The Broncos Sadly End Streaks In Week 16

The first half of this game was very competitive. After slow starts by both offenses, Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars start the scoring, going up 7-0 later in the first quarter. Denver answered that score with Bo Nix throwing one to Courtland Sutton to knot it up.

The game went back and forth through the first part of the third quarter. RJ Harvey scored a 38-yard touchdown in the Broncos’ first second-half possession, making it 17-17, and we had a ball game in our hands.

That sentiment was wrong from then on out. Lawrence led Jacksonville to two straight scoring drives. The first one, he ran into the endzone with his leg, and the second one was a throw to Travis Etienne to go up 31-17.

Lawrence finished the game with nearly 300 total yards passing and four total touchdowns with no turnovers. He now has 10 total touchdowns in the last two games combined, and the Jaguars have won six straight games.

Jacksonville was 8/15 on third down while the Broncos were 5/14. The Denver defense played arguably its worst game of the season, giving up chunk play after chunk play. Penalties once again killed the team as they added 61 yards on Sunday.

Bo Nix was alright. He played a fine game in spurts but missed some easy throws in crucial situations. All in all, he wasn’t the problem, as he finished 28/47 for 352 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also had a fumble on a handoff exchange late in the third that made the game 34-17, and that was pretty much the ball game.

The offense had no magic in the fourth quarter this time. The Jaguars went on to beat the Broncos 34-20.

What This Means Moving Forward

The Broncos’ loss stung, but all things considered, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world. A reality check might just be what the doctor ordered for a team that has won 11 straight. Denver still holds the one seed, albeit with less margin for error now, and controls their own destiny to clinch home-field advantage.

There is one thing that the Broncos desperately need to figure out in the coming weeks. The pass defense. It has not been up to the standard we are used to seeing.

Since the bye week, the Denver pass defense has given up 241 passing yards per game, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. Those aren’t flashy numbers, but this team has gotten comparisons to that 2015 defense, and these numbers aren’t going to cut it.

Hopefully, that unit can reset after a loss and go back to playing more freely as they did early in the season. Denver so dearly missed Brandon Jones on Sunday as PJ Locke had a rough outing.

Things get worse as Locke has been suspended for the controversial late hit on Lawrence in the second quarter. This puts the Broncos at a rough spot in that safety spot. Is it time to give Justin Simmons a call?

Denver, next week, must take care of business against a battered Kansas City Chiefs team on Christmas. The week after, they may be in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers for not only the division, but also the number one seed.

We are going to see what this team is really made of now.

End Of Denver Broncos Rant

It was good to hear that Pat Bryant only suffered a concussion. The hit he took late in the game was very scary, but Sean Payton said he was able to move all extremities, so that was relieving.

It will be unlikely, though, that he will suit up the rest of this season, so Denver must be ready to move without him. The season is still right in front of them.

Win both games, and the Broncos are your number one seed. If they don’t, they can drop to six.