The Broncos left Week 2 with a win that looked much bigger by the time the day was done.
Denver had to grind through another tense second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars before finally pulling it out, leaning on two fourth-quarter touchdown drives and a strong finish from Bo Nix to avoid what would have been an 0-2 start. After the opening half, it looked like the Broncos were headed for that second 0-2 beginning in three seasons. Instead, they found a way again.
That victory got a whole lot sweeter once the Los Angeles Chargers stumbled against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Chargers, who some picked to win the AFC West this season, are 0-2 after also losing to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. And this wasn’t a case of dropping games to a pair of juggernauts. The Raiders are now 2-0 and could be a frisky team, but they’re still likely a bottom-10 squad in the league.
Justin Herbert couldn’t drag Los Angeles out of it. He finished 15/27 for 192 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Kirk Cousins was the sharper quarterback on the other side, throwing for 253 yards and three touchdowns.
That’s where the trouble starts for the Chargers. Their schedule is about to get brutal, with Buffalo, Seattle, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Houston, and Baltimore coming up next. If they keep playing like they have through two weeks, a long losing streak is very much on the table.
For Denver, that matters. The Chargers have been a problem in the Sean Payton era, winning three of four matchups against the Broncos under Jim Harbaugh. But if this is turning into a regression season for Los Angeles, the Broncos suddenly have a real shot to sweep the series and bank two huge division wins.
In Other News...
NFL Punished A Chiefs Starter For What Happened Late Vs Broncos
A late-game penalty from Kansas Citys win over Denver has now turned into a small off-field price tag for one of the Chiefs starting linemen. Guard Trey Smith was fined $6,750 by the NFL for a chop block committed in the fourth quarter of the matchup, a reminder that the league keeps track not just of the result, but of how teams get there.
The fine was announced the day before the Chiefs were set to face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football, and it fits the leagues broader disciplinary process aimed at reinforcing player conduct standards. For Denver, it adds another small footnote to a game already full of physical, late-stage contact between two AFC West rivals. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Win Helps But Bo Nix Still Leaves A Bigger Concern
A win over the Jaguars got Denver back to .500 and gave the Broncos a needed reset after an uneven start, but it did not erase the bigger questions hanging over the offense. The improved record comes with plenty of moving parts to sort through, from the way the team handled penalties and execution to the broader effort needed from a unit that still looks a step off in key spots.
Bo Nix remains at the center of that concern, especially after another game where zone coverage gave him trouble and kept the offense from finding a steadier rhythm. Denver also has other issues to clean up, including defensive line stress and some coaching choices that left room for criticism, so while the result was positive, the Broncos still have plenty to prove before the performance matches the record. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Win Brings Relief But One Big Bo Nix Debate Remains
A win can quiet a lot of noise, and Denver got exactly that in a 20-13 victory over Jacksonville in its second game of the season. After a rough opener, the Broncos looked far sturdier on defense, holding the Jaguars to 268 total yards and getting a key interception from Riley Moss, while the offense did enough on the ground to stay on schedule and keep control of the game.
Even so, the afternoon was not clean on Denver's side. Penalties kept dragging possessions into uncomfortable spots, and Bo Nix's interception stood out in a game where the Broncos had chances to build a bigger cushion. The result moved Denver to 1-1, but it also left the same familiar question hanging over the offense as the focus shifts to what kind of quarterback play the Broncos can count on next. [Read more 🡒]