Jaguars must capitalize on Week 2 matchup vs. struggling Deshaun Watson

It was only four years ago that Deshaun Watson was one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. At the time, it looked like he was going to make things extremely difficult for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the rest of the AFC South. But something happened then, and his career has gone off the rails ever since. He hasn't been the same player since landing with the Cleveland Browns and the Jags are set to face him in Week 2.

Watson struggled in the opener, completing 53.3 percent of his passes for 169 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. A closer look makes his performance look even worse. The former Clemson Tiger went 0-of-10 in passes of 15 yards or more, making it the first time a quarterback missed that many passes since 2006.

But wait, there's more! Watson not only failed to complete long passes but generally struggled in all phases of the game.

In his defense, Watson was playing without starting offensive tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. or Jack Conklin. Then again, this is the same Browns team that made the playoffs last year with an aging Joe Flacco behind center.

Like Watson, Flacco was without Wills or Conklin. Yet, he managed to lead the Browns to several crucial wins and even won the Comeback Player of the Year Award. It's worth noting that the Delaware product is 10 years past his prime and was coming off the coach when they beat the Jags in Week 14 * sigh * last season.

Based on talent and age, Watson should be the better quarterback than Flacco but isn't playing like it. Maybe he would get the benefit of the doubt if he were the same player he was with the Texans but he has been unremarkable since 2021, the season he sat out while looking for a trade.

Watson was eventually dealt to the Browns in 2022. Cleveland gave up a massive haul that included several first-round selections to pull off the deal. They thought they were getting a franchise quarterback. Instead, they acquired a player who has made headlines on and off the field for the wrong reason.

The Jaguars cannot pull their punches vs. Deshaun Watson and the Browns

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a 3.5-point favorite for Week 2. The fact that the game will be held at EverBank Stadium is a big reason. Coming off a loss to the Miami Dolphins, this is their opportunity to get in the win column and build momentum.

The Jags are flying under the radar right now, and the loss against Miami didn't do much to alleviate any concerns about their ability to win games. Having said that, the talent is there. Trevor Lawrence showed in Week 1 that he can make all kinds of throws. He should be able to torch the Browns' secondary if he gets good protection in Week 2.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars limited the Dolphins' high-powered offense to 20 points. Their performance would've been even better if they hadn't given up a pair of big plays. They must tighten up their coverage and the pass rush — Travon Walker notwithstanding — needs to do a better job of bringing the heat. If they do, they should have no trouble containing Deshaun Watson.

The bottom line is that the Jaguars have a favorable matchup in Week 2. They must take advantage of it. That's what good teams do. Jacksonville will get the chance to prove they're one.

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