off turnovers will get you a participant of the sport nomination daily and twice on Sunday.
- Offense: RB Travis Etienne dominated the day on the bottom with 16 carries for 148 yards (8.9 YPC), 3 catches on 3 targets for 13 yards (4.3 YPR). This was essentially the most dashing yards of any Jacksonville working again since Etienne’s 156-yard sport in week 8 of the 2022 season towards the Denver Broncos.
The crew over at Professional Soccer Focus famous the next:
The Jaguars produced 122-yards on explosive rushes versus the Panthers’ 22-yards.
The Panthers’ Bryce Younger had 41-scramble yards versus the Jaguars’ 14
DE Josh Hines-Allen collected 7 QB pressures, 3 QB hits, and 4 hurries
The next Jacksonville gamers didn’t take part in Sunday’s matchup as a result of famous accidents all through the week:
- OL Wyatt Milum (knee)
- OL Cole Van Lanen (shoulder)
- CB Montaric Brown (ankle)
- DT Maason Smith (coaches’ resolution)
- DL Danny Striggow (wholesome scratch)
- DL B.J. Inexperienced III (wholesome scratch)
The next gamers left Sunday’s sport as a result of damage:
- You may watch the highest performs of the Week 1 matchup on the NFL’s YouTube channel right here.
Put up-game lingering questions:
1. Can the crew clear up the miscues?
A well-known story popped up early on on this one with Jacksonville’s offense committing three penalties for 32 yards. The 2 holding penalties got here courtesy of Heart Robert Hainsey and Tight Finish Johnny Mundt. The ultimate penalty on the drive, a first-down Trevor Lawrence intentional grounding penalty from the pink zone resulted in a subject objective as an alternative of a possible landing sequence. The difficulty once more popped up within the third quarter, with Patrick Mekari and Dyami Brown each known as for holding penalties earlier than Lawrence’s interception. Because the penalties have been an ongoing storyline all through the offseason, it will doubtless proceed to be one thing we keep watch over all through the early parts of the season.
After a 2024 season the place the Jacksonville protection had simply 8 defensive turnovers, Anthony Campanile’s unit was in a position to drive three turnovers right this moment. With two interceptions, one fumble restoration, and two turnovers on downs, the protection usually set their offense up for achievement, holding Bryce Younger to a 48.9 passer score within the course of.
3. Missed tackles proceed to be a degree of emphasis
With the crew almost in a position to wrap the sport up, the difficulty of missed tackles continued to point out itself, as Panthers’ working again Chuba Hubbard shed Eric Murray’s deal with try to stroll into the endzone for the Panthers’ fourth quarter landing to create a 13-point sport. However, the protection performed very well to get well from these misses, with others hustling to observe the play. With out the QB scrambles, the Carolina run sport was restricted to twenty carries for 73 yards (3.65 YPC). That’s profitable soccer towards a top quality dashing offense.
The Cincinnati Bengals are up subsequent for the Jaguars, who will journey up for his or her week 2 matchup. What are your ideas from right this moment’s sport, Jaguars followers? Who shocked you most or disillusioned you with their play tonight? Tell us within the feedback.