Browns make kicks, key plays to hold off Jaguars

Deshaun Watson rushed for a touchdown and passed for 186 yards to help the Cleveland Browns notch an 18-13 road victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Dustin Hopkins kicked three field goals and Alex Wright registered a key safety for Cleveland (1-1), which converted all three fourth-down opportunities on a muggy afternoon.

Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for a touchdown for the Jaguars (0-2). Trevor Lawrence was 14-of-30 passing for 220 yards for Jacksonville, which has dropped seven of its last eight regular-season contests.

The Jaguars made a late dash after taking over at their own 10-yard line with 1:27 left. On the final play from the Cleveland 33-yard line, Brenton Strange came up empty while making a diving attempt to catch Lawrence's throw to the end zone.

Watson completed 22 of 34 passes just six days after a civil suit was filed accusing him of sexual assault. Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 due to two dozen claims of sexual misconduct from women.

Jacksonville tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) missed the game after being injured in pre-game warmups. Cleveland wideout David Bell (hip) was carted off the ball early in the third quarter.

Trailing by 13, Jacksonville showed life late in the third quarter when Lawrence threw deep and connected with rookie Brian Thomas Jr. on a 66-yard -play to the Browns' 6. Two plays later, Etienne scored from the 4 to bring the Jaguars within 16-10 with 1:11 left in the third quarter.

Jacksonville pulled within 16-13 on Cam Little's 25-yard field goal with 7:32 left in the game.

A late-game 39-yard punt by Cory Bojorquez pinned the Jaguars on their own 2-yard line. Lawrence was sacked in the end zone by Wright on the next play to give Cleveland a five-point lead with 1:44 to play.

Cleveland scored points on all three first-half drives and controlled the ball for 20:08 while taking a 13-3 halftime lead.

The Browns put together a 16-yard, 89-yard drive that lasted 9:14 the first time they possessed the ball. Watson capped the drive with a 1-yard scoring run with 2:29 left in the period.

Cleveland went ahead 10-3 on a 53-yard field goal by Hopkins with 9:52 left in the first half. Jacksonville countered with a 22-yard field goal by Little with 4:44 left in the half.

Hopkins added a 38-yard field goal with 27 seconds left.

Cleveland increased its lead to 16-3 on a 44-yard field goal by Hopkins with 10:20 left in the third quarter.

Less than five minutes later, Little's 43-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and was no good.

--Field Level Media