The Jacksonville Jaguars opened the season with a hard-earned 26-10 home victory against the Carolina Panthers, and the performance of quarterback Trevor Lawrence stood out as a key reason why. In his third system in five years, Lawrence showcased noticeable growth in efficiency, decision-making, and poise. For a franchise seeking consistency at the most important position, this was a promising start.
More Efficient on Third Down
A year ago, the Jaguars consistently struggled to extend drives with a 37.90 conversion percentage. Against Carolina, Lawrence showed signs of solving that issue, as Jacksonville went 5 of 12 on third down—a 41.7% conversion rate. While not perfect, the improvement was clear.
Some of those conversions came from his arm, while others came from his legs. He spread the ball to tight end Brenton Strange and newly acquired wide receiver Dyami Brown early, keeping the defense off balance. Lawrence credited the Jaguars’ preparation for the improved execution.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s obviously something that I know we’ve needed to improve on,” Lawrence said after the game Sunday.
“Talking about last year, we weren’t great on third down. So I think emphasizing that in the offseason, but also just I felt like we were really prepared. Our plan was good, going in. We ran some good stuff against Carolina’s defense. And guys were in the right spot at the right time.”
Commanding a New Offense
This marked Lawrence’s debut under new head coach Liam Coen, who has brought a fresh offensive system to Jacksonville. After a rocky first drive, the Jaguars settled into rhythm, and Lawrence looked increasingly comfortable as the game wore on.
“I think there is a lot to clean up,” Lawrence admitted Sunday. “Some of the penalties, obviously, we have to clean up. A couple times we were getting to the line a little slow and getting a little bit behind the play clock. And we got to just improve that, and that starts with me just getting the call in quick and getting the guys up to the line of scrimmage and going and playing and having that sense of urgency.”
For a quarterback on his third offense in five years, comfort is not a given. But Lawrence made it clear he feels at home in Coen’s approach.
“I feel very comfortable,” he said. “Every week is a new. The way you game plan during the season is just so much different. … It’s a lot of work that goes in during the week of not only film study of your opponent but also studying your game plan and what we’re doing.”
Focus on Footwork Paying Off
Another noticeable improvement came from Lawrence’s footwork—a point of emphasis in his offseason work. Though not flawless, his mechanics looked sharper, and he remained balanced in the pocket despite pressure.
“There was a few times where I’m sure there’s some stuff to clean up,” Lawrence said on Sunday. “In the game, it’s never as perfect as practice because there’s live bullets flying and you’re moving and getting moved off the spot. … But yeah, it’s something that’s been a big focus. I put a lot of time into working on it, and I think it’s really helped me.”
Final Numbers Tell the Story
Lawrence finished 19 of 31 for 178 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He added 12 rushing yards on four carries, including a few key scrambles that extended drives.
While not a flawless outing, his control of the offense, improved third-down execution, and steady leadership point to a quarterback ready to take another step forward. For the Jaguars and their fans, that’s exactly what they were hoping to see in Week 1.
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