Deshaun Watson is finally back on the field. After nearly two years away, the Browns quarterback will make his first regular-season start since October 2024 when Cleveland hosts Jacksonville in Week 1 of the NFL season. The game kicks off Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET from EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., airing on CBS with Paramount+ streaming.
The matchup brings together two teams with vastly different fortunes. Jacksonville won the AFC South last season and enters this year as a favorite to repeat. Cleveland, meanwhile, is trying to rebuild around Watson after a tumultuous offseason. The Browns’ quarterback competition was contentious, and Watson’s return comes with real drama attached.
Watson’s Road Back
Watson’s path back to football has been anything but smooth. He signed a historic five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract with the Browns in March 2022, but injuries and on-field struggles followed him throughout his time in Cleveland. His history with the team has been complicated, and fans have made their feelings known this summer.
The boos started in training camp and preseason. Watson responded by calling the fans’ boos “personal” and “disrespectful.” That did not go over well with the Dawg Pound, and Watson eventually issued an apology. The tension is real, and it will likely color everything he does on Sunday.
Watson’s record in Cleveland is modest. He went just 1-6 in starts during the 2024 season, and his overall career mark sits at 37-35. He is barely holding onto an overall winning record, and the Browns will be glad this game is not in Cleveland.
The Quarterback Competition
Cleveland’s quarterback situation is the biggest story in the league right now. Watson won the job over Shedeur Sanders, who dropped to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after once being believed to be a first-rounder. The Browns’ offseason has been a soap opera, with the quarterback battle at the center of it all.
Watson’s history of unpredictable and unreliable play means Sanders could still see time this season. The Browns have two quarterbacks, and both have reasons to believe they belong under center. Watson’s return will test whether he can shake off the rust and perform in a real game.
The Browns have not been good against the spread on the road in the last two seasons, going an NFL-worst 4-13 ATS. That trend is a concern for anyone betting on Cleveland this week.
What the Browns Bring
Cleveland’s defense has shown flashes of excellence. In the last eight games of last season, the Browns gave up the fewest points per game in the NFL. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence excelled during that stretch, putting up some of his best numbers of the year.
Lawrence was in the MVP conversation last year, and he has a solid supporting cast around him. Travis Hunter is back from a knee injury that kept him out of the last 10 games of last season. Head coach Liam Coen has assured that the second-year WR/CB will have a plan on both sides of the ball, though his snap count remains a question mark.
The Browns have not lost to the Jaguars since 2017. That streak includes three straight victories, and Watson is 7-1 against Jacksonville in his career. His last loss to the Jags came in 2017, when he was on the Houston Texans.
The Jaguars’ Offseason
Jacksonville has been quieter than Cleveland, but the Jags still made waves this summer. The team lost running back Travis Etienne, who led the team in rushing three of the last four seasons. They also lost linebacker Devin Lloyd.
The moves suggest the Jags were more focused on the talent they had in the building than on adding from outside. The draft grades were low, and the offseason moves drew criticism. Despite those issues, the defense remains strong, and the offense has a chance to improve.
The Jags won the AFC South last season and enter this year as a favorite to repeat. Their overall head-to-head record against Cleveland is 12 wins to 8, but the Browns have won the last three meetings. That trend could continue on Sunday.
The Prediction
This is a tough call. The Browns have struggled on the road in recent seasons, and their offense has questions. The Jaguars, by contrast, have a strong defense and a clear path forward.
The game sets up as a mismatch. The Browns have not been good against the spread on the road in the last two seasons, going an NFL-worst 4-13 ATS. That trend suggests a home win is likely.
Pick: Jaguars 30, Browns 10
The Browns will need Watson to play his best football on Sunday. The boos will be there, and the pressure will be real. Whether he can rise to the occasion remains to be seen.
For fans tuning in, this game offers everything you want from an NFL opener. There is drama, history, and a quarterback making his first start in almost two years. It is a game worth watching, even if the Browns are not the favorites.
Key Facts Box
– Date: Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET
– Location: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
– TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+
– Odds: Jaguars -8.5 (via DraftKings)
What to Watch For
– Deshaun Watson’s first start since October 2024
– Browns vs. Jaguars: Browns haven’t lost to Jaguars since 2017
– Travis Hunter’s role on both offense and defense
– Shedeur Sanders’ chances of seeing time this season
– Trevor Lawrence’s performance after his MVP campaign
– The Browns’ road struggles against the spread (4-13 ATS last two seasons)
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.