JACKSONVILLE – The circumstances are difficult. The focus remains the same.
The Jaguars this week will travel for the first time in the 2026 regular season. They will play in a raucous environment against a very good team. While those circumstances and storylines are real, Head Coach Liam Coen's thoughts remain very much within.
"So much of this week is truly about us," Coen said as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (1-0) prepared to play the Denver Broncos (0-1) at Empower Field at Mile High Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
While Coen and the Jaguars have stressed focusing on themselves before, it is perhaps more important this week as they travel to one of the NFL's loudest, most-raucous atmospheres to play a team that won the AFC West with a 14-3 record last season.
"We have to be aware of their good players and their good schemes and their good coaching," Coen said. "Also, going into this atmosphere, the communication both verbally and visually, guys being on the screws."
The Jaguars beat the Broncos 34-20 in Week 16 of the 2025 regular season. It was a victory that keyed the Jaguars' eight-game, AFC South-title-clinching winning streak to end the season and made the Jaguars the only team to beat the Broncos in the 2025 regular season.
"I don't really put too much stock in it," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. "It's two totally different teams. Even if a lot of the players are the same, every year is so different and every game you have to show up with your best for three hours on Sunday."
The atmosphere and opponent place an added urgency on details this week, Coen said.
"I told them (the team) this morning: We have to know this plan so well that you know what the guy next to you is going to be able to do without having to say it to him or speak or talk about it," Coen said. "That is how well we have to be connected this week.
"That is how intentional we have to be in our work and our preparation."
Added Coen of playing in Denver last December, "I think it helps our players know the atmosphere, know what they're going into. The schemes are probably going to be very similar for us as well.
"I'm sure they're looking at that game just as much as we are. For me it's more, 'OK, we have the experience of going there and going through that trip and knowing what that's like and the altitude and the atmosphere and then having to go and play a quality opponent.'"
Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis remembers last year's atmosphere and energy in Denver as "lit."
"It was definitely a tough deal because they were they were on a roll," he said. "They were known as a physical team and we knew we had to go out there and play to that physicality so it was definitely a hard-fought win to the very end."
The Jaguars beat the Cleveland Browns, 34-10, at EverBank Stadium Sunday, with the Broncos losing their regular-season opener, 31-10, to the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City Monday. The Jaguars lead the AFC South with the Broncos tied for third in the AFC West.
"We know how they are going to respond – there is no question," Coen said. "They are a well-coached, talented team that we have obviously a lot of film on from last year, and then obviously playing them later on helps with some of that."
Added Lewis of the Broncos, "They want some revenge. Coming off a loss like they did last week, we know we are going to get their best ball. We just have to go out there and execute, play to our standards and understand we are playing a pissed off team, which is good because that challenges our standards."
The Jaguars' Week 2 trek to Denver will be the first of several road trips over the next few weeks. Jacksonville will return to EverBank Stadium in Week 3 to face the New England Patriots, but will then spend Weeks 4-6 outside of Jacksonville before their Week 7 bye.
"We want to play every game in Duval, but it's like Coach Liam says: "Anyone, anytime, anywhere,''' Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange said.
NOTABLE
Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was listed as limited on Wednesday's first Jaguars injury report of the week after sustaining a shoulder injury against the Browns. He returned to the game Sunday. "I'll be ready to go Sunday," said Thomas, who caught three passes for 40 yards against Cleveland. Thomas was among five Jaguars players listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report with the others being running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (hip), wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (thumb), right tackle Cole Van Lanen (knee) and linebacker Foye Oluokun (wrist). Allen, Meyers and Van Lanen were listed similarly last Wednesday and played against the Browns.
