The field position battle of the first quarter was slowly grinding away in the Jacksonville Jaguars favor as the Denver Broncos offense continued to be completely inept. On the first play of the second quarter, Trevor Lawrence fired a bullet down field for a 22-yard completion to Brian Thomas to get into field goal range at the Denver 25.
Talanoa Hufanga blew up a screen pass for a three yard loss on first down, then Lawrence squeezed a pass into Brenton Strange for a 10 yard gain. However, a penalty
would wipe that play out and push the Jaguars back five yards. On 2nd and 18, a wide open Parker Washington at the goal line for a 32-yard gain to setup a first and goal at the one that the Jaguars would punch in from there to take the first lead of the game.
Jaguars 7, Broncos 0.
The Broncos finally got a good starting field position from their own 40 where Bo Nix would find Evan Engram for a quick five yards, but an illegal formation penalty would negate the play, of course. Nix made an excellent throw to Courtland Sutton to pick up half those yards and a JK Dobbins run setup a third and two. Bo Nix would run the RPO keeper and get the first meaningful third down conversion for the offense in twelve tries.
On the very next play the Broncos offense finally got a big one. Bo Nix found Jaylen Waddle open deep to the one yard line for a massive 49-yard gain.
Three straight runs from the one yard line resulted in negative one yard. The third down play call was especially questionable. Denver would settle for a field goal as the boo birds come out again.
Jaguars 7. Broncos 3.
Denver’s defense didn’t have any play calling issues with three straight dominating plays ending with a Malcolm Roach sack on third down. The pressure was initially brought on by Zach Allen on that third down play.
Two plays into their next drive, Nix found Waddle again for a 20 yard chunk play out to their own 37 yard line. Two plays later again, Nix found Tyler Baddie on a quick slant for a 27 yard catch and run into field goal range. The chunk plays were rolling on that drive for Denver as the very next play a lobbed pass to Troy Franklin and insane grab set Denver up with a first and goal opportunity.
The goal to go issues continue to frustrate Denver, though. They gained a yard on their first two plays, then on third and goal from the eight Nix tried to force a pass into the end zone to Courtland Sutton that was intercepted.
Denver’s offense has been frustrating to watch to start the season.
With two minutes left in the half, Trevor Lawrence had a chance to extend their lead before intermission. They’d get the ball back to start the second half too.
They would streak across midfield and got into field goal range easily for the Cam Little 44-yard field goal attempt.
Jaguars 10, Broncos 3.
