The Jacksonville Jaguars head to Denver riding high after one of the most impressive opening-week performances in the NFL, while the Broncos enter Week 2 looking to rebound from a difficult loss to the Chiefs.
Jaguars coming in with momentum
Jacksonville opened its 2026 season with a dominant 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. On the Jaguars’ Happy Hour recap show, the win was described as a complete team effort, featuring strong play from both sides of the ball and a standout performance from quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The Jaguars’ offense appeared explosive out of the gate, and Lawrence threw four touchdown passes in the opener according to the team’s Week 1 coverage.
Broncos searching for answers
Denver enters Week 2 after a 31-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. The Broncos struggled offensively, and quarterback Bo Nix faced pressure on 45.5% of his dropbacks, one of the highest pressure rates of his career.
The Chiefs controlled the game from start to finish, exposing issues in Denver’s pass protection and offensive consistency.
Key Matchup: Jaguars Pass Rush vs. Broncos Offensive Line
If there is one matchup likely to decide this game, it’s Jacksonville’s defensive front against Denver’s offensive line.
The Broncos allowed constant disruption against Kansas City, while the Jaguars showed in Week 1 that they can generate pressure and create negative plays. After watching Bo Nix spend much of Monday night under duress, Jacksonville’s defense will likely attack aggressively and force Denver into obvious passing situations.
Key Matchup: Trevor Lawrence vs. Denver Secondary
Lawrence enters Week 2 with confidence after leading a 34-point outburst against Cleveland. Jacksonville’s passing game displayed efficiency and explosiveness in the opener, and the Broncos now face the challenge of slowing a quarterback who appears comfortable in the Jaguars’ offense.
Denver must generate more pressure than it did against Kansas City’s offense. If Lawrence has a clean pocket, the Jaguars could once again produce big plays through the air. He has the highest passer rating this season in a clean pocket, with a 150.6 rating this season.
What Denver Must Do
Protect Bo Nix better than it did in Kansas City.
Establish a more consistent running game to avoid obvious passing downs.
Limit explosive plays from Lawrence and Jacksonville’s receiving corps.
What Jacksonville Must Do
Start fast offensively, as it did against Cleveland.
Continue generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Avoid giving Denver short fields and opportunities to build confidence at home.
Prediction
Based solely on Week 1 performances, Jacksonville appears to have the edge. The Jaguars looked balanced, explosive, and confident in a 34-10 win, while Denver is coming off a game in which its offense struggled to protect Nix and produce points.
Projected Score: Jaguars 27, Broncos 17
The Broncos should be more competitive at home than they were against Kansas City, but Jacksonville’s momentum, quarterback play, and defensive pressure make the Jaguars the more complete team entering Week 2.