The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the season with minimal expectations from talking heads around the league, but with a deep-seated belief from fans. New head coach Liam Coen said and did all the right things, and fans hoped to see an improved Trevor Lawrence. And though his performance in Week 1 may have been middling at best, he still looks poised to have a stellar season.
Owner Shad Kahn also brought in fan-favorite and Hall of Famer Tony Boselli as the new executive vice president of football operations. General manager James "Run the Ball" Gladstone has just the right mix of audacity and cool-headedness to lead the organization in the wake of the Trent Baalke era.
With all the offseason optimism, fans were rightfully excited to finally see the new and hopefully improved Jaguars on the field.
Even with all of the offseason hope, fans had to watch NFL Power Rankings around the league disparage the Jags. Yes, I know Power Rankings mean essentially nothing—even more so in week 1—but still...maybe shoot a little respect our way. We did "win" the offseason, after all.
Related:It just took one game for Jourdan Lewis to show Jaguars he's worth every penny
Jaguars domninate Panthers in 26-10 rout
With all the unknowns coming into week 1 of the 2025 NFL season, the Jaguars sure didn't disappoint. Yes, they beat up on a pretty lackluster Carolina Panthers, though Bryce Young was coming in hot off a hopeful finish to the 2024 season.
Still, a win's a win, and you can only play the opponent before you. Jacksonville did enough to earn a boost throughout the league's NFL Power Rankings, though fans are looking forward to steadier improvements as they go.
"The Jacksonville Jaguars beat one of the worst teams in the NFL at home in Week 1, so we can’t crown them much of anything just yet, but it does get the season started on a nice note. Neither Trevor Lawrence nor Bryce Young were very good in this game, and the results really didn’t tell us much about either team.
The Jaguars are probably going to win seven games this year and build toward the 2026 NFL Season. Jacksonville is 19th in our power rankings."
NFL Spin Zone
A critical weakness for the Jaguars last year was a lackluster offensive line. Third and short—even with only a yard or two to go—often led to passing plays thanks to the lack of a consistent run game. Considering the talent in the backfield between running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville's inability to run the ball lies squarely at the feet of the offensive line.
Through just one week of play, Gladstone seems to have fixed the issue. Etienne had himself a day, racking up 156 scrimmage yards on 16 carries and three receptions, including a 71-yarder that even he knows should have resulted in a touchdown. And physicality up front? Just take a look at tight end Brenton Strange making way for a short gain by Tank Bigsby.
BRENTON STRANGE DECLEATER 😳#DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/t0gNqLI114
— Andrew Gibson (@1010XLAG) September 8, 2025
Final thoughts
Did the Jaguars prove themselves in week 1? Yes and no. They played a team that many doubt can be a playoff contender this year, and Trevor Lawrence didn't exactly play lights out. But the offensive line made room for a stellar run game and didn't allow a single sack. It was an excellent showing against a less-than-excellent Panthers. Can the Jags keep it up next week against a much more dangerous Cincinnati Bengals?
I can't wait to see.
Here are other Jaguars stories you may also like: