Last weekend, the Denver Broncos took a tough loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. They lost 34-20, a game that I believe crystallized their major defensive issues. The Broncos struggled badly on third downs and in the red zone. This collapse allowed the Jaguars to convert 8 of their 15 third downs and touchdowns on four of their five red zone attempts. This type of performance, as the team continues to vie for a playoff spot over the next few weeks, is troubling.
Jeff Legwold, a seasoned reporter for ESPN who has covered the Broncos for over 20 years, provided in-depth analysis of the game. Legwold first jumped to ESPN in 2013 and has been a tremendous resource ever since. He makes significant contributions to NFL draft coverage and team performance evaluation. His offensive observations help to explain some of the issues that the Broncos had on Sunday against Jacksonville.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence gave a Heisman contender-like performance, completing 23-of-36 passes for 279-yards and connecting on three touchdown strikes. Rookie wide receiver Parker Washington was impressive, with a career-high 145 yards on six catches. His all-around contributions were foundational to the Jaguars’ offensive domination.
Despite their defensive struggles, the Broncos managed to tie a franchise record with five sacks, bringing their season total to 63. Not a single one was forced against the Jaguars. That is unconscionable on a day in which every possession mattered.
49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who left with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter. This injury creates some serious questions about his availability for Thursday night’s game. His status is still up in the air as the team gets ready for what could be a playoff-turning clash against one of their biggest division rivals.
In the aftermath of the game, Broncos coach Sean Payton was gracious in crediting Lawrence’s performance, admitting, “he played a heck of a game.” This recognition only further emphasizes just how challenging the Broncos’ defense was during the entire game.
Defensive players expressed frustration over their performance. Linebacker Alex Singleton emphasized the need for better execution, saying, “We just got to get out of our own way, guys know what to do and we just got to do it.” After the painful loss, Singleton said he was still very hopeful about the team’s future. He stressed their present position as a “12-win team” with two games remaining on the schedule.
Zach Allen, MSU’s other defensive linchpin, expressed plenty of belief in the locker room that this team could bounce back from such a disappointing first loss. “We’ll fix them and we’ll be OK,” he said, a bold attitude typical of the players’ demeanor that night.
Joining him on the call on Wednesday, Pat Surtain II reiterated that in the NFL execution is everything. The rest of the NFL is really always execution as well, who is going to make the plays in the critical moments, he stated. This feeling sums up the Broncos’ brutal slog of a game against the Jaguars. It further highlights the challenges that they need to address in order to make a postseason run.
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