For much of this game, the Denver Broncos — on offense at least — were looking every bit as bad as they did in Week 1. The good news was that the Broncos’ defense showed up and pestered the Jacksonville Jaguars through three quarters to keep the game within one score difference.
Then midway through the third quarter, the offense finally came alive. They would lead four drives to turn a 13-3 deficits to a 20-13 lead and running the clock all the way out not giving the Jacksonville Jaguars offense another
chance at offense. Those four drives could end up being a season-saving effort given the Broncos brutal schedule over the next four games after.
At 1-1, the vibe shift in Denver is a complete 180.
Broncos vs. Jaguars final score
First Quarter
The story of the first quarter was one of trading punts and battling for field position. While Denver’s defense was fired up and playing well, including a big time sack on one of the Jaguars drives:
The Broncos’ offense could not get anything moving and the field position battle was slowly grinding in Jacksonville’s favor. The quarter would end with another trip into Denver’s side of the field for the Jaguars.
Broncos 0, Jaguars 0. Full first quarter recap.
Second Quarter
And on that first play of the second quarter, Trevor Lawrence would make a big pass play for 22 to Brian Thomas, then a few plays later found a wide open Parker Washington for 32 to setup the game’s first touchdown.
The Broncos would overcome an early penalty and get their first third down conversion in 12 attempts on their next drive before Bo Nix fired a deep shot to Jaylen Waddle who caught it at the one yard line.
It looked like a great answer to the Jaguars drive, but then three consecutive runs from the one yard line including a really questionable third down call ended with just three points for Denver after that huge play. Denver would follow up with yet another first and goal opportunity and that drive ended in a Bo Nix interception.
That enable the Jaguars to put up a 2-minute drive to put more points on the board to take a touchdown lead into halftime. They would also get the ball to start the second half.
Jaguars 10, Broncos 3. Full second quarter recap.
Third Quarter
The second half started with the Jaguars coming out and extending their lead to 10-points. It was looking like the game was slipping away, but the Broncos answered with their own field goal drive to keep the game in hand.
Denver’s ‘bend but don’t break’ defense kept coming up with plays when it needed them the most. The biggest may have been this Riley Moss interception late in the third quarter, which would keep the score at a touchdown and give Denver another chance to put points on the board.
The Broncos’ offense ended the third quarter with a Nix dart to Nate Adkins for 18-yards into Jaguars territory.
Jaguars 13, Broncos 6. Full third quarter recap.
Fourth Quarter
The drive looked like it would stall early in field goal range, but a third and seven strike to Jaylen Waddle put Denver into the red zone and Waddle over 100 yards receiving on the day. They would pick up another first down at the seven yard line to setup a first and goal. They were 0/3 in first and goal opportunities on the season when it comes to converting into touchdowns.
They wouldn’t make it 0/4 though as Nix would find Nate Adkins in the end zone for the seven yard touchdown and the tie.
A breakdown in coverage on a third down resulted in a big play for Jacobi Meyers and the Jags to get them into field goal range to give them a chance to respond to the Broncos’ touchdown drive. On third down and eight, Trevor Lawrence had his pass knocked away by Ja’Quan McMillian who also almost intercepted it. Cam Little then pulled the field goal attempt wide to keep the score tied at 13.
Bo Nix would find an open receiver in Courtland Sutton for a first down to move the chains. On the very next play, though, Evan Engram made an insane diving catch to get Denver into field goal range.
Travis Hunter then got called for a pass interference call inside the five yard line on Courtland Sutton to set the Broncos up with a first and goal at the three-yard line. Jonah Coleman took the first down hand-off and powered his way through the line for his first career touchdown. Broncos went up 20-13 taking their first lead of the game.
Denver’s defense was getting after it on the next drive. They had another sack negated by an ticky-tack illegal contact penalty, but Riley Moss followed it up two plays later with a near interception. On the third and 11 play, Lawrence was harried again and the pass fell incomplete to force a punt with less than five minutes to go in the game.
Facing a critical third and three to avoid going three and out, Bo Nix rolled out and found a wide open Jaylen Waddle for a huge 29-yard gain and a first down across midfield.
Denver was still not into field goal range at that point, but two plays later a 12-yard carry by Jonah Coleman did the trick. He would keep getting the rock and he would keep the drive going. Denver wouldn’t need a field goal. They’d just run it out all the way to secure the win.
Broncos 20, Jaguars 13.
