While Sunday wasn't technically a must-win, it certainly felt that way for the Denver Broncos, who overcame a 10-point deficit to post a 20-13 win over the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.
Down 10-3 at halftime and 13-3 in the third quarter, the Broncos rallied by scoring on their first three possessions of the second half. Denver's rally was spearheaded by its opportunistic defense and a monster game by Jaylen Waddle, who caught eight of 10 targets for 138 yards.
The game's turning point came late in the third quarter, with the Jaguars ahead 13-6. Riley Moss picked off Trevor Lawrence on a third-down play, and the Broncos' offense tied the score moments later when Bo Nix threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Nate Adkins.
Denver took the lead on its ensuing drive when rookie Jonah Coleman found pay dirt from 3 yards out. The score came after Jacksonville's Cam Little pushed his 54-yard field goal attempt wide left.
The win moves the Broncos to 1-1 on the season, while the Jaguars dropped to 1-1 after suffering their first regular-season loss since Week 10 of 2025.
After catching just one pass in his Broncos debut, Waddle was the catalyst behind Denver's first win of the 2026 season.
The former Miami Dolphin got the Broncos' offense going with a 49-yard catch that set up a 20-yard-field goal by Wil Lutz that served as Denver's only first half points. Waddle made several big plays in the second half that included his 29-yard grab (that saw him make a nasty move that led to Jourdan Lewis falling down) on a third-down play on the Broncos' final drive.
Nix followed up a rough season opener against the Chiefs with a shaky first half on Sunday that included an inexcusable interception in the end zone. In the second half, Nix played much better and finished the game with 288 yards on 22 of 31 passing.
Nix was aided by the running of Coleman, a fifth-round pick who stepped up with RJ Harvey inactive and JK Dobbins leaving the game early with an injury. Coleman had 58 total yards on 13 touches.
Sunday was also a bounce-back game for Davis Webb, the Broncos' new signal-caller. Webb had several frustrating moments on Sunday, but in the end, he helped Denver come out with a win after calling three consecutive scoring drives in the second half.
Jacksonville led 10-3 at halftime after having considerable success on offense and coming up with two big red zone stops. The Jaguars' success in the first half initially continued in the second half as they extended their lead to 13-3.
The game started the change, however, when the Jaguars reached the Broncos' 3-yard line on their first drive of the second half. Chris Rodriguez Jr. was stuffed for a 2-yard loss on first down, and the Jaguars had to settle for a short field goal after Lawrence was unable to move the ball through the air on Jacksonville's next two plays.
That sequence of events foreshadowed what was to come for the remainder of the game. The Jaguars' running game stalled after Bhayshul Tuten (who scored the game's first touchdown) had had success earlier in the game. Jacksonville's lack of a running game late put too more pressure on Lawrence, who was then let down by Brian Thomas Jr., who had multiple drops.
Parker Washington had a solid game with 98 yards on seven catches, but Sunday's loss exposed the Jaguars' lack of depth at the skill positions.
Denver gets its first win of the year with a 20-13 win over the Jaguars. Denver overcame a 13-3 deficit by scoring on its first three drives of the second half.
Both teams are 1-1 through two games.
The rookie gets a first down before falling down in bounds so the clock can run down to the two-minute warning. Broncos are on their way to a 20-13 win. Jags out of timeouts, so Broncos can kneel their way to victory.
Waddle gets open downfield for a 29-yard gain. He made a nasty move on Jourdan Lewis that led to Lewis falling down. Broncos are at the Jaguars' 44 with 3:26 left.
Broncos have a chance to mount a game-winning drive after taking possession at their own 20 with 4:41 left. Lawrence has struggled, but he's attempting low percentage throws. He's also been let down by a running game that has disappeared on Jacksonville's last few drives.
Jonah Coleman runs it in from three yards out to give Denver a 20-13 lead with 7:21 left. Broncos have scored on each of their three second half drives. That score was partly set up by multiple penalties; Travis Hunter's DPI and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Liam Coen.
Dobbins is listed as questionable to return with a hamstring injury. With Harvey out, Jonah Coleman is Denver's lead back.
Cam Little pushes his 54-yard FG attempt wide left, and the score remains tied with 9:42 left. Thomas' drop stalled the drive.
The Broncos have all the momentum now. We can assume that Nix will continue to look Waddle's way. He's been the best player on the field today, at least on offense.
We're getting the heavyweight that we expected this fourth quarter. The Jaguars are back in Broncos territory after Jakobi Meyers pulls down a 28-yard catch.
Brian Thomas Jr. is unable to make a catch on the next play, however. Thomas' struggles continue following a very solid rookie season.
It's a tie game after Nix rolls out and finds Nate Adkins on a short TD pass. Broncos have scored on consecutive drives and tie it at 13 with 11:47 left.
The Broncos convert Moss' pick into a TD. Let's see how Jaguars offense responds.
Jaylen Waddle is having himself a day that now includes a 14-yard catch on third-and-8 as Denver is in the red zone for the third time today. Waddle is up to 101 yards on six catches.
Jags take a 13-6 lead into the fourth quarter, but the momentum is on the Broncos' side following Moss' interception. Nix is moving around more and is having more success in the passing game. Denver's running game continues to be largely underwhelming, though, which could hurt Denver again in the red zone.
