The Jaguars head to Denver on Sunday with a lot more than an early-season game on the line. They’re road underdogs against a Broncos team plenty of people pegged as an AFC favorite, and they’re also carrying the memory of what happened there nine months ago, when Jacksonville stunned Denver. A win would push the Jaguars to 2-0 and put them in the mix with the Buffalo Bills in the conversation about the AFC’s best start in 2026.
One of the biggest reasons to watch this matchup is Bhayshul Tuten. His Week 1 line against the Cleveland Browns was modest on paper, but he looked like the Jaguars’ most effective runner.
He led the backfield in snaps, and by an even wider margin in scrimmage yards and touches, finishing first on the team in both categories. The performance hinted at a player who could be turning into something bigger, and it also set up an interesting question for Sunday: how much will Jacksonville actually feed him if this game is tighter than last week’s?
That matters because the Jaguars’ backfield barely had any red zone work against Cleveland. Chris Rodriguez Jr. got the only red zone touch for the group.
If Jacksonville finds itself with more high-value running back snaps against Denver, Tuten’s usage will be one of the clearest things to watch. Will he be the lead option again, or will the workload tilt more toward a split?
Denver brings its own set of questions after its Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Bo Nix was under constant heat, Davis Webb’s first game calling plays didn’t look comfortable, and the Broncos also moved away from a run game that had been working fairly well. Sean Payton isn’t likely to make a sweeping change after one week, but the bigger question is how much Denver tries to correct course against Jacksonville.
If the Broncos decide to lean hard on the run, the Jaguars appear built to challenge that plan. Denver has clear tendencies when it runs the ball, and Jacksonville’s run defense has been strong enough in the past to make that approach look like a matchup advantage for the Jaguars. The Broncos could also try to target Jaylen Waddle in the slot against Jourdan Lewis, Jarrian Jones, and Antonio Johnson, but that too could come with problems.
And if Denver’s passing game becomes the focal point, Jacksonville’s pass rush will be waiting. The Broncos allowed pressure on more than 45% of their dropbacks against the Chiefs, and the Jaguars’ front may be even more dangerous. Travon Walker, Josh Hines-Allen, Arik Armstead, and Dennis Gardeck could make life very difficult for Nix if they bring the same kind of disruption Kansas City did on Monday night.
The Jaguars will also have to handle Denver’s front on the other side. That was an issue for Jacksonville a year ago, but the group looks different now.
Anton Harrison has moved to left tackle and has played like a star there, while rookie guard Emmanuel Pregnon made a strong debut against the Browns. Pregnon could end up being a major piece if Jacksonville wants to run the ball effectively on Sunday.
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Trevor Lawrence Has A Costly Jaguars Habit They Need To Fix
Trevor Lawrences operation at quarterback has been clean enough for Jacksonville to keep building around him, but there is one recurring issue the Jaguars would still like to erase. Over his last 18 games, Lawrence has been flagged for three illegal forward passes, a small-looking mistake that can still swing a drive and frustrate a staff trying to tighten every detail. Coach Liam Coen has already talked about working to help Lawrence avoid those penalties, which is the kind of maintenance that matters most for a team trying to make each possession count.
The Jaguars also got a few personnel updates around the roster this week. Undrafted rookie Bryan Thomas Jr. is expected to play after the injury to defensive end BJ Green, giving Jacksonville another option along the front. Linebacker Jack Kiser has been elevated to the active roster after getting back from the knee injury he suffered in training camp, a reminder that the team is still sorting through depth while trying to eliminate the kinds of self-inflicted issues that can linger over a game. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Offense Faces One Big Question Against A Vulnerable Broncos Defense
Jacksonville comes into Week 2 with a chance to keep building on an encouraging offensive showing, and the matchup with Denver gives the Jaguars a clear path to stress a defense that has already shown some vulnerability. Trevor Lawrence should have plenty to work with if the passing game stays sharp, but the ground attack may be the more interesting piece here, especially with Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the mix as Jacksonville looks for ways to keep the Broncos off balance.
The biggest question is whether the Jaguars can turn that run-game edge into a steady advantage, particularly against a Denver defense that can be attacked on under center runs. If Jacksonville can stay ahead of the chains and avoid relying too heavily on Lawrence to carry the load, the offense has a chance to control the game in a way that keeps this one from becoming more complicated than it needs to be. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Lawrence Has A Big Chance To Change Jaguars Expectations
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars head into Week 2 with a little more buzz than usual, and for good reason. Jacksonville looked sharp in its opener against the Cleveland Browns, while the Broncos came out of Week 1 having struggled to get much going offensively in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, setting up a meeting in Denver that already feels like an early test of how far this Jaguars team can push its expectations.
Even with the current line favoring Denver by 2.5 points, there is at least a growing case that Jacksonville can walk into a tough road spot and leave with a statement win. If Lawrence and the offense carry over what they showed in Week 1, the conversation around the Jaguars could shift quickly from promising to dangerous, especially against a Broncos team still trying to find its rhythm on that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]