The Browns will go down as the only team to win a game in “TrEverBank” Stadium.
EverBank Stadium’s temporary name change for Jacksonville’s Week 2 matchup with Cleveland, recognizing Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and his partnership with the locally-based financial services company, motivated the Browns in their 18-13 victory in Week 2.
“We heard about it and, you know, it just adds a little fuel to the fire,” star Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett said after the contest. “If that’s going to be the main guy, we’ve got to take him out [of] the game.”
Cleveland was effective in this approach.
The Browns’ defense limited Lawrence to 16 passing yards in the first half on Sunday, as the Jaguars managed to score just three points in the opening 30 minutes.
Jacksonville’s offense fought its way back into the game with a 10-point second half, highlighted by a rushing touchdown by running back Travis Etienne Jr. and several explosive gains between Lawrence and Jaguars wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis.
But with the ball down three points and facing a 98-yard drive, Lawrence was sacked for a safety with 1:44 left in regulation, extending Cleveland’s lead to five points, 18-13.
The Browns went three-and-out with their final possession, giving the Jaguars one more opportunity to pull off a comeback. Lawrence and Co. drove 62 yards down the field, from Jacksonville’s 10, but a Hail Mary pass to tight end Brenton Strange on the last play fell incomplete.
Lawrence was brutally honest in his evaluation of Jacksonville’s offensive performance over its last six quarters, pairing the Jaguars’ 13-point Sunday showing with their zero-score second-half performance against Miami in Week 1, leading the Dolphins to a 20-17 comeback win.
“We suck right now, so I’m pretty shocked,” Lawrence said. “Obviously, we had a great off-season, great training camp, and we’ve got to figure it out. We know we’ve got a good group, we’ve got good players, and we can be a really good offense, but clearly we’re not.
“Everybody has got to take accountability, look in the mirror, and fix it. I’ve got to play better. I’m the leader of this offense. It’s on me. The wideouts got to play better, the line has got to play better, running backs got to play better, we’ve got to coach better. It’s everybody, honestly.”