The Jacksonville Jaguars are rolling into Denver for their Week 2 showdown at Mile High, and if their decisive Week 1 win taught us anything, it’s that this team has a clear identity heading into the season. They kicked off their season opener with four straight rushes and followed up with two play-action passes out of three attempts on the very first drive. That set a firm line in the sand on what Coen’s staff expects for 2026: a run-the-ball, play-action squad, even with a crazy-deep receiving room at their disposal.
The Jags Are Going Ground and Pound, No Matter What
This isn’t just talk; it’s a strategic shift. We saw it immediately with 11 of Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez’s combined 21 carries coming in the first half of Week 1. They’re making a purposeful push for a run game that won’t get sidelined by game script. While they want the passing game to flow through the ground attack, don’t sleep on Trevor Lawrence. The second year of this offense looks polished, and Lawrence and his wide receivers clearly have a deep trust and connection. This passing attack is legit, and the more time they get, the scarier they’ll become. The Jags didn’t make a ton of splashy additions in the offseason, but it’s obvious they got better.
Rookies Stepping Up, Defense Ready to Exploit Bronco Weakness
What’s even wilder is how fast the rookie class is making an impact. Tight end Nate Boerkircher’s blocking ability already gives Liam Coen immediate personnel flexibility. Guard Emmanuel Pregnon looks like a rare plug-and-play first-year lineman. And wide receiver Josh Cameron? He’s already earning snaps in high-leverage spots, even catching one of Trevor Lawrence’s best touchdowns ever in the red zone during Week 1.
But it’s not just the offense making noise. On the defensive side, two players who barely factored into last season’s dominant victory over Denver, Dennis Gardeck and Branson Combs, are primed to make a huge splash this Sunday. Last year, they each had just one tackle in that game, with Combs being mostly a special teams guy. Fast forward to 2026: the Broncos’ offense looked absolutely lost against pressure in Week 1 against the Chiefs. Gardeck, with two pressures on just nine rushes for a 22.2% pressure rate, and Combs, who got home for a sack on his lone blitz, both ended their limited Week 1 snaps with a quarterback hit. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was pressured on a staggering 45.5% of his dropbacks last week, getting sacked four times and finishing a dismal 2-of-10 for five yards, an interception, and two strip-sacks when pressured. Sure, Travon Walker and Arik Armstead will get their snaps, but these role players, Gardeck and Combs, may just deliver the game-changing plays when it counts.
This Week 2 clash at Mile High isn’t just another game. The Jaguars are coming in with a clear offensive game plan and a defense ready to feast on a struggling Broncos line. Can Bo Nix weather the storm? Or will Gardeck and Combs prove the difference makers and send a clear message to the rest of the league? Get ready, because Sunday is gonna be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply