2024-09-16 08:55:04
JACKSONVILLE – Another week, another fourth quarter, another chance.
Another disappointing finish.
The Jaguars, after a sluggish start, scrapped and clawed and nearly overcame a double-digit second-half deficit in the 2024 regular-season home opener Sunday. But the Cleveland Browns made key plays late to secure an 18-13 victory on a rain-soaked day in front of 60,105.
“I’m at a loss,” Head Coach Doug Pederson said, with center Mitch Morse adding: “Disappointment is an understatement.”
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s last-play pass to tight end Brenton Strange fell incomplete in the end zone. The play began from the Browns 33 with :08 remaining, ensuring the Jaguars’ second consecutive tight fourth-quarter loss to start the season.
The Jaguars lost to the Miami Dolphins, 20-17, on a last-play field goal in Week 1 and are now 0-2.
“We’ve been together for a while now,” Pederson said. “We shouldn’t be playing the way we’re playing. We shouldn’t be coaching the way we’re coaching. I take accountability there. It starts with me and then it goes to the assistant coaches and the players.
“We’re a better football team than the way we played today.”
The Jaguars have lost seven of their last eight games dating to last season.
“We can’t hit the panic button, but we have to have some real conversations,” Lawrence said. “We have too good a team to perform two weeks in a row like this. These games are precious. You don’t get them back. We’re 0-2 to start the year and it’s not going to get an easier.
“We’ve got a lot of good teams on our schedule so we have to fix it quick.”
Browns defensive end Alex Wright sacked Lawrence for a safety with 1:42 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Browns a five-point lead. The play came one play after Browns punter Corey Bojorquez’s punt went out of bounds at the Jaguars two-yard line.
“We need to give our quarterback an opportunity to throw the ball and we didn’t,” Morse said.
