The Broncos are staring at an 0-2 start, and that’s the kind of hole nobody wants to dig this early. Jacksonville comes to Denver for the second time since that Week 16 matchup during the 2025 season, and while the Jaguars handled the back half of that game, this one sets up differently.
Denver was in it early the last time these teams met. Bo Nix was playing well in the first half, and the Broncos made things interesting before Jacksonville pulled away after halftime. Now the pressure is on the home side to answer after a Week 1 loss that would sting even harder if it turns into two straight defeats against conference opponents.
There are a few clear reasons to think Denver can get right here, starting with the simple reality that Jacksonville’s run has been extreme. The Jaguars have won nine in a row dating back to the 2025 regular season, and the margins have been lopsided: seven of those wins came by double digits, and four were by 20 points or more.
That kind of stretch makes a team look untouchable, but the NFL doesn’t usually work that way for long. Close games, bounce-back spots, random variance - sooner or later, a streak like that has to bend.
Denver has already lived through something similar. The Broncos’ 11-game winning streak in 2025 had people saying the same thing, that the team was riding on fumes and was overdue to lose.
That ended up being the conversation for a reason. Jacksonville’s run could be heading for the same kind of turn.
The timing also matters for Denver. The last time the Broncos dropped an early-season road game and then came home the next week, it was Week 3 into Week 4 during the 2025 season.
They had lost back-to-back games on last-second finishes to the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers before returning home for a primetime meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati didn’t have Joe Burrow in that game and had a poor defense, but Denver still did what it was supposed to do and blew out a bad team.
That matters because the Broncos know how to respond. This year’s Week 1 loss may have been even tougher to swallow than those early 2025 setbacks, and this is still a 14-win team from a year ago that was all but in the Super Bowl if not for a broken ankle. They’ve shown they can reset quickly.
And then there’s the roster itself. Right now, Denver simply looks like the more complete team.
The Jaguars are good - both teams have 14-4 regular season records since the start of the 2025 season - but Jacksonville is still working through the early stages of the Liam Coen and James Gladstone era, with the front office still cleaning up what was left behind from the Trent Baalke era. Baalke was the team’s General Manager before Gladstone got hired.
Jacksonville has quality receivers and some promising defensive linemen, but the Broncos have more of the players who tilt a game. Denver’s offensive line matches up well against a Jaguars defensive front that had less than half the sack total the Broncos had in 2025. The Broncos also bring more talent at running back and in the secondary.
The Jaguars’ edge has been their coaching staff getting every last bit out of the roster. That matters. But sometimes the team with the better collection of players wins out, and that’s the shape this matchup takes on paper.
In Other News...
Broncos Facing Early Pressure After Brutal Week 2 Forecast
The Broncos opened the season with a rough offensive showing in a Week 1 loss to the Chiefs, and that slow start has already put a little extra weight on what comes next. Around the league, Denvers follow-up matchup against Jacksonville is being treated as an important early test, especially with the Jaguars coming off a convincing win over Cleveland.
ESPN analyst Pamela Maldonado is among those expecting the Broncos to come up short again, which would leave Denver staring at 0-2 before September is even fully underway. For a team trying to build momentum and avoid digging too deep a hole early, the matchup now carries more than just one games worth of pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Face A Risky Special Teams Test With Marvin Mims Out
Marvin Mims foot injury leaves the Broncos heading into their matchup with Jacksonville with a familiar special-teams puzzle to solve. Mims has been central to Denvers return game, and his absence opens the door for a different look in both punt and kick return roles, with reserve cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine expected to step in on punts.
On kick returns, the Broncos may lean on running backs RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman, though Harveys hamstring issue adds another layer of uncertainty. Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi said the unit has to be ready to adjust when injuries hit, and this week could be a test of how much depth Denver really has in a phase of the game that can swing field position in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Lean On Sean Payton Familiarity As Week 2 Roster Gets Tested
The Broncos are leaning on familiarity as they get ready for their Week 2 home game against the Jaguars, and that starts with two practice-squad promotions that should help stabilize the roster. Fullback Adam Prentice and long snapper Mitch Fraboni were elevated to the active roster after both already saw action in the opener against the Chiefs, a sign Denver is staying close to the options it knows best as early-season injuries and game-day demands begin to stack up.
Marvin Mims absence is forcing the Broncos to be creative with return duties, so the staff is turning to existing roster pieces rather than reaching far outside the building. It is another example of how Sean Payton and his staff are managing the first stretch of the season, using players who have already been in the mix while waiting to see how long the special teams shuffle has to last. [Read more 🡒]