GAMEDAY Open Thread/Live Blog: Broncos vs. Jaguars | Week 4
Here we go.
The Denver Broncos are poised to kickoff this afternoon vs. the 1-2 Jacksonville Jaguars. The Broncos are still looking to break the ice and hand Vic Fangio his first career victory as a head coach.
It's been tough sledding for Denver thus far. But that could change this week against an average Jaguars squad with a rookie quarterback.
If the Broncos fail to make the necessary adjustments to turn the ship around and heaven forbid, drop this one at home, there are going to be some ugly, uncomfortable conversations in the Mile High City next week. But I see Denver winning this game.
Join us as we live-blog and discuss JAXvsDEN here in our weekly GAMEDAY Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top of the site and in the bottom righthand corner of the Mile High Huddle logo, click the follow button.
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Inactives
Analysis: It's great that Andy Janovich finally makes his 2019 return today but the Broncos will be without starting safety/cornerback Kareem Jackson. That puts the onus on Will Parks, De'Vante Bausby and Isaac Yiadom. But it gives transplant Duke Dawson an opportunity to ply his wares for Coach Fangio. Meanwhile, Derek Wolfe is suiting up, as is Josey Jewell, so the Broncos defense (not counting Bryce Callahan) will be without just one starter today.
Team Captains
Andy Janovich, Courtland Sutton and Todd Davis will serve as the Broncos' team captains for Week 4.
First Quarter
Broncos will receive.
Devontae Booker returns it to the 21-yard line.
Broncos cross the 50-yard line, get to the Jacksonville 39 but stall on third down with a failed toss to Phillip Lindsay.
Colby Wadman's punt is downed on one 1-yard line by Davantae Harris.
Broncos' defense gets the three-and-out on the goal-line. Joe Flacco and company poised to open the next possession with good field position.
Spencer returns it to the Broncos' 47-yard line.
After Lindsay picks up 28 yards on a rush, Noah Fant takes a screen 25 yards to the house for his first career touchdown! Broncos lead 7-0.
Broncos' defense bends doesn't break, after allowing Jags to drive 68 yards on 10 plays.
Fangio squad holds in the red zone, forcing the field goal from Josh Lambo.
Broncos lead 7-3.
Unfortunately, Broncos go three-and-out on ensuing possession, after Flacco tries Emmanuel Sanders deep on 3rd-&-6.
Keishawn Bierria flagged for false start on punt formation.
Punt puts Jaguars on their own 31-yard line.
Von Miller sacks Gardner Minshew on first down.
Broncos finally break that ice and disperse the bad juju!
Broncos end first quarter with a big third-down conversion by Royce Freeman, hauling in the Flacco pass.
Broncos 7, Jaguars 3
Second Quarter
After Emmanuel Sanders hauls in a 39-yarder, setting the Broncos up in the red zone, Flacco finds Courtland Sutton for the TD!
Broncos lead 14-3.
Open up the floodgates. Bradley Chubb sacks Minshew on third down. The boys are back.
Broncos drive 49 yards on 11 plays but Flacco plays sub-par in the red zone. Brandon McManus pounds through his first field goal of the day.
Broncos 17, Jaguars 3
Von Miller gets home again, sacks Minshew. Gives Von his 100th sack all-time.
Minshew's third-down pass is incomplete. Punt.
Flacco gets the ball back on his own 24-yard line with 2:21 to go.
Per Troy Renck, Josey Jewell's hammy flared up on him again. He's out.
Flacco's high throw picked off by Harrison, return lasts 15 mins but he's finally tackled by Garett Bolles.
Jags in business on the Broncos' 43.
Broncos get lucky with a DJ Chark TD wiped off the board due to an OL penalty, but Denver is unable to stop the inevitable ultimately. Jags get the field goal, narrow the margin to 11 points.
Broncos 17, Jaguars 6
End of half
Third Quarter
Jags get the ball to open second half.
The Jags are riding Leonard Fournette, who's rattled off a few strong runs to open the third quarter.
Fangio calls a blitz, Todd Davis has an open shot at Minshew and misses. But hey, at least the Jags get flagged for holding.
DeMarcus Walker with the Broncos' fourth sack of the day. No use, though.
Minshew squirts out of a collapsing pocket and moves the chains on third-and-long.
Broncos stop Fournette on third down inches short. But Jacksonville goes for it and converts.
Minshew squirts out of multiple sacks on third down, finds a wide open target in the end zone. Touchdown Jaguars.
Bradley Chubb is down.
Jaguars narrow the Broncos' lead.
Chubb walks off on his own, but is heading to the locker room, per Nicki Jhabvala.
Jags' drive lasts over 10 minutes, 16 plays, 75 yards, seven points.
Broncos 17, Jaguars 13
Broncos go three-and-out and give the ball back to the Jags. Fangio's defense is gassed.
Will Parks misses a one-on-one tackle on Fournette, Leonard busts off 81-yard romp. A few plays later, Jags are in the end zone. O'Shaunessy.
Jaguars 20, Broncos 17
Yannick Ngokoue flagged for roughing Joe Flacco. First positive yards the Broncos have had since halfway through second quarter.
Broncos punt again. Flacco is playing with his **** in the dirt.
Jags sitting at 2nd-&-2 at the end of third quarter.
That was one of the ugliest quarters of play I've seen from the Broncos in a long time.
Fourth Quarter
Malik Reed sacks Minshew on 3rd-&-16. Can the fifth sack of the day for Denver give the Broncos' offense a lift?
Broncos allow the Jaguars to drive and consume way too much clock. Lambo punctuates the drive with a field goal to extend Jacksonville's lead to six points. 20 unanswered points by Jags.
Jaguars 23, Broncos 17 with 2:54 left to go.
Fant flagged for holding on a play in which Freeman moved the sticks.
Flacco goes 5-for-5 and 80 yards, culminating in another TD pass to Courtland Sutton.
Broncos tied up at 23.
McManus gives Denver the lead with 1:32 to go. Jacksonville has two timeouts.
Von flagged for roughing the passer. Gives Jags 15 yards.
Minshew hits Westbrook or 32 yards on ensuing play.
Lambo's field goal give Jags the 26-24 victory.
Broncos fall to 0-4.
