The Denver Broncos came into this game as an 0-3 team that had already experienced heart break this season, enduring some truly unfortunate losses.
They were feeling serious pressure as a defense with zero sacks and zero turnovers through week three, and as an offense that hadn’t scored more than 16 points in seven straight weeks dating back to last season.
They again appeared to take steps in the right direction, but the net result was another heart breaking loss, in the final second, after taking the lead late in the game.
The Broncos offense finally learned how to score some points in the first half, taking a 17-6 lead into halftime.
The lead could have been bigger had Joe Flacco not thrown an errant pass, for an interception, inside field goal range with 49 seconds left in the first half.
However, it was a tale of two halves and the Jaguars would go on to outscore the Broncos 23-7 after the Joe Flacco interception.
The defense finally got some quarterback pressure with Von Miller recording his first and second sacks of the season (99th and 100th of his career), and Bradley Chubb applying multiple pressures, forcing a fumble, and sacking Gardener Minshew II once in the second quarter.
In total, the defense recorded five sacks, 12 quarterback pressures, and defensed three passes, but in the grand scheme of things, Minshew extended plays and eluded rushers too many times to create opportunities for his team to make plays.
The Jaguars were a team missing their best player on defense, their starting quarterback who was out with an injury, and they were constantly in the news for dysfunction this week.
Though they were 1-2 heading to Denver, they were coming off a big win and were looking to carry momentum. They did just that, and the Jaguars are walking out of Denver at 2-2 behind the monster performance of Leonard Founette (29 carries for 225 yards) and the sweet leg of Josh Lambo (6 for 6 on a windy day in Denver including the game winner).
The Broncos took the lead with 1:32 left in the game, and in the same fashion against the Bears two weeks ago, the defense could not get a stop, and the Jaguars drove the length of the field to kick a game winner as time expired.
Bradley Chubb forced a fumble on the last drive that bounced off the ground straight back into Gardener Minshews hand.
Von Miller had a couple near sacks on the last drive. Bausby and Chris Harris Jr . both had chances to get their hands on balls and could not make the play. Football is a game of inches, and though the defense was close to making plays to end the game, they didn’t and paid the price, 0-4 and the chances of being a playoff team are essentially gone.
Game notes:
– Broncos offense moved the ball well first possession, ended up punting and pinning the Jaguars at their one-yard line.
– Quick three and out by the Jaguarsworking out of their own end zone
– Noah Fant has a huge 25-yard screen pass for a touchdown. Excellent running, blocking and vision
– Von Miller finally gets a sack.
– seven yard touchdown pass from Flacco to Courtland Sutton. Offensive line is holding up amazingly.
– Bradley Chubb got a sack finally as well.
– Von Miller got his second sack of the day and the 100th of his career
– Flacco throws a bad interception with a 35 yard return to allow the Jags to inch closer and take a 17-6 score into half time.
– Josey Jewell was injured and Leonard Founette ran rampant in the second half including an 80 yard run.
– The Broncos had the ball for less than five minutes in the second half. They started the second half with three straight three and out possessions, the first one following a 10 minute long scoring drive by the Jaguars, and needing to string together a drive to let the defense rest.
– Instead, the defense was forced to trot back onto the field and surrendered an 80 yard run and eventual touchdown drive in 1:47 of game time.
– The Broncos defense held the Jaguars to a field goal keeping the game at a one possession game, and the offense responded with a big touchdown drive capped with another Flacco touchdown throw to Courtland Sutton for a 24-23 lead with 1:30 to play.
– The Defense again couldn’t ice the game, after another ticky-tack roughing the passer call on Von Miller gifted the Jags a first down and 15 yards on a would be 3rd and nine yards.
– The next play, after roughing the passer, Minshew hit Dede Westbrook for 32 yards setting up the game winning field goal as time expired. Broncos lost 26-24 and fall to 0-4.
