The Broncos don’t need a fancy answer in Week 2. They need the ball in J.K. Dobbins’ hands.
After a Week 1 loss that exposed too many issues to count, Denver’s clearest route to beating the Jacksonville Jaguars is simple: win the ground game, stay on schedule, and keep Trevor Lawrence on the sideline. That starts with the team’s most reliable runner.
Denver only handed the ball to its running backs 11 times in the opener. Dobbins got eight of those carries, RJ Harvey had three, and rookie Jonah Coleman never touched the ball.
Even with that limited usage, the Broncos still managed 54 rushing yards and nearly five yards per carry. The problem wasn’t efficiency as much as it was volume.
That opener also came in a tricky spot for Davis Webb, who was calling plays in the regular season for the first time against a top defense in a primetime setting. The bigger issue, though, was that Denver simply did too many things poorly. The score made it look like a blowout, but the Broncos helped make it look that way.
Dobbins has given them a steady baseline since arriving in Denver. In 11 games with the Broncos, he’s averaged 5.0 yards per carry and 73.5 rushing yards per game. That kind of production matters for a team trying to avoid another 0-2 start in three seasons and keep September from becoming a problem.
The Jaguars can move the ball, too. Trevor Lawrence has been on a heater over the last seven regular-season games, so Denver can’t afford to let this turn into a track meet. The better answer is to run the ball well enough to control tempo and shorten the game.
Jacksonville’s own backfield doesn’t look overwhelming. In Week 1, Bhayshul Tuten, Ameer Abdullah, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. combined for 25 carries and 121 yards. Tuten averaged 4.4 yards per carry, while Rodriguez was at 3.8.
The Broncos have options behind Dobbins as well. Harvey and Coleman can both get touches, and the depth in the room is part of the reason Denver has spent the past couple of offseasons reshaping it. Fixing the run game has been a priority for years.
Jacksonville also looks a little thinner on the ground this year after not bringing Travis Etienne back in free agency. The Jaguars are still a good team, but if Denver wants to get to 2-1 and give itself some breathing room, the formula is right there.
Feed Dobbins. Run the ball.
Start there.
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 Have No Excuse To Let This Home Bounce-Back Spot Slip
After a frustrating opening weekend, the Broncos get a chance to reset quickly with a Week 2 home date against the Jaguars, a matchup that looks more manageable on paper than the opener did. Denver is back in front of its own crowd with the chance to turn an 0-1 start into something steadier, and the contrast in roster strength makes this feel like the kind of spot a team trying to establish itself is expected to take advantage of.
Jacksonville arrives with some momentum of its own, riding a winning streak and still working through the early stages of a new regime, but that does not change the basic math for Denver. The Broncos have the more proven personnel group overall, and with the season still young, this is the sort of game that can say a lot about where they stand if they handle it the way a team with higher ambitions should. [Read more 🡒]