The Jacksonville Jaguars start the 2026 NFL season by hosting the Cleveland Browns in EverBank Stadium on Sunday. Jacksonville is looking to start 1-0 after winning the AFC South in Liam Coen’s first year as head coach this past season.
Opening as 7-point favorites, the Jaguars have the second-highest point spread in Week 1 only behind the Los Angeles Chargers over the Arizona Cardinals (-11.5). The Jaguars had an 8.1 point average margin of victory in 2025, the fourth-best mark in the NFL.
Let’s preview the biggest storylines heading into the kickoff of the 2026 season in Duval.
Cleveland’s Unproven Coaching Staff
After a 5-12 season, the Browns fired two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski and brought in Todd Monken, the Ravens’ offensive coordinator. It marks the second time Monken has coached in Cleveland after a one-year stint as the OC in 2019.
Despite being a longtime offensive mind in football for many teams, including the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this is Monken’s first NFL head coaching job. The former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers coach is looking for his first win against the team who gave him his first job in the league.
Monken’s coordinators, OC Travis Switzer and DC Mike Rutenberg, have never been coordinators on the college or NFL level. Switzer was on Baltimore’s offensive staff for nine seasons before leaving for their division rival. In contrast, Rutenberg has been with five other NFL teams, including the Jaguars, Commanders, 49ers, Jets, and most recently, the Falcons.
The Jaguars will look to use their staff’s experience together against the rookie coaches on Sunday.
Jacksonville’s Offensive Changes & Injuries
Much of the Jaguars’ sixth-highest scoring offense remains the same heading into the 2026 season, but they will look a bit different in Week 1 due to injury and one key exodus.
In the offseason, 2021 first-round pick Travis Etienne Jr. left for the New Orleans Saints on a four year, $48 million contract. During his five seasons in Duval, Etienne Jr. rushed for 1,000 yards three times, including a 1,107 yard, 13 touchdown campaign in 2025.
Taking his place in the backfield is second-year running back Bhayshul Tuten and former Commander Chris Rodriguez Jr. In his rookie season behind Etienne Jr., Tuten had 386 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns, the third most on the team. Rodriguez Jr. also had a productive 2025 season in Washington, accounting for 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
In Week 1, Tuten and Rodriguez Jr. are the only two healthy running backs on the roster and are expected to split duties against the Browns.
Key Defensive Departures for Both Teams
In 2025, the Jaguars and the Browns ranked in the top 10 for yards allowed per play, but both teams lost contributors on defense.
Jacksonville let former first-round pick Devin Lloyd leave for Carolina in free agency after being named a second team all-pro. Former Florida Gator Ventrell Miller is expected to take his place in 2026, with many having high hopes for the linebacker. Pro Football Focus named Miller to their “All-Breakout Team” ahead of the season and will have his first test against Cleveland.
The Browns made the shocking move of the offseason when they sent 2025 Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Rams for Jared Verse and draft capital. Without Garrett, the Cleveland front will not generate as much pressure on opposing backfields.
While FSU product Jared Verse has shown flashes in his short NFL career, the loss of Garrett will make it hard on the Browns’ defensive front.
Familiar Foe Under Center
Deshaun Watson is getting the start for the Browns after missing the better part of two seasons due to injury. Despite having Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and rookie Taylen Green on the roster, the Browns’ front office is running with Watson to start Week 1.
The nine-year veteran has a 7-0 record as a starter against the Jaguars, including Watson’s last win as a starter in 2024. However, this version of Watson is very different to the one Jaguars fans might remember from his time with the Texans. After scandals, injuries, and team drama over his time in Cleveland, Watson has been consistently ranked as the worst starter in the NFL.
On Sunday, the Jaguars will try to get their first win against the Browns since 2017, the season Cleveland went winless.
Kickoff against the Browns is set for 1 p.m. on September 13.