A tight Week 2 call is shaping up for Jacksonville’s trip to Denver, and the expert picks are all over the map. The Jaguars arrive at 1-0, while the Broncos are trying to bounce back from an 0-1 start, and that split shows up across the major prediction panels.
NFL.com’s five-person staff leans Jacksonville, with three picks for the Jaguars and two for the Broncos. Still, Gennaro Filice went the other way and backed Denver, pointing to a game that may hinge on a handful of plays.
“With well-rounded teams on both sides, this feels like a game that could come down to a few key plays. That’s where Jaylen Waddle enters the picture.
You’re forgiven if you forgot about Denver’s blockbuster trade addition -- after all, he caught one pass for 2 yards in his Broncos debut -- but the explosive wideout was acquired to put Denver’s loaded roster over the top against fellow contenders. I think he does just that on Sunday.”
Bleacher Report also sees a razor-thin edge, but its panel is tilted toward Jacksonville. Five predictors are on the Jaguars, while four are taking the Broncos.
Gary Davenport backed the Jaguars and cited Denver’s rough opening and Jacksonville’s long regular-season winning stretch. “The Broncos were sloppy as can be on both sides of the ball, while the last time Jacksonville lost in the regular season was November 9.
The Jaguars win outright-and what we thought we knew about the AFC gets snowglobed.”
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio is on Jacksonville as well, projecting a 27-20 win. He pointed to the Broncos being on a short week after the loss in Kansas City, while the Jaguars had the chance to rest starters in the second half of their tuneup against the Browns. “Throw in the fact that the Broncos are operating on a short week after getting manhandled in Kansas City and the Jags got to rest starters in the second half of their tuneup game against the Browns, and it could be a repeat of last December’s get-together.”
ESPN’s panel is deadlocked, with four experts taking the Jaguars and four picking the Broncos.
CBS Sports also landed on Jacksonville, with Pete Prisco calling for a 23-20 Jaguars win. He tied his pick to Jacksonville’s strong start, Denver’s Monday night loss, and last season’s meeting in Denver.
“The Jaguars are riding high after blowing out Cleveland, while the Broncos are coming off a bad loss to the Chiefs on Monday night. The Jaguars went to Denver and beat them last December and I think they will beat them again.
Look for a big game from Bhayshul Tuten running it for Jacksonville.”
In Other News...
Jaguars Loss Just Sparked A Travis Hunter Debate Fans Feared
The Jaguars Week 2 loss to Denver did more than drop Jacksonville to 0-2, it reignited the conversation around Travis Hunters role and how the team is using its most talked-about newcomer. Hunter spent most of the afternoon on defense at cornerback, saw only limited work on offense, and still found himself in the middle of a pivotal moment when a pass interference flag went against him in a game the Jaguars could not afford to let slip away.
Liam Coen moved quickly to defend Hunter after the penalty, while also taking issue with the unsportsmanlike conduct call that followed. For a team still trying to settle its identity early in the season, the debate now is not just about one play, but about how Jacksonville balances Hunters two-way value with the need for cleaner execution in tight games. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Have A Defensive Problem They Cant Ignore
The Jaguars got a reminder in Denver that a pass rush can look dangerous one week and vanish the next. After opening the season with five sacks and plenty of pressure in a win over the Browns, Jacksonville couldnt get home against the Broncos, and the difference showed in a game that forced defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile to keep tweaking his approach as it went along.
Campanile started with a four-man rush but had to send extra help later as the Broncos held up better than Jacksonville did up front. Josh Hines-Allen said he needs to raise his own level after being kept out of the sack column, and that kind of self-assessment matters for a defense that now has to prove its first game was the baseline, not the outlier. [Read more 🡒]
Travis Hunter Conversation Just Got More Personal For Jaguars Fans
Leanna Hunter made her way to the Jaguars game against the Broncos and showed up in a Jaguars-themed outfit, adding a little extra buzz to a day that already had plenty of eyes on Travis Hunter. She also took to Instagram to mark her husbands second season with the team, keeping her support for the rookie cornerback visible both in the stands and online.
The personal side of Hunters Jaguars journey has become part of the conversation around how he is being used, especially after Leanna Hunter voiced criticism of Liam Coens handling of Travis during the game. For Jacksonville fans, it adds another layer to a storyline that is no longer just about development and play selection, but also about how closely this new chapter is being watched beyond the sideline. [Read more 🡒]