DENVER, Colo. – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton, team reporter Kainani Stevens and correspondent John Shipley offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos in a 2026 Week 2 game at Empower Field at Mile High Sunday

Oehser…

1. Slip, sliding away. The Jaguars' loss Sunday isn't reason to panic. Nor is it anything from which they can't recover. But it was from this view of the weirder, trickier games to analyze because the Jaguars were doing a lot of things good teams do to win in the NFL Sunday – until they weren't. The Jaguars didn't play great in the first half of a matchup between two defending division champions that expect to contend again, but they made big defensive plays close to the goal line and pieced together two solid drives to take a 10-3 halftime lead they extended to 13-3 early in the third quarter. "It just felt like we were a little out of sync in the second half," Head Coach Liam Coen said afterward, and Coen – always good at analyzing his team – was exactly right. The Jaguars had a chance throughout most of the second half, and it felt until midway through the fourth quarter that they still had a chance to turn momentum as they had done often through a nine-game regular-season winning streak. But on Sunday, for the first time in a long time, the response just wasn't quite there and the team indeed was "a little out of sync." The result wasn't a disastrous loss, but it was a weird one that the Jaguars will regret because of lost opportunities.
2. The cliché is real. The Jaguars' post-game theme was as real and accurate as it was expected. "We want to worry about responding," Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington said. "It's a long season." He's right, and it is indeed a long season. The Jaguars' 2025 AFC South-title season was built on an impressive, eight-game winning streak to end the season – but while long winning streaks are cool, they're usually not the path to the postseason. The NFL is a league of close games, and most teams don't win all games against other contending teams – particularly on the road, as Sunday's game was against the defending AFC West champion Broncos. I was asked once during training camp why I had confidence in this team to contend for a second consecutive division title. My answer was because this team had confidence and trust in Coen's direction, and that it appeared to me to be a team that wouldn't let a short-term stumble turn into a long-term crisis. Sunday was a stumble. The Jaguars must respond and not let a disappointing September day in Denver ruin the early part of the season.

Sexton…

1. Opportunity lost. My first reaction was, "uh oh," when the Jags blew first-and-goal at the 3-yard line to start the third quarter. Yes, they came away from the situation with a 13-3 lead after kicker Cam Little converted from 23 yards, but the way the Broncos had come alive at the end of the first half was a warning sign even after their miss on the goal line and an ensuing empty trip to the red zone late in second quarter. The Jaguars had a nice drive to overcome first-and-20 at the end of the first half, but the Broncos felt as if they had momentum going into the halftime locker room. When the Jaguars' offense went backward off the goal line early in the second half, the message from Denver was you're not going to get even three yards. The Jaguars didn't have a productive offensive drive the rest of the game.
2. Strong performance. Denver's offensive and defensive lines rallied Sunday after a shaky performance in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. The lines were supposed to be the strength of the Broncos and on Sunday against the Jaguars they were absolutely that. The Jaguars need to rally up front on both sides this week because both looked shaky in Denver.

Stevens…

1. A big game ends with a big letdown. The Jaguars did not play a perfect first half in Denver, but I was impressed with their composure and toughness in the first two quarters. However, the confidence Jacksonville showed in Week 1 evaporated in the second half Sunday. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was rushed due the offensive line struggling at times, and the Jaguars' receivers could not find any separation. On the flip side, the Jaguars' defensive line did not get much significant pass rush on Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and explosive plays were the downfall in the end. There's a lot to look at on tape after the Jaguars' first loss of the season.
2. Time to get back to the basics and win in the trenches. More than any other descriptor, the Jaguars want to be a tough football team. That begins with the offensive and defensive lines, who showed flashes but overall were not good enough against Denver. The offensive line struggled in pass protection and Lawrence's assuredness struggled along with them. Lawrence was constantly under pressure and unable to operate the offense effectively. The defensive line was decent stopping the run but the inability to create pass-rush pressure strained the secondary. The defensive breakdowns in the second half were eerily familiar to the problems we saw in the playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. This was a far cry from the tough and relentless lines we saw against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener.

Shipley…

1. Explosive plays were the theme of the day. The Jaguars' defense started strong and showed its usual toughness early against the run, forcing the Broncos to find answers through the air. That is exactly what happened, with the Broncos hitting wide receivers Troy Franklin and Jaylen Waddle for big explosives through the passing game. Waddle seemed to find success no matter where he was on the field, and the explosive plays that hurt the Jaguars at times last season were again an issue for the Jaguars' new-look secondary.
2. Tuten continues to look like he is ascending. Second-year running back Bhayshul Tuten has now led the Jaguars' running back room in carries and yards from scrimmage in each of the first two games, and the offense was at its best Sunday when Tuten set the tone. He has been efficient and has shown an improved ability to create on his own, and the Jaguars could look to expand his role even further as he continues to pick up momentum. He has been a difference-maker thus far.