Jaguars vs Broncos key matchups: dominant Denver o-line poses difficult challenge

The Jacksonville Jaguars head to Mile High Stadium on Sunday to take on the high-flying Denver Broncos. Here are three battles to keep an eye on:

Josh Hines-Allen vs Garrett Bolles

The Broncos have benefitted from one of the best offensive lines in the NFL this season. Previously beset by injury, Bo Nix’s protection has managed to stay healthy in 2025, and the benefit to their second year quarterback

has been obvious. Last week Denver faced probably their toughest test of the year hosting the Green Bay Packers, and they were watertight against fierce pressure; posting a league-best 91.9 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating for Week 15.

The standout star on Sunday – and perhaps most surprising for the Broncos in 2025 – has been left tackle Garett Bolles. Bolles didn’t give up one pressure the whole game and had a pass blocking grade of 90.9 himself. That elite level of play allowed Nix to tear apart one of the best defenses in the NFL to the tune of 300 yards and 4 touchdowns.

After a slow start to the campaign, Josh Hines-Allen has warmed up, and heads into Sunday’s matchup with seven sacks and a safety in his last seven games. Perhaps we can blame the early season lethargy on the Jags’ switch to a four-man front under Anthony Campanile, but Hines-Allen now seems to be back to his very best. He missed training on Wednesday due to an illness, but should be back for Sunday. The Jaguars will need to get pressure on Nix if they want to win this game and take another step towards the playoffs.

Jakobi Meyers vs Patrick Surtain

If you’re looking for an elite matchup on the outside on Sunday, then this game has the potential to deliver one of the best of the season. Jakobi Meyers has been a revelation since being acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders after Week 9, with 355 yards and three touchdowns in his six games so far. It’s no exaggeration to say his arrival has helped unlock this passing game, with Trevor Lawrence enjoying throwing to his new weapon; Meyers has an outrageous 71.1% catch rate since coming to Jacksonville.

Meyers will have his work cut out for him against the Broncos. Patrick Surtain is widely considered to be the best corner in the NFL right now, and his level of play in 2025 backs that claim up; prior to a pectoral injury suffered in Week 9, Surtain had not surrendered a touchdown all year or allowed a reception beyond 12 air yards. His effectiveness is such that teams avoid throwing his way, likely the only reason he’s had just one interception in 11 games this season – which came against the Packers last week.

It remains to be seen if Surtain will travel with Meyers considering the Jags also have Brian Thomas on the outside for the Broncos to consider. But it will be worth a watch when these two go up against each other.

RJ Harvey vs Foye Oluokun

With JK Dobbins on injured reserve with a serious foot injury, the Broncos are likely to keep faith with rookie running back RJ Harvey this Sunday. Harvey suffered a rib injury against the Packers last weekend, going off in the fourth quarter. He didn’t return and was questionable for the Jags game, but was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and looks set to suit up.

An increased workload the last two games has seen Harvey post 140 yards and two scores on a Sean Payton offense that is firing on all cylinders right now. Key to that successful ground game has been the superior run blocking of Quinn Meinerz, who is grading out by PFF as the best interior lineman in the NFL (93.9).

The Jaguars’ impressive win against the New York Jets on Sunday hid a sneakily porous run defense; whilst they shut down Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis (and also a scrambling Brady Cook) were able to average 6.5 yards a carry. Whilst I don’t consider this anything other than an anomaly against a change of pace running back, Campanile will want to put more pressure on Denver’s passing game by keeping Harvey in check. Foye Oluokun has once again cracked 100 tackles for the season, the sixth year in a row he has achieved such a feat. And he recently went over 1,000 for his career, joining the ranks of Ray Lewis, Junior Seau, Zach Thomas and Derrick Brooks. He’ll be tasked with shutting Harvey down and making Payton’s offense as one-dimensional as possible.