With the win, the Jaguars…

• Opened the regular season with a win for the first time since 2006.
• Improved to 10-6 all-time on Kickoff Weekend and have wins in 10 of their last 14 September games.
• Improved to 5-3 all-time in the regular season against Denver with wins in three straight games and five of the last six.
• Head coach Jack Del Rio improved to 4-1 all-time against the Broncos.
• Del Rio improved to 58-55 since taking over the helm in 2003. 

90 degrees at kickoff; warmest temperature at kickoff in team history

Temperature at kickoff was 90 degrees (98 degree heat index), the warmest temperature for kickoff in franchise history.  The temperature at the start of the second half was 93 degrees with a heat index of 105.

The club has had four games with the kickoff temperature at 88 degrees or higher with two on the road and two at home.  It was the ninth game in team history with the temperature at 87 degrees and above.  

Here's a look at the warmest games in franchise history:

TEMP.    DATE    OPPONENT   W/L SCORE

  90 9/12/10 vs. Denver W   24-17

  88 9/16/07 vs. Atlanta W   13-7

  88 9/  6/98 at Chicago W   24-23

  88 9/20/98 at Tennessee    W   27-22

  87 9/  8/96 vs. Houston L     27-34

  87 9/29/02 vs. N.Y. Jets W   28-3

  87 10/6/02 vs. Philadelphia W   28-25

  87 9/14/08 vs. Buffalo L     17-38

Garrard has impressive 2010 debut; ties career-high with three touchdown passes

Quarterback David Garrard registered a career-high 138.9 passer rating as he was 16 of 21 for 170 yards with three touchdowns.  It marked his fifth career game with three touchdown passes and second time in the last four games dating back to 2009 (Dec. 17 vs. Indianapolis).

Garrard's 76.2 completion percentage was the second-highest of his career (82.8 pct., Dec. 2, 2007 at Indianapolis).  Additional notes:

• Started his 33rd consecutive game, the longest streak by a quarterback in team history.
• Joined Mark Brunell (Sept. 9, 2001 vs. Pittsburgh) as the only two quarterbacks in franchise history to throw for three touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend.
• Owns a 3-0 mark against the Broncos as a starter.  Has completed 55 of 75 passes for 600 yards and five touchdowns for a 118.1 passer rating in the three games against the Broncos.
• Improved to 32-31 overall as a starter, 23-26 against the AFC and 3-0 against Denver.
• Has multiple touchdown passes in 20 game and the Jaguars are 14-6 in those outings.
• Marked his 24th career game with a 100-plus passer rating and 22nd as a starter. The Jaguars are 17-5 in those starts.
• Had five completions of 20-plus yards.

Jones-Drew surpasses 4,000 career rushing yards

Maurice Jones-Drew opened the 2010 season with 98 rushing yards on 23 carries along with three receptions for 15 yards.  Jones-Drew surpassed 4,000 career rushing yards and 8,000 career all-purpose yards. Additional notes include:

• Had three rushes of 10-plus yards including a 23-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. He has 100 career-rushes of 10-plus yards and 27 of 20-plus yards. 
• The 98 rushing yards were the second-most in franchise history on opening day.  He finished with 97 rushing yards in the 2009 opener at Indianapolis.
• Extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 53.

Tyson Alualu only rookie in starting lineup

2010 first-round pick Tyson Alualu was the only rookie in the starting lineup for the Jaguars.  Alualu joined Terrance Knighton (2009) as the only two rookie defensive tackles to start on opening day in franchise history.   Alualu sacked Kyle Orton late in the second quarter for his first career sack and was also credited with a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. 

Lewis scores career-high two touchdowns

Tight end Marcedes Lewis recorded a career-high two touchdowns, a 21-yard pass from David Garrard late in the first half followed by a 10-yard pass from Garrard in the third quarter.  The first touchdown was the first points of the game.  Lewis has nine career touchdown receptions in 63 games.

Kampman increases career sack total to 55.5; records game-high six quarterback hits

Jaguars defensive end Aaron Kampman wasted no time making an impact in his first game with the Jaguars.  Kampman finished with a sack and a half in his Jaguars debut and pressured Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton throughout the game.  Kampman also finished with a game-high six quarterback hits.

Kampman sacked Orton on the opening series of the game for an eight-yard loss, taking the Broncos out of field goal position.  Orton became Kampman's 32nd different quarterback he has sacked in his career.  Kampman split a sack with defensive back William Middleton on a third-and-seven with 10:43 remaining in the third quarter.

Kampman has 55.5 career sacks including 42 since 2006.  Sunday was his 13th career game with multiple sacks in the last five seasons.  He has four and a half sacks in his last two games against the Broncos.

Back to his old ways; D. Smith records forced fumble and interception

Linebacker Daryl Smith tied for the team-lead in 2009 with three forced fumbles, and he picked up where he left on Sunday.  Smith forced a fumble of Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter midway through the second quarter that was recovered by safety Sean Considine.  Smith has seven career forced fumbles.

Smith sealed the Jaguars victory with an interception of Kyle Orton with 53 seconds remaining in the game.  It was the fifth interception of his career.

Underwood delivers as a returner

With returners Deji Karim and Scotty McGee sidelined, second -year wide receiver Tiquan Underwood handled the club's kickoff returns.  Underwood had three returns for a 38.3-yard average including returns of 46 and 53 yards. 

Osgood scores game-winning touchdown

Wide receiver Kassim Osgood is known for his special teams play, earning Pro Bowl honors in three of the last four seasons.  But Osgood showed his receiving skills in the fourth quarter as he hooked up with David Garrard for a 24-yard touchdown reception which proved to be the game-winning score.

It was Osgood's fifth touchdown of his career, the first since 2004, and his second against the Broncos.  He signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason after playing seven seasons with the Chargers.

Tidbits

• The Jaguars improved to 58-15 since 2003 when they have 30 or more rushing attempts, with wins in eight straight games.
• The Jaguars have rushed for 100-plus yards in 78 of 113 games (69.0 pct.) since 2003.
• Cornerback Rashean Mathis was back to return the Broncos first punt, which he fair caught.  Mathis hasn't had a punt return since 2006. 
• The Jaguars held the Broncos to 89 rushing yards.  The Jaguars have held opponents to under 100 yards rushing in 26 of the last 49 games.
• The Jaguars had six plays of 20-plus yards (five passing and one rushing).