JACKSONVILLE – This was worth the wait. Well worth it.
And while weather made the wait a bit longer than the Jaguars expected, the result was a celebratory start to a new era – and a 26-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in the 2025 regular-season opener at EverBank Stadium Sunday afternoon.
One and oh, and feeling good. Oh so good.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 19 of 31 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown with one interception, with other major Jaguars storylines of the day a dominant running game and a defense that forced key turnovers at key times.
Running back Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for 143 on 16 carries as the Jaguars rushed for 202 yards as a team, with two first-half takeaways leading to 10 points and a 20-3 Jaguars halftime lead.
Lightning delayed the game 66 minutes with 8:32 remaining in the second quarter.
The game was the first for the Jaguars' new regime, with Head Coach Liam Coen, General Manager James Gladstone and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli hired this past offseason. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski also are in their first seasons with the team.
Lawrence's six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Long gave the Jaguars a second-quarter lead they never relinquished, and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. also scored a second-quarter on a nine-yard run with Jaguars kicker Cam Little adding two first-half field goals.
The Jaguars held a 262-121 yardage advantage at halftime and finished the game 378-255 advantage.
The Jaguars parlayed some steady first-half drives and a takeaway into a 10-3 lead midway through the second quarter. The game was delayed at that time.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, completed 18 of 35 passes for 154 yards and one touchdowns with two interceptions.
The Jaguars on Sunday registered one sack – by veteran defensive end Duwuane Smoot. They also forced three turnovers – including an interception by linebacker Foye Oluokon after safety Eric Murray deflected a pass in the first quarter and a fumble recovery by cornerback Jourdan Lewis after Oluokun forced Young to fumble in the second quarter.
Lewis' one-handed interception off Young at the Panthers 48 with :44 remaining secured the victory.
2025 Week 1, Step by Step:
Little's 35-yard field goal capped a 13-play, 55-yard drive on the opening possession and gave the Jaguars a 3-0 lead with 8:15 remaining in the first quarter; Lawrence completed three passes to tight end Brenton Strange for 49 yards on the drive, with two completions converting first downs. Panther kicker Ryan Fitzgerald capped the ensuing 13-play, 41-yard drive with a 48-yard goal to tie the game 3-3 with :36 remaining in the first quarter.
The Jaguars took control of the game in the second quarter, with Lawrence's six-yard touchdown pass to Long giving them a 10-3 lead with 8:32 remaining in the second quarter. This came eight plays after Oluokon's interception and just before the lightning delay. Thomas Jr.'s touchdown run came four plays after Etienne's 71-yard run, capping a 91-yard drive and giving the Jaguars a 17-3 lead with 1:50 remaining in the half. Little's 47-yard field goal with :01 remaining in the second quarter made it 20-3 at halftime.
The teams were scoreless in the third quarter, with two Carolina drives ending in Jaguars territory when Young threw incomplete on fourth down – early in the quarter at the Jaguars 5 and later at the Jaguars 33.
Little's 34-yard field goal with 7:12 remaining pushed the lead to 23-3, with Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard's 27-yard touchdown reception from Young with 4:47 remaining reducing the lead to 23-10. Little's 28-yard field goal with 1:57 remaining gave the Jaguars a 26-10 lead.
Notable: The Jaguars had four active running backs Sunday: Etienne, Tank Bigsby, rookie Bhayshul Tuten and rookie LeQuint Allen Jr. Sunday's inactive players: Rookie defensive ends Danny Striggow and B.J. Green Jr., veteran defensive tackle Maason Smith, veteran offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (shoulder), rookie offensive lineman Wyatt Milum (knee) and cornerback Montaric Brown (ankle).
Injury report: Jaguars right tackle Anton Harrison sustained a back injury in the fourth quarter.