This was weird at times, and wild at others. Mostly for the Jaguars, it was really frustrating because what mattered on a sun-splashed South Florida Sunday afternoon that opened the 2024 regular season in front of 65,582 at Hard Rock Stadium was this: Miami Dolphins 20, Jaguars 17.

The Jaguars led by 14 points in the first half, leading 17-7 at halftime and until two minutes remained in the third quarter. But a critical fumble by Travis Etienne Jr. in the red zone, followed by an 80-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Tyreek Hill, sparked the Dolphins' comeback. Tagovailoa completed 23 of 37 passes for 336 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.

The Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders converted two field goals in the final five minutes – the second from 52 yards as time expired – to cap a steady comeback.

"We just kind of gave it away," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said, with defensive end Josh Hines-Allen adding of the Dolphins: "Kudos to them. They came out and executed their plan well. They got the dub."

"It was just kind of a tale of two halves, really," Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson said. "We made plays in the first half. They made plays in the second half. So credit them."

The Jaguars, after scoring 17 first-half points, were shut out in the second half. The drive on which Etienne fumbled was their only extended drive of the second half. Lawrence completed 12 of 21 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions, with a second-quarter touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas a key play in a strong first half for the Jaguars.

"It feels terrible to be 0-1," Jaguars center Mitch Morse said. "But what can you do except march on, attack the next work week, be very critical of yourself but also make it constructive? I thought they came out in the second half and made some good in-game adjustments. We were three and out, three and out. It puts a lot of stress in the defense. I thought the defense played really good game against a hell of an offense, and we have to do more. That's a frustrating thing."

Turning Point: The Fumble

The Jaguars' offense, led by Lawrence and Etienne, looked impressive in the first half, with Etienne scoring a touchdown and the Jaguars running game consistently finding success. However, the game's turning point came late in the third quarter, when Etienne fumbled from the Dolphins' three-yard line into the end zone.

"Turnovers are killers, especially down in the red zone," Lawrence said. "Stuff like that is going to happen at times. No one's pointing fingers. We still had plenty of time in the game."

Dolphins' Comeback

After Etienne's fumble, the Dolphins quickly capitalized. On the very next play, Tagovailoa found Tyreek Hill for an 80-yard touchdown pass. This score ignited the Dolphins' comeback, and the Jaguars' offense struggled to regain its momentum.

Looking Ahead

Despite the disappointing loss, the Jaguars have plenty of time to bounce back. The team will look to analyze the game tape and identify areas for improvement. The Jaguars' coaching staff and players will be focused on addressing their mistakes and preparing for their next game.

The Jaguars have a young and talented team, and they are confident in their ability to overcome this early setback. The team's focus is on building momentum and making a strong run for the playoffs.

The Jaguars' defense in coordinator Ryan Nielsen's debut registered three sacks and no turnovers, allowing 400 total yards – including 317 passing. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead registered a sack for the Jaguars, with defensive end Travon Walker registering two.

"We beat ourselves today," Hines-Allen said. "They had a lot of good players, but at the end of the day, I don't feel like they beat us. I think we beat ourselves to put them in a position to capitalize off of it. Kudos to them. They're a heck of a team. Hopefully we see them down the road."

Looking Forward: Jaguars vs. Dolphins

The Jaguars and Dolphins will have a chance to settle the score when they meet again later in the season. This early loss will certainly be a motivation for both teams. The rematch will be a must-watch game for fans of both teams.