The Jaguars' turn the ball over after Riley Moss picks off Lawrence's pass for Parker Washington. Really bad throw by Lawrence but great anticipation by Moss.
Could be a momentum changing play.
Jacksonville is nearing midfield on their second drive of the second half. They're playing complementary football despite not having a proven star at running back. They're up to 82 yards and a score on 19 carries.
Broncos counter with a field goal their own to make it a 13-6 game with 4:58 left in the quarter. Waddle is up to 87 yards today after making a 16-yard catch on the drive. Denver had to settle for a FG, however, after Nix ended the drive with three straight incompletions. The first one came after Denver was flagged for delay of game.
Denver has been flagged eight times to Jacksonville's two penalties.
Jacksonville increases its lead to 13-3, but give credit to the Broncos' defense for holding Denver's offense to a field goal once they entered the red zone. The stand started with Tuten getting stuffed for a loss of two on first and goal.
Big drive for the Broncos here.
The Jagurs have opened the half with three plays of over 10 yards that included two big runs by Tuten and an 18-yard catch by Washington. Barring a turnover or missed FG, the Jaguars are going to have a two possession lead shortly.
Score: Jaguars, 10-3
First downs: Broncos 12-7
Third down: Jags 3-5, Broncos 1-6
Total yards: Broncos 188-153
Red zone: Jags 1-1, Broncos 0-2
TOP: Broncos 15:25
Lawrence: 12-17, 138 yards
Nix: 11-15, 156 yards
Waddle: 4 catches, 71 yards
Washington: 6 catches, 80 yards
Rushing: Jags 31 on 10 carries, Broncos 32 on 11 carries
Denver is now 0 of 2 in the red zone after Jourdan Lewis picks off Nix on third and goal. The Broncos come up empty after consecutive 27-yard plays. Great play by Lewis.
Broncos have had three plays of 27 yards or more, but only three points to show for it.
Denver back in the red zone following two 27-yard gains. Playing in place of injured RJ Harvey, Tyler Badie gets Denver's second big play of the day on a 27-yard catch-and-run. Troy Franklin tight roped the sideline on a 27-yard catch on the next play.
For the first time, the Jaguars fail to get a first down on a drive after Zach Allen gets to Lawrence again, this time on third down. The sack was a byproduct of the Jags being in an obvious pass situation on third down after gaining just one yards on their first two plays.
The Jags lost the challenge, and Waddle makes his first big play as a Bronco with a 49-yard catch.
Denver, however, is unable to score on three plays from the 1-yard-line. The last play was Dobbins being stuffed for a loss after the snap appeared botched. Davis Webb screaming to himself after watching his offense fail to tie the game.
Nix just picked up a first down on a designed scramble, although he fell on his own before the contact could arrive. The Jags are challenging if Nix actually got the first down. If the first down holds, it would be a first down for Denver at midfield.
A 32-yard catch by Parker Washington sets up the game's first score, a short TD run by Bhayshul Tuten. It was an eight play, 72-yard drive that took 4:52 off the clock.
Jags have twice as many yards (98 to 49) than Denver so far and have eight first downs to Denver's two.
For the first time, the Jaguars have gained multiple first downs on a drive and are now in Broncos territory as the second quarter begins. The Jaguars churned out 11 yards on their first three plays before Lawrence stretched the field a bit and hit Brenton Strange for 14 yards on the final play of the quarter.
Jaguars were 3 of 5 on third down in the opening quarter. Denver was 0 of 3.
Denver fans getting restless as the Broncos have to punt again after failing to get a first down once again.
The Broncos put themselves in position to get a first down after being in a manageable third-and-3. But Nix overthrew Waddle, who may have been tugged on by the defender.
One thing that's noticeable is Nix's lack of running. No carries so far.
The Jaguars have picked up one first down on each of their first two drives, but Denver's defense has been able to step up and prevent the Jaguars from extending their drives. Zach Allen ended Jacksonville's second drive by overpowering the middle of the Jaguars' line and sacking Lawrence for an 11-yard loss.
Jacksonville's early success on its drives has allowed them to win the field position battle. Denver's third drive will start at their own 11-yard-line.
Like Denver's first drive, their second drive is short circuited by a penalty. This time, it's a holding call on WR Pat Bryant.
Nix is 3 of 4 passing, but only for 19 yards as he has been conservative to start this game. Dobbins has 19 yards on three carries, but the penalties have negated his success so far.
An illegal contact penalty against Broncos DB Riley Moss negates a strip sack by Nick Bonitto. Instead of a turnover, the Broncos have it near midfield. The Broncos did force a Jaguars punt after giving up the game's initial first down.
Denver puts after losing one yards on three plays on their first series. They tried two runs by Dobbins that went nowhere and Nix was almost picked off by Travis Hunter on third down. Denver was put into an obvious passing situation on third down when Jaylen Waddle committed a false start.
The Broncos are determined to get the running game going. Give them credit for trying on their first drive, but they need to be more successful moving forward if they are going to help Nix out.
Denver won the toss and has elected to receive. Here we go!
