Jaguars Senior Writer
CLEVELAND, Ohio \u2013<\/strong> Neither was a road winning streak.
Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars’ starting quarterback, played through a high-ankle sprain against the NFL’s No. 1 defense. But a gutty effort by the Jaguars’ quarterback \u2013 and by an injured Jaguars roster \u2013 fell short in a 31-27 loss<\/a> to a physical, resilient Cleveland Browns team at Cleveland Browns Stadium Sunday afternoon.
“It just was not one of our cleaner games,” Lawrence said.<\/a> “Too many mistakes, penalties, missed opportunities, missed throws \u2026 just not playing sound football.”
The Jaguars committed four turnovers, including three interceptions thrown by Lawrence.
“Walking off the field, you felt like we missed so many opportunities and left a lot out there and really just shot ourselves in the foot over and over,” he said, with Head Coach Doug Pederson saying:
“I think offensively we were a little disconnected.”
Added Pederson<\/a>, “We just had too many self-inflicted wounds.”
Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins’ 55-yard field with 3:10 remaining pushed the Browns’ lead to 31-21. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram’s two-yard touchdown reception made it, 31-27, with 1:35 remaining and Browns wide receiver James Proche recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure the victory.
Lawrence, playing six days after sustaining a high-ankle sprain in a loss to Cincinnati Sunday, started and played the entire game. He completed 28 of 50 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions.
The Jaguars turned three takeaways into 14 points, with their two touchdown drives before the fourth quarter covering 37 total yards. Lawrence’s 19-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Parker Washington capped a 75-yard drive \u2013 the Jaguars’ longest of the game to that point \u2013 and pulled the Jaguars to within 28-21 with 8:52 remaining.
The Jaguars had one possession trailing 28-21 with a chance to tie. Lawrence threw incomplete to wide receiver Zay Jones on fourth-and-three from the Jaguars 38 with 3:30 remaining.
“We were in many positions to tie the game and then take over the game; we didn’t do it,” said Engram, who caught 11 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
The loss snapped the Jaguars’ franchise-record eight-game road winning streak. They were 5-0 on the road this season entering Sunday.
The Jaguars produced 293 yards against a Browns defense that entered No. 1 in the NFL overall. The Browns forced four Jaguars turnovers.
The AFC South-leading Jaguars (8-5) lost a second consecutive game. The Browns (8-5) snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Jaguars maintained a one-game lead in the AFC South with four regular-season games remaining, with the Indianapolis Colts (7-6) losing to the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati Sunday and the Houston Texans (7-6) losing on the road to the New York Jets.
“We have to move on and we have to go get it,” Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen said. “We have a tough four-game stretch. We’re excited about it. I’m excited about it.”
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, making his second start for the Browns, completed 26 of 45 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns with one interception Sunday.
The Jaguars registered three takeaways with one sack Sunday, with cornerback Darious Williams intercepting Flacco early in the second quarter. Linebacker Devin Lloyd and defensive tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter also recovered fumbles for the Jaguars, with Lloyd’s recovery leading to a second-quarter touchdown and Ledbetter’s recovery leading to a third-quarter touchdown.
Rookie safety Antonio Johnson’s sack forced the fumble that Ledbetter recovered.
Step-by-Step:<\/strong>
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Injury Report:<\/strong>
It’s going down in Cleveland \ud83d\udc06 View game photos of the the Jaguars vs Browns matchup and come back for more second half photos added throughout the game \ud83c\udfc8
Do you have questions about the Jaguars’ game? Submit them to Senior Writer John Oehser, and he may address them in the O-Zone article series following the game.
QB Trevor Lawrence on the high-ankle sprain through which he played Sunday in the Jaguars’ 31-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio: “I felt pretty good, all things considered; that was a positive out of today \u2013 I guess that’s the only one\u2026”
Senior writer John Oehser examines Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson’s post-game press conference following the Jaguars’ 31-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in a 2023 Week 14 game in Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday
Senior writer John Oehser examines five key plays from the Jaguars’ 31-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in a 2023 Week 14 game in Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday
Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 31-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in a 2023 Week 14 game in Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday
QB Trevor Lawrence active for the Jaguars against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday
Game coverage for Cincinnati Bengals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Week 14 matchup at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, OH.
Senior writer John Oehser examines Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson’s postgame press conference following the Jaguars’ 34-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in a 2023 Week 13 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Monday
Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 34-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in a 2023 Week 13 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Monday
Senior writer John Oehser examines five key plays from the Jaguars’ 34-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in a 2023 Week 13 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Monday
A quick look at the Jaguars’ 34-31 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in a 2023 Week 13 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Monday
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