Admit it. You were more than a little nervous.

Right around 3:30 p.m. this past Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars kicked a field goal to take a 13-3 lead on your Denver Broncos on a cloudless day at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. It was only a 10-point deficit, and the Broncos did win an NFL record tying one score games in 2025. Still, after the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs six days before on Monday Night Football, and the lack of any show of offensive might thus far in the season, things were feeling a little precarious.

But just like that, the Broncos defense stiffened, shutting down the Jaguars talented quarterback Trevor Lawrence and, for the first time this year, the offense came to life. The Broncos put up 17 straight points, scoring a pair of touchdowns in the 4th quarter to win 20-13 over the defending AFC South Champion Jaguars, a team that beat the Broncos 34-20 last year at Mile High. It was a well-deserved win and it evened Denver’s record at 1-1.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the victory were the contributions made by a new cast of characters. Who had tight end Nate Adkins, coming off an injury plagued 2025 season, scoring the game-tying TD on a pass from Bo Nix on their first-to-score card? Or even more unlikely, how about rookie running back Jonah Coleman rushing for the game winning touchdown on a 3-yard run up the middle in the final quarter. The TD gave the Broncos their first lead of the season and set up a game-finishing drive where Coleman made a smart play staying in bounds to keep the clock running.

Coleman punctuated his first NFL touchdown by giving the crowd in the end zone the “Mile High Salute” as an homage to former Bronco great Terrell Davis, who would salute following touchdowns in the 1990s. The act showed a level of respect for Bronco traditions by the 5-8, 220 pound running back who was a 4th round draft pick out of the University of Washington. Colman got his chance to contribute due to injuries to starter J.K. Dobbins and his back up RJ Harvey. His performance, 10 carries for 39 yards and the aforementioned TD, will make him a go-to option for offensive coordinator Davis Webb and Head Coach Sean Payton in the weeks to come.

But for most Bronco fans, the takeaway from the victory was the emergence of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The biggest move Denver made this off-season was trading first and third-round draft picks to Miami for the speedy Waddle. On Sunday, he erupted, catching eight passes for 138 yards, including a 49-yard bomb from Nix that set the stage for a number of ensuing key receptions. This came after a Bronco debut in Kansas City in the opener where he was held to just one catch. It was a coming out party for number 17, and hopefully heralds a Nix to Waddle pass/catch combo that will be one for the record books.

Of course, this is the NFL, and all of that is already old news. This week is all that matters and, on Sunday Night Football on NBC, the Broncos host the Los Angeles Rams. For prognosticators, this is a potential Super Bowl preview, as many picked both the Rams and the Broncos as the best teams in their respective conferences. However, both teams lost their openers — the Rams to the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, and the Broncos to the Chiefs, putting an “easy tiger” on high hopes. Still, it is one of the most anticipated match ups of the NFL season and one to tune into for sure.

That’s the thing about the NFL, every week brings new games and new storylines. Just when you think the ship has righted for the Broncos along comes a fresh challenge with new heroes and new villains. It’s a national obsession.

Time to get nervous all over again.