Jaguars Defeat Panthers 23-10 in Season Opener Amid Young Turnovers

The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Carolina Panthers 26-10 in Week 1 of the NFL season, capitalizing on multiple turnovers by Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, who struggled with two interceptions and a lost fumble. Young's season-opening performances have been consistently poor, with a total of seven turnovers and only three touchdowns across three games, and the Panthers' defense again failed to stop Jacksonville's rushing attack, allowing 200 yards on the ground. The Jaguars' defense showed marked improvement, forcing two first-half turnovers and benefiting from standout plays like Travis Etienne's career-best 71-yard run, which featured effective blocking and defensive mistakes by Carolina. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence showed progress despite an interception, completing 19 of 31 passes for 178 yards and one touchdown, while the defense applied consistent pressure on Young. Panthers coach Dave Canales faced criticism for the team's unprepared and overwhelmed performance, particularly after resting starters in the preseason finale, with concerns about the team's ability to improve. Jacksonville’s victory highlighted their defensive strength and offensive potential under new coach Liam Coen, positioning them well for future games